Mahalo to all who have expressed support for the city of Springfield and for FBC specifically. I have reached out to the leadership of the church, and some good ideas are already percolating. Here are some ways you can get involved, with more thoughts to follow in the coming days:
1) Consider writing a letter to the editor at Springfield News-Sun. Here is the link to submit a letter of solidarity with the Haitian community there: https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/local/letters-the-editor/Wq8mL9ix1VmW5LQ2NOmqgM/
2) Consider making a donation to FBC’s “Fellowship Fund,” which supports members of the Springfield community in need. Check out the FBC website. Scrolling down, you will find the Donate Button.
3) Consider writing a note or sending a card of support to the church. You may address it care of Pastor Adam Banks, First Baptist Church, 638 South Fountain Avenue, Springfield, OH 45505, or send it electronically using this link https://www.firstbaptistspringfield.org/contact or post the the FBC Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/FBCSpringfieldOH
4) Consider getting involved in advocating for public policy rooted in Christian values of love of neighbor and the belief in the worth, dignity, and equality of all God’s children. Right now, the United Church of Christ is calling for an end to the punishment of those seeking asylum at our borders. Ironically, the Haitians who came to Springfield were granted special status, and admitted to the country on a legal basis, and they are still being scapegoated, while many asylum seekers are turned away every day! To get involved, go here: https://p2a.co/DuqdgNa
5) Pray not only for the Haitian immigrants being scapegoated in Springfield, but for Haiti itself. To guide your prayers, consider praying alongside our sister Rev. Bronwen Boswell
Acting Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as she prays:
God of justice,
You know the strength and courage of your children of Haiti,
How they rose against the evils of enslavement even while they wore shackles,
How they etched their love of freedom for all in the inaugural constitution of this
First Free Black Republic,
How they were tricked into making an unjust and outrageous commitment
to pay their enslavers,
And how they struggled to pay that debt only by taking on more debt,
And meeting the 20th century as a Black nation under the knee of the white world.
God of righteousness,
You have watched as Haitian descendants of freedom fighters
suffer under dictatorships, economic exploitation, violent unrest, international interference, and an
ever-more fragile existence.
As violent gangs attempt to overthrow the fragile government,
We pray for peace rooted in justice,
For righteousness grounded in truth,
For laws founded in your love that sets us free.
We pray in the Name of the One who came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Amen.
I always try to remember that faith without work is meaningless, and here you remind me of that. Thanks for that, and I’ll keep putting my back into the work, forward slowly at times but in the right direction. nice sermon Gary…
Mahalo, Richie. It’s very good to hear from you.