yourtown4jesus.com

Immigration: Let’s not alienate ourselves from logic.

A deep-voiced announcer declared over the public address system,
“Tackle by number sixty, Mike Too-MEE-yoh!”I smiled from inside my helmet as I heard, above all the crowd noises,
my own dad’s booming voice as he shouted back, “That’s Too- MILL-oh!”
We lived in El Paso, Texas, a border city predominately populated by
Hispanics and, quite naturally, any name with a double “L” in it was
pronounced with a “Y” sound. Problem? My last name, Tummillo, is
Italian. Though I’m also 50% Mexican, I have now become accustomed
to being referred to as “Mr. Too-MEE-yoh” - not just in Texas but
wherever I go. The nationwide growth of the Hispanic population has
caused many to become adept at recognizing what they perceive to be
an Hispanic surname. The fact that there are no double-M’s in the
language is apparently a moot point.

I’ve grown accustomed to people mistaking me for being a member of
other ethnic groups as well. Not only was I referred to with the “N-Word”
as a dark-skinned, nappy-headed child in Indiana, but I’ve even had
Middle Eastern people ask if I was from Iran or was a Muslim.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CONCERNS

One must be living under a rock to not have heard all the discussion
about the proposed immigration laws. As I listen to all the “gringo”
radio talk show hosts and TV’s lily-white talking heads, I thought it
might carry a little more weight if a “brownie” shared his perspective
on the matter.

More importantly, a brown-skinned Christian.

For starters, as Watergate’s Deep Throat taught us all, “follow the money.”
Any issue that takes center stage in our culture has somebody’s agenda
attached to it and, invariably, there’s a Minnie Pearl-type price tag
hanging from the matter. Since Hispanics traditionally vote Democrat,
it doesn’t surprise me that the immigration issue stays in the forefront as
this will likely benefit the Dems and the Libs. You’ll see the debate
cool down after the Presidential election, I’m sure.

Secondly, research reveals that crime and traffic deaths in the good ol’
USA has “Tio Sam” looking really bad lately as those numbers continue
to soar. The evidence, however, clearly shows us that the lion’s share
of the perpetrators are “illegals.”

I’m alarmed to hear the narrow-minded notion that we should round ‘em
all up or and ship ‘em back home. The “shoot first, ask questions later”
attitude is equally as appalling. Many Hispanics have been “Beddy,
Beddy Goot” to us as a nation, not only “doing the jobs many Americans
won’t do” - as some contend (though nearby Dallas/Fort Worth has very
few produce fields and very many Hispanics). Hispanics are not merely
thrilling and entertaining us in baseball parks across the nation or on the
big and small screens as actors and comedians. No! Hispanics can be
found in all areas of government, academia, business, public service, etc.,
serving our nation as productive citizens. Many have made the ultimate
sacrifice after having served this country’s armed forces.

But the issue is not only with the illegals of the Hispanic persuasion.
We’ll never catch all 12 to 20 million of the immigrants who are illegal
but neither will we succeed in catching all drug dealers either. Still, we
must have laws. They make a statement. They set up parameters in which
we are all expected to work.

The building of a border wall borders on insanity. Sure, it might keep
some Mexicans out, but when the cops in Monterrey are protesting the
government to do something about the violence they face, I can’t blame
them for trying to flee the country. It seems so logical to me that, if
illegal immigrants are coming here to work, our government should set
up some parameters to make them prove their sincerity.
Case in point: Years ago, I took in a homeless man with a pink Mohawk
and made him “prove” that he wanted to work by changing his hairstyle.
He died his hair brown, cut it, put on a jacket I loaned him and wound
up with three job offers in one day. same concept.

My suggestion? Though opinions are like noses, here’s mine in regard to
this situation: Whether it’s a fee (many are paying thousands to come here
illegally), or a requirement that they pass a literacy test and obtain a
Social Security card, required “hoops” must be established that will
permit only the most excellent and sincere among them to enter in. Trust
me, because of their strong family ties, an Hispanic who comes here will
one day EXPECT their family to join them. If that individual had to jump
through official hoops to get and remain here, they will require the same
from their relatives and will strongly encourage them to do likewise. I’m
sure other ethnic groups are the same.

IMMIGRANTS IN SCRIPTURE

The pages of Scripture are loaded with immigrant-type situations.
Jesus Himself was “not from around here” and those who follow His
teachings are called “aliens” and “sojourners,” just passing through on
our journey through eternity. The challenge - and it’s a tuffy - for any
flag-waving American Christian, will be this: are we Americans first,
or Disciples of Jesus Christ? The Radio Talk-Show anchors - guys I
appreciate and listen to all the time - would hang up on me if I called
with this perspective.
Somehow, it sounds un-American.

It is. Frankly, it may be too Christian to be considered American.

Consider: If God has been sending Muslims to America in droves,
don’t you think He expects His Church in America to do something with
them? I’ve read the reports of how the Islamic world is starting to
question the acts of its own militant representatives who are blowing
up everything in sight, including other Muslims and innocent children.
Many are turning to Christ and orders for Bibles are greater than they’ve
ever been in the Middle East.

For those illegal immigrants who are stateside, does The Church not
have a responsibility? How can we reach them? Surely, we’re not
expecting them to walk into our Churches. Ten years ago, when I was
very ill and feeling useless in Arlington, Texas, not yet involved in an
internet ministry, I designed my own tract called “The Truth About
Christianity” and purposed to personally mail a copy to every Middle
Eastern name in the local phone book (I stopped at the letter “K” when
I received a computer from a friend). Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

So, in an effort to see the current immigration situation through Heaven’s
eyes, what must The Church be doing in an effort to win these people -
people for whom Jesus died, mind you - into God’s Kingdom? A Texas
housewife I know takes part in an online ministry whereby she teaches
English from her computer. Four nights a week, she has groups of
Chinese people reading with her the officially-sanctioned book, “The
Purpose-Driven Life” and, I’ve been told, fully 80% are becoming
Christians as a result. I just heard from a minister in Pakistan with 800
House Churches who has asked assistance in teaching his churches via
eMail as well and I’m doing the same with ministers in Africa,
including one with a Bible College.

We MUST reach these people. Harboring them in Church basements
isn’t the answer. An illegal immigrant is just that: ILLEGAL; to harbor
them is to harbor a criminal. Yet, we can hardly expect a desk clerk at
a hotel to call the police every time a suspected illegal tries to rent
a room or an apartment.
How can we draw them out? How can we be all things to all people
without compromising our principles and breaking laws?

Their communities are typically WITHIN your community. They have
their own way of life, their own local celebrities and leaders whom
they follow and listen to. Many are fearful of deportation and will do
all they can to remain below radar. I know one Hispanic woman who
became so fearful after seeing a police car that she detoured behind a
grocery store and became stuck in the mud. We can’t imagine that kind
of panic. Public assemblies won’t lure them. They don’t have computers
and most aren’t listed in the phone book.

Let’s network! If you have any ideas for reaching both legal and illegal
immigrants with the Gospel of the Kingdom, we need to talk.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
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