Evangelicals Can Help at the Border. They Just Can’t Do It Alone.

To make an impact among migrants crossing through Texas, churches rely on government advocacy and ecumenical partners. When The New York Times reported on toddlers without diapers and children without toothbrushes at US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities, Christians joined the rest of the country in dismay. They shared the stories chronicling poor conditions and promoted campaigns to donate money and send supplies, desperate to do something to help. But the facilities at the... Read More

Grieving Our Broken Border

Max Lucado and five other leaders share their petitions: “Let’s pray. Let’s lament. Let’s groan.” As CT’s immigrant communities editor, I was planning our coverage of the crises affecting immigrant children at the Texas border when I saw the now-infamous Associated Press photo: that little arm around the neck of her father, hanging on as they drowned in the Rio Grande. Days of pent-up journalistic angst cracked, and I sobbed. I cried thinking of the fear of those last... Read More

8 Simple (but not easy) Rules for Movement: Part 8 – Continually Celebrate Kingdom Advance

Celebration is the best medicine against the lethargy of discouragement. You become what you celebrate.” This proverb is continually repeated in leadership coaching circles because of the inherent truth in the notion. We, by nature, seem naturally drawn into the practices that are publicly celebrated by those whom we respect or admire. A child’s positive behaviors are bolstered by their observations of what their parents praise. We, as adults, are also prone to prioritize the... Read More

Seeing Immigrants Through God’s Eyes

Why their stories are always relevant, no matter the politics of immigration. Recently, a pastor in San Antonio was speaking publicly about his work with immigrants. Someone in the crowd asked him how he defends his work against critics, those who say that he is misguided in his compassion for those coming to the US uninvited. Rather than argue policy and sling data, the pastor said he always begins with, “Here is what I’ve seen with my own eyes …” This is... Read More

Heat close in on Jimmy Butler deal, with Richardson to 76ers as part of package

For the Heat, it was a matter of attempting to keep up with a massive salary-cap space race in the Eastern Conference that has Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant relocating to the Brooklyn Nets, the Celtics signing Kemba Walker, the Orlando Magic re-signing Nikola Vucevic and Terrance Ross and then adding Al Farouq-Aminu, and the Indiana Pacers loading up with Malcolm Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb. ... Read More

Politics, morality, law and order wrapped up in Florida dispute over which convicted felons can vote

“The people who advocated for this amendment, they went to the Supreme Court and said of course, whatever you’re sentenced to, you’ve got to finish that, whether that’s incarceration, whether that’s a fine, restitution, probation, you’ve got to do it. So that was what they said. That was what most voters thought they were doing.” ... Read More

Sandy Alcantara becomes fifth Marlins rookie selected for MLB All-Star Game

On Sunday, the starting pitcher was selected as the Miami Marlins’ representative for the Midsummer Classic. The 23-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.86 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 13 starts this season. He’s the fifth Marlins’ rookie to be selected, joining Alex Gonzalez (1999), Dontrelle Willis (2003), Dan Uggla (2006) and Jose Fernandez (2013). ... Read More