Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of guest commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
•••
Several people have asked how I am doing and how our congregation is navigating this difficult season. The best way I can answer is by sharing a glimpse into one ordinary day — and the larger reality surrounding it.
Friday, Jan. 9 was meant to be my day off. By midmorning, that changed. We received an urgent call asking us to rush to Anoka. A church member’s brother and nephew had gone to handle a simple car-related matter and found themselves surrounded by ICE agents in the parking lot. When we arrived, they were already gone — only the empty car remained.
Throughout the day, we encountered the quiet weight many families are carrying. A young girl proudly recited Bible verses she memorized in English and Spanish, while her mother — seven months pregnant —shared that she rarely leaves home out of fear, despite having her paperwork in process.
We delivered groceries to a family new to our church, living cramped in a basement with three children, one with Down syndrome. The parents now take turns leaving the house so their children won’t risk losing both parents at the same time. That same day, their daughter turned 14. There was no party, no guests, just a cheesecake that my wife gave her along with prayers and tears.
That evening, we drove a woman home because she was too afraid to take an Uber after hearing stories of ICE detentions involving Latino riders.
We also visited a 16-year-old whose mother has been suffering severe stomach pain for weeks but is afraid to seek medical care, even though she has a valid work permit and a pending asylum case.
