Bomb Threats, Haitians, and the Kingdom of God
I am not sure what the national news is covering, but I know Springfield has been in the news a lot this week, so I just wanted to inform any of you who might have seen news stories and are concerned.
Yes, there was a threat of violence at the school where our son attends this week. The kids were released early, but all were safe.
Our city of Springfield Ohio has had many such threats since the lies were spread about the Haitians in our community at the Presidential debate last Tuesday night.
Some of you have been asking how you can help, and I think the best thing we can do is pray that this fever will break and that peace will return to our community.
We love our city, our Haitian neighbors, and our hometown folks. We love the way that our city is being revitalized while understanding the growing pains that happen when we welcome 15,000 new people.
What we do not love are propaganda and lies being spread by opportunistic politicians intending to divide us.
I also want to say something about people in Springfield.
They are fantastic, and we love people, no matter where they come from. Every group of people has a few rotten eggs, but overall, this city is impressive; our people are generous, and I refuse to believe that we will allow ourselves to be divided by people who spread lies and hatred.
Food More for Thought
The Haitian immigrants here in Springfield live and work legally under protective asylum or on work visas. They work hard and pay taxes, and according to local authorities, there is no evidence of any increase in crime since their arrival.
They are revitalizing our community in numerous ways, especially through local churches. The fastest-growing congregations in Springfield are those with Haitian members, breathing new life into our faith communities.
Let’s reframe the conversation. God has brought 15-20,000 followers to Springfield, enriching our churches and city. Local businesses often say these workers are the best they’ve ever had, and their spending helps to strengthen our local economy.
We can either see this as a problem or embrace it as an opportunity to thank the Lord for bringing the Kingdom of God into our city in such a way. We have a choice: resist what God is doing, which will only harm us in the long run, or praise the Lord for His divine kindness, inviting us to participate in His Kingdom here and now.
I guess I can only speak for myself, but I am grateful for the way that my relationships with my new Haitian friends have enriched my life.
#Springfield #CityofGod