Lean In: A Conversation About Immigration - What is the Law and How Should the Church Respond? - w/ World Relief
Release Date: 09/01/2025
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Lean In: A Conversation About Immigration - What is the Law and How Should the Church Respond? - w/ World Relief
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Today's episode is audio from last weeks event: "Lean In: A Conversation About Immigration," a cosponsored, free event between VOXOLOGY and World Relief. Mike Erre and Matthew Soerens delve into the church's role and posture on immigration issues, highlighting their collaboration with World Relief. They discuss the importance of moving beyond policy debates to embrace a posture of empathy and advocacy for immigrant and refugee communities. Through events like "Lean In," they aim to foster conversations that address biblical, legal, and social realities, encouraging listeners to engage actively...
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A Personal Story of Resistance - w/ Pastor Ara Torosian
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Pastor Ara Tarosian joins Mike and Tim to share his incredible journey from persecution in Iran to building a vibrant church community in Los Angeles. He went viral a few weeks ago for a visdeo he posted of members of his congregation being abducted by ICE (See our instagram this week for the video). From surviving the Iranian Revolution to smuggling Bibles and leading a massive underground church, Pastor Ara’s story is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. In this thought-provoking discussion, he recounts the challenges faced by Iranian Christians, the cultural and political hurdles of...
info_outlineToday's episode is audio from last weeks event: "Lean In: A Conversation About Immigration," a cosponsored, free event between VOXOLOGY and World Relief. Mike Erre and Matthew Soerens delve into the church's role and posture on immigration issues, highlighting their collaboration with World Relief. They discuss the importance of moving beyond policy debates to embrace a posture of empathy and advocacy for immigrant and refugee communities.
Through events like "Lean In," they aim to foster conversations that address biblical, legal, and social realities, encouraging listeners to engage actively and compassionately. Join them as they explore how the church can stand in solidarity with marginalized communities and make a meaningful impact. How should the Church respond? What are the actual laws and how are they being violated? From the teachings of Jesus to the Old Testament’s calls to care for the foreigner, this episode navigates how Christians can approach this complex issue with compassion and cruciformity.
They dive into the legal realities of immigration, the stories of refugees and asylum seekers, and the moral and theological responsibilities of the church. With a focus on justice, faith and politics, and the unity of the global church, this dialogue encourages empathy, critical thinking, and gospel-centered action. Join the discussion as the hosts address questions like: How does faith inform our view of immigration? What does it mean to embody love and justice as followers of Jesus? Whether you're wrestling with these topics or seeking to better understand the role of the church in cultural issues, this episode offers depth, reflection, and hope. We encourage and would love discussion as we pursue these important conversations. Engage with us on Facebook and Instagram or email your questions as we continue to explore faith, justice, and the teachings of Jesus. Together, let’s navigate these challenges with humility, curiosity, and grace.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
04:35 - Mike’s Introduction
05:46 - Biblical Teaching on Immigration
19:53 - Complexity of Immigration Issues
20:24 - Immigration Definitions Explained
29:10 - Changes in Immigration Enforcement Policies
33:45 - Christian Immigrant Population Insights
37:40 - Desired Immigration Policy Reforms
43:31 - Legal vs. Just Immigration Practices
47:08 - The Dignity Act Overview
48:50 - Questions and Responses
54:50 - Community Action Steps
57:46 - Church Support for Latino Community
1:00:54 - Engaging Elected Leaders Effectively
1:06:40 - Religious Organizations and Liberty
1:11:38 - Finding Reliable Information Sources
1:14:55 - Understanding Dreamers and DACA
1:19:21 - Prayers of the People
As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
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