NYC Immigration March

by Luis Alvarez and Jose Humphreys

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. – Deut. 10:17-19

Members of the Latino Leadership Circle, Jose Humphreys, Omar Ortiz , JC Morales, and Luis Alvarez took part of a march across the Brooklyn Bridge, this Saturday April 1st.  Thousands of concerned Americans rallied against the HR 4437 bill being considered in congress.Photo_040106_024

The event was an exciting harmony of individuals and groups. Immigrants of various countries were represented. Mexican, Columbian,
Dominican, Argentinean, Brazilian and American Flags flew proudly on an overcast yet  beautiful spring day. Documented as Photo_040106_006well as the undocumented, recent immigrants as well as 1st generation Dominicans and 3rd generation Puerto Ricans were part of this historic rally. ::Video Clip::

One of the most promising aspects of this rally was that the Latino Church was at the forefront of this movement. Leaders ofPhoto_040106_010 the Pentecostal, Evangelical churches and community organizations, such as Rev. Ruben Diaz, Rev. Adolfo Carrion Sr. and Rev. Ray Rivera spearheaded this event.

Arguably,the rally is indicative of the Latino Christian Church in NYC entering into a new era of holistic and contextual ministry in the 21st century. It certainly indicates the presence of a grassroots Latino Theology that cuts across denominational and organizational distinctions, "seeking the welfare of the city" and "loving the alien because we were once aliens."

Photo_040106_020

Cancion de Liberacion (song of liberation)::Video Clip::

As we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, there were a group of Pentecostal women singing "mira que te mando, que seas valiente…" a song found in the book of Joshua translated, "Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you."  We recorded this song via a Treo 650 (aaah, the wonder of technology) and we witnessed a transcendental moment for Latino Pentecostalism .  The movement of the Spirit outside the culto (church service) into the realm of community justice for the stranger and the least of these.   

7 Comments

  1. David Ramos

    Guys,
    May the Lord bless you all! These shots are exciting! Estoy muy orgulloso de ustedes–presente y representando!!!

  2. David:
    If people are interested in contacting their legislatures about passing comprehensive immigration legislation, they can do so on Nueva Esperanza’s web site: http://www.esperanza.us
    The site contains instructions as to what one needs to do.

  3. David,
    We will be posting a link on our blog. Rev. Luis Alvarez is going through the technicalities of posting the logo on our site. Thanks for the info.
    David

  4. Luis, Dave,
    man you guys work with the “quickness”. kudos on the comprehensive immigration link.

  5. Hats off to “Seraph.”

  6. Arnaldo Mejías

    Latino leader to watch:
    2006-07 Luce Fellow Dr. Otto Maduro, Professor of World Christianity and Latin American Christianity
    Drew University Theological School…
    Ministry and the Practice of Communities of Faith
    “The Role of Pentecostal Congregations in the Creative Adaptation of Hispanic Immigrants to the United States”
    Abstract:
    U.S. Latinas/os, the largest and fastest-growing minority in the nation (14.2 percent) and New Jersey (13.3 percent), are increasingly adopting Pentecostalism as their religion of choice (currently 9 percent). To advance our understanding of this little-known phenomenon, I plan to conduct research in Newark (New Jersey’s largest city, 29.5 percent Latina/o, with 50+ Latina/o Pentecostal congregations) on the following aspects: (1) the variegated journeys through which Latinas/os (especially recent immigrants) appropriate, and are transformed by, Pentecostalism; (2) the multidimensional wealth of the Pentecostal experience among Latinas/os; and (3) the differences and commonalities of Pentecostal experiences among Latinas/os of diverse backgrounds and generations.
    (source: Colloquy, March/April 2006, Assosciation of Theological Schools [ATS] http://www.ats.edu/leadership_education/grants/2006-07LuceFellows.pdf)

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