Comments on: Matt Soerens – Immigration and the Stranger

By: Bob Loreman

Bob Loreman — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:33:21 +0000

One impartial style for Cnn within the Tv show. This individual carries a really difficult immigration law plan. They graduated on the Harvard Higher education. Currently he provides her one Stereo Show. He could not such as that Nation chief executive.

By: Blake Sawicky

Blake Sawicky — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 03:00:07 +0000

Though they are neither historians nor theologians nor biblical scholars, Soerens and Hwang nevertheless do an excellent job introducing the issues of immigration policy and reform to their evangelical Christian audience. Together they offer a comprehensive insider’s perspective and clear thinking, refined in the crucible of personal experience and solid moral conviction. Welcoming the Stranger is a perfect starting point for churches and individuals wishing to explore the intersection of faith and policy, and it may even serve as a clarion call welcoming evangelicals as voices of justice, compassion, and truth to a debate in which they were formerly strangers.

[Incidentally, I don't know the above person who shares my name, but I would challenge him to a more thoughtful consideration of the book itself and its aims; or if he cannot be persuaded to do this, then I hope he might at least consider speaking his criticisms openly rather than hiding behind the veneer of uncharitable smugness.]

By: Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate « zoecarnate

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:03:43 +0000

[...] Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate Published March 6, 2010 Uncategorized Leave a Comment Matt Soerens, co-author of Welcoming the Stranger, sounds off on the slow death of civility in our culture and how Jesus-followers can recover transforming dialogue that leads to new alternatives in law and compassion in the immigration debate. Discussion questions are here. [...]

By: Bruce Norquist

Bruce Norquist — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:13:52 +0000

Matt and and his co-author Jenny do a great job of challenging evangelical Christians out of pre-conceived stereotypes of others and into the love of Christ and a love for others. I’m grateful for all the work he and all of those at World Relief – such as Catherine, Luke, Javier, Erika, Elise, and Susan – do in welcoming the stranger! Matt rocks and World Relief rocks!

By: Ben Hopkins

Ben Hopkins — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:09:44 +0000

Matt Soerens is on the cutting edge of immigration policy and reform, and his book is an excellent examination of a very politically and culturally explosive issue. Soerens and Hwang, in Welcoming the Stranger, do a great job of putting a personal face on the often impersonal immigration debate. What makes this book even more valid is that Matt practices what he preaches, and chooses to live among the immigrants that he is trying to help, rather than living in the “safety and comfort” of suburban Chicago. Christians should all follow Matt’s example and help the uninformed change their rhetoric from a focus on anger and fear to one of hope and charity.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:57:24 +0000

Many people’s frustration with immigration is that people are not following the legal channels. But as Matt points out, there are very few legal channels! For the demographic that is seeking refuge from extreme poverty, there is no legal channel. That is something that we really do need to be pushing for in legislation–not higher walls.

By: Blake Sawicky

Blake Sawicky — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:29:23 +0000

Soerens does a far better job here than he did when he was 13 and said, on national TV, that Disney World was better than the Grand Canyon because there was always something new.

By: Dan Zeccola

Dan Zeccola — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:20:24 +0000

Soeren’s book is an enlightening invitation to step back from the politics and manipulation which have hijacked our faith and ask ourselves the fundamental questions posed by Jesus: Who are we? Who are our neighbors? How do we love our neighbors and how do we love God? He challenges us to ask these questions and then bring the answers to bear on our responses to immigration. If we aspire as a church to embody the kingdom and God’s will on earth then we need to take this message to heart. What I find most refreshing about this message is that it asks us to think about our faith, and come to our own conclusions rather than allow the louder voices of a few interpretations drown out what God is trying to tell us.

By: Dan Servi

Dan Servi — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:46:59 +0000

Matt has done a great job spreading information on the issue of immigration and how to respond to it. He has become a refreshing voice in the debate of immigration and is a voice that needs to be heard. What we need to do now is spread the news and information to our churches and to our neighbors.

By: Gale Petersen

Gale Petersen — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:10:20 +0000

Good. Let’s look for what we have in common and pull together to find solutions that benefit everyone. I strongly believe that everyone benefits when immigrants can lead healthy productive lives.