Achuckallen

Instigating Better

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4forFRIDAY with AChuckAllen

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This week’s 4forFRIDAY August 9, 2019

I love to share good reads, learnings, listens and reviews with friends and followers. So, thanks for joining me on my 4forFRIDAY BLOG. Each week, the 4forFRIDAY offers recommended Reads, Listens, Learnings and Reviews, simply for your enjoyment. Thanks Again! If you don’t already subscribe to my Weekday Meditation Podcast, I encourage you to check it out HERE. If you missed thearticles that I posted earlier this month regarding my trip to the Southern Border, you can find it HERE.

A Really Fun Television Show: Ellen’s Game of Games

It’s funny, clean and a bit slapstick, but we love watching it! It’s a fun family show…even for folks that don’t like Ellen. I think she is hilarious.

A Really Good Read from James Clear: Constant Improvement

As many of you know, I’m a huge James Clear fan. He is practical, insightful and challenging. I cannot encourage you enough to be a part of his creative writing!

A Gadget that I Really Like: Self-adhesive Leather Pen Holder with Elastic Loop for Notebooks, Journals, Planners and Calendars

I use these on my iPad, my notebooks and my Power Routines. They fit every size of pens and I find them super handsy, even on my Bible.

A Great Listen from Jennie Allen: How Shame Affect All of Us

I’m a Jennie Allen fan and this episode, which was shared to me. I thought it was a powerful learning!

My New Devotional, Power Routines 2 is now available at Sugar Hill Church.
Instigating the habits of Gratitude, Scripture Reading, Journaling and Guided Prayer is a powerful way to CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUR LIFE! Pick up your copies of POWER ROUTINES II at Sugar Hill Church!

A Quote from PAULA WHITE

“Don’t waste another moment crying over what went wrong! If it wasn’t a blessing – it was a lesson.”

The Weekday Podcast and the Weekday Meditation

The Podcast is a 5 minute/day, 5 day/week Cup of Encouragement, straight from the Scriptures. The Meditation is about 7 minutes/day, 5/day/week and is designed to give you a combined and guided prayer/meditation experience.

Both of these resources are available on the Sugar Hill Church APP or WeekdayPodcast.com & WeekdayMeditation.com

Go in Peace, 
AChuck

More from the Southern Border

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More from the Southern Border by A-Chuck Allen

I am writing this articled from the El Paso Airport. The President is flying in and while I respect the office, POTUS is messing up my airspace and departure time!

I spent a few hours in Juarez, Mexico yesterday. I walked across the bridge from El Paso to Juarez and within five steps realized why people from Mexico and the Northern Triangle of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras try anything to get into the United States. I visited a few shelters and saw what is in store for the folks that are awaiting their NTA (Notice to Attend). The NTA is a good indicator of their qualification to claim asylum in the States. Like him, hate him, or just cannot take the tweets, this administration has opened doors for faith communities to step in and help more than any administration than I have been aware of in my short 59 years on this planet.

As folks say, the proof is in the pudding. And here is the latest from the Southern Border of these great United States of America:

  • The guy in the picture above is Chief Clay Thomas of the El Paso Border Station #1. He’s a 25 year veteran of the Border Patrol. I’ve seen this guy interact with the Border Agents and Migrant families. I have tangibly felt the character, competence and commitment he brings to the job. I want to vote for him! This dude is all that is right with America. He loves baseball, he’s a family man, he’s a straight shooter and he’s the right man for what we need on the border! He’d make a great President, but then he’d have to take a demotion from his role. Here’s to you, Clay!
  • The administration’s MPP (Migrant Protection Protocol) is working. The threatened tariffs have forced the Mexican government to create a very nice shelter that can house some three-thousand people that have expedited notices to appear to plead their case for asylum. I visited that shelter on Tuesday while in Juarez, Mexico. I saw the food that they were being served by Mexican soldiers and it looked great. According to the folks in the shelter, “it was really good.” The people in the shelter are comfortable, safe and well cared for. They can only be there for two weeks before they either have their NTA or need to seek shelter elsewhere on the Mexican side of the border. That’s where the breakdown occurs. But there are faith groups, churches and NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) that are trying their best, but they need a lot of help. They need food, clothings, necessities and they need on-mission churches (stateside) to come to their little spot in this world and help make their stay productive (as in training them in real-world skills), comfortable (as in air conditioning, clean water, food, diapers, beds and generators), and meaningful (as in showing them the love of the Divine). Many of these folks are already returning to their home countries and the Mexican Department of Immigration (IOM) is delivering these folks as far as they can (Guatemala). Many will await their NTA, and many will be placed on US soil and discover a new community and the experience of living in the greatest country on the planet. It’s not ideal yet, but it is a far greater situation than just a few short weeks ago.
  • Families are only separated when they are proven to not be a family at all, the parent is a know felon with proven criminal activity, or the child/parent has a viral sickness, and that is temporary. To continue that line of political positioning is unfounded and irresponsible. But we can help by assisting the families that are placed on US soil and our friends at Care Portal are preparing a Border database that will allow families in the States (connected to churches) temporarily “adopt” these folks and meet their needs as they get acclimated to a new way of life. This is a joint effort with Care Portal, Operation Border Blessing, Sugar Hill Church and the United States Health and Human Services in Washington. I have found that all of these parties are committed to discovering long-tern solutions. When people claim that the church cannot work side by side with our governmental agencies, that’s just a lie. They are working with us. I’ve been on multiple telephone and zoom video calls putting this in place. They are no different than me and you. They just want us to offer some gratitude for what they do and help them to succeed.
  • The city of El Paso is in a state of shock and grief following the shootings last Saturday. After spending a few hours with victims at University Hospital, I stopped by “ground Zero (Walmart) and there were still hundreds of people there with flowers, candles and objects that, in some way, were conveying their deep sorrow. It was reverent and respectful. As you looked over the hill into the parking lot, it was startling to see the remaining cars of the victims parked in what feels and smells like a place where death resides.
  • My time of prayer and grief counseling included a family of three survivors. A daddy that had attempted to hide his wife and nine-year old daughter in a small office when the madman chased them down and shot all three. The dad is still in ICU and is touch and go. The wife had additional surgery and the little girl is still healing from her wounded thigh. This dad did what daddy’s are supposed to do…protect his family. The family is from Chihuahua, Mexico, some four hours from this Walmart. They had come to visit family in Juarez and shop a bit at Walmart and then head back to Chihuahua. Now, they face months of hospital recovery and rehab. My assurance to them was that the CHURCH would step up and make certain that they would be cared for. While I was with them, Pastor Paula White called and assured them with the same comfort and prayed with us all. More details on how you can help with that next week.
  • I was able to visit two of the Border Stations in the El Paso Region, agaion and I am happy to report that the numbers are still higher than the old normal, but are manageable to yje new normal, and the Border Patrol have done a great job. While at the centers, the agents displayed some of the biometric tests, document proofs and DNA rapid results. Not only did it amaze me, it shows the degree of commitment that while there is still so much to do, our Border Agents are doing a great job. Did I mention that I’d vote for Chief Clay Thomas in a heartbeat?

I’ll share more about how we can all help next week, but for now, please pray for El Paso. They are reeling from the fear, the new normal and the fact that their typically safe West Texas town has been thrust into the national spotlight in the worst possible way.

There is so much to do and I am working with many in preparing a more comprehensive serve strategy that can assist Migrant Families, Border Patrol Families and all involved. In the meantime, please pray for this dear family. They are in need of our financial assistance to continue remaining together through this trial. The doctors have prepared them that they will need to stay in El Paso for at least 7 months. That’s a lot of meals, housing and expenses for a small Mexican family. If you would like to help this family, please email me – chuck@achuckallen.com

One other encouraging word is that my good friend, Todd Lamphere has coordinated the efforts of the National Association of Christian Counselors to provide the spiritual, emotional and familial counseling and grief recovery counseling for any of the families that have been involved in this crisis, including the first responders.

Finally, I want to thank Sugar Hill Church! You folks are the most generous, gracious people ever! You have shared your pastor and your gifts with Migrant families, Border Patrol Officers, families in the midst of horrific grief and I am so grateful. I love you, Sugar Hill Church!

More to Come,
AChuck

Operation Border Blessing

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Operation Border Blessing by AChuckAllen

I’m headed back to our southern border next week and this time I have a plan. It is abundantly clear that we have a humanitarian crisis on the border, but it is a crisis that can become a blessing.

I don’t really care what your position is on immigration, the present administration, or your political preferences. What I do care about are the unaccompanied children and families that are in the middle of this mess. There are thousands of people that are seeking to become Americans every single day on the border. And there are processes in place to receive dozens each day that have been in place for decades. The resultsare a humanitarian mess.

You could take the position that has been touted to me by a lot of folks over the past month – “Those people should stay where they are. They don’t belong here.” Honestly, that is an uneducated and unrealistic view. Most of the folks that are seeking entry are families from South and Latin America. They are leaving the northern triangle of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. If you aren’t familiar with what is happening in those countries, get up to speed. These families are fleeing political, military and social disasters. That doesn’t even touch on the economic crisis and the natural disaster of drought keeping the agricultural sector virtually shut down. If you were from there, you would want to come to the US as well.

Did you know that there is a large population of Cubans making there way to the southern border as well? They aren’t thugs and criminals. Most of the Cuban migrants are professionals. They are doctors, lawyers, dentists, and a host of professional, well educated leaders. You could take the position that they got what they deserved and should stay in Cuba. But come on man! They can’t vote for their leaders and they cannot get paid there. There is a reason that communism and socialism fails in every place it has been forced into a society. It is unsustainable! Even though Cuba is one of the most beautiful places on earth, I would want to leave as well.

You could take the position that our government isn’t caring for these folks and that we are herding them like cattle. You could listen to “the squad” and media outlets reporting on things they have not seen for themselves and assume that the USA and specifically, the present administration is cold, callused and heartless. That would be the most rediculous position of all. I’ve seen the realities that our folks in green (Border Patrol) were indeed overwhelmed and overrun a couple of months ago, but the speed at which they have adjusted is beyond any governmental agency I have ever seen. If the DMV were to radically attack their systems like the Borcer Patrol, you could get your license in about 15 minutes every 5 years…just bless their hearts.

You could take the position that we should open up the doors and stop worrying about border security. But come on people. That’s just rediculous! Did you know that the Border Patrol can now identify family members and criminals with immediate bio-metrics and DNA results? Why yes, yes they can. Did you know that those folks don’t get in. But as long as Border Agents that are trained to patrol and protect our borders are needed as child care and nursing specialists, the borders remain more vulnerable to the folks that are criminals? We must have border security and we must be creative in how we can support the men and women in green and add to their numbers and pay them what they are worth! Families are treated with great respect and are placed at the front of the line and the administrations Migrant Protection Plan is working. Often the MPP is shortening the length of the “time in the middle” to weeks rather than years!

Okay, rant over.

After seeing the border firsthand (and by the way, I’m headed back there next week) and meeting with key leaders in the White House, State Department, Health and Human Services and Customs and Border Patrol, I think there are four immediate strategies that we regular people can do to assist in moving the needle from humanitarian crisis to a great blessing. It’s just a start, but every great movement began with something small. Here are four things we can start with:

  1. We are working on a process that would allow US families to “adopt” families that are in transistion on the Mexican side of the border, the American side of the border and families being placed on US soil. I use that term “adopt” loosely, not as a legal adoption, but rather like we can “adopt” a child in Kenya with financial emotional support. We can do this through a web-based system, knowing that most of the US families will never meet our “adopted” migrant familes, but for varying lengths of support, we can do what I believe the faith community should do – Care for widows, orphans, refugees and migrants.
  2. We can serve our existing Border Patrol in two ways. 1) We can support the Operation Border Blessing Appreciation Tour with gifts of many kinds. Gift cards, diapers, school supplies and non-parishable food. We can provide the simpler way to get help to these folks by way of cash gifts that will provide a Appreciation Party for the Border Patrol families. Last month, in El Paso, more than 700 people were blessed by these efforts. They were loved on, cared for and encouraged. Many were in tears, conveying that nobody has ever tried to do anything for them. That’s a shame! These folks are every bit as deserving of our support as any first responder or soldier. Honestly, Paula White’s ministry has lead the way and spearheaded this effort. I am so proud to see the results! I’m asking you to help us broaden this effort to encourage these servant leaders that have been demonized in the media. Please consider a gift of $100, $50 or $20 today. I’ll be in McAllen, Texas later in the month where we are expecting more than 1,000 agents and family members. I cannot do it alone. Would you consider a gift? Unitl such time as my new non-profit 501c3 entity is ready to receive gifts, please go online and give to Sugar Hill Church Border Blessing. Every penny will go to this effort, I promise. 2) We can pray specifically for Heaven sent wisdom and compassion for each agent. These are great people that need our Heavenly Father to overwhelm them with wisdom from on high and protection from harm…including the harm done by our own media. Imagine your spouse, that has 20 plus years in the Customs and Border Patrol being demonized and vilified by their own congressional leaders. You’d want somebody to stand in the gap for them! And these folks cannot stand up and speak out for themselves. We must do this for them!
  3. We can begin planning right now to gather our community and faith leaders to head to the Mexican side of the border to help strengthen the distribution centers, churches and NGO’s trying to serve the families and Unaccompanied Children with work projects, kids sports camps, Backyard Bible Clubs, VBS, Awana, medical and dental clinics, and music camps. We can go, serve and love these folks into the Kingdom all for one reason – we are called to love one another!
  4. We are working on plans that would allow vetted families in the US to become short-term foster families for the unaccompanied children until they can be placed in appropriate long term care with their friends and schools that are already established in the US. More on that to come.

I have to wrap this up and I appreciate you sticking with me this far. We can start engaging with this effort right now. Please consider helping me and helping Operation Border Blessing pull off our Appreciation Tour in McAllen, Texas (August 17) by giving generously. Simply Click HERE and give through credit, or debit card. Again, 100% of these gifts will be used on the border with ZERO administrative costs!

I’ll report from the Mexican side of the El Paso sector next week. I would greatly appreciate your prayers as we head into Juarez, Mexico and the border area that has been in the middle of this political firestorm. Thank you for caring!

Go in Peace Today,
AChuck

From the Border to Washington

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From the Border to Washington by AChuckAllen

I had once been guilty of saying things like, “I don’t really care that much about the immigration issue.” I’ve written things, and some of you have read my words as I’ve cast aside any real concern for immigrants and immigration. I was rocked when the Creator softened my heart toward the families that have been pouring into the Southern Border Stations since January 2019…and long before that.

I’ve written about my findings at our Southern Border and I’ve received a bit of praise, a bit of hostility, a great deal of apathy, but mostly curiosity. Most of you, like me, just want to know what the real deal is. I’ve tried to accurately portray those findings in my writings.

Then something swept in from a place that could only be described as DIVINE INTERVENTION. Take a look at this timeline.

  1. I wrote about “Why We Should Care About the Southern Border.”
  2. I was invited to join the Border Patrol to tour the Border Centers near El Paso, Texas.
  3. I spent two days on the Border with Customs and Border Patrol
  4. I wrote about the real conditions in the Centers that have been so poorly described.
  5. I was invited to Washington to meet with the State Department, Health and Human Services, The White House and Customs and Border Patrol.
  6. I met with all those agencies and the Faith Directors from eight different agencies.
  7. I was asked to help lead an effort specifically in the area of Migrant Families and Unaccompanied Children.

I’m telling you that I didn’t ask for any of these audiences. Not once! But somehow, in a season that I was to be on vacation, the Divine determined that He had an assignment for me. I’ve run from these “callings” before, but no more. I am determined to allow the Lord to do as He pleases with me. I’ve learned the hard way, that He has the single best way to accomplish His will and my peace. That way is my obedience.

As a result, I’m heading back to the border in mid August to lead a tour of the McAllen, Texas Station with several White House and State Department staffers. I’ll also be helping the Department of Health and Human Services create a far better way for churches and individuals to assist Migrant Families in the middle of processing while on the Mexican side of the Border.

I’m also busy assisting in the creation of a National Prayer Team website and app that is focused on the ministry of immigration, church and government assistance and care for the unaccompanied children on the border.

That’s a boatload of work, but honestly, it’s nothing compared to the extraordinary work of the Faith Directors that serve so well in the various agencies throughout DC. I met with real heroes as we chatted over coffee last Thursday morning. I met with Paula White and her team. Paula White is the real deal. She has funded hundreds of thousands of dollars to help move the needle forward in the areas of immigration, faith and ministry, all while leading the way for Believers to make a radical difference for the cause of Christ. I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with her team in this effort.

I left Washington with three big ideas:

    1. I am amazed at how quickly the people within the key agencies are working to rectify the challenges on the border!
    2. The men and women serving as Faith Directors within the State Department, Health and Human Services, Customs and Border Patrol and the White House are supernaturally powered and are unsung, undervalued, underpaid, overwhelmed, faithful heroes that are making a HUGE difference for the cause of Christ. These folks have left homes and careers to answer the call of the Divine on their lives! I was allowed to pray with every single office I met with. If you are in the camp that thinks God has been shoved to the mop closets in our nation’s capital, you are completely wrong! I started with Customs and Border Patrol, State Department, Health and Human Services and then the White House. I was welcomed to pray with every single office! The God of All Creation is at work in Washington! I never thought I would say that. But these folks are fighting on all sides. Please pray for them!
    3. There is plenty of room for the faith and church community to rally around this crisis and serve children, individuals, families and those that serve on the border. And there is more than enough room for all of us to make a massive difference. I am committed to seeing this crisis resolved as a result of the CHURCH rising up to meet this need!

One of the great challenges is that we have become a nation filled with bright people and wonderful churches that are drunk on AWARENESS. We want to know what’s going on, but the Lord has shown me that awareness is great, but He is calling His Church to action!

I know that you know this, but Awareness doesn’t solve problems. Discussion doesn’t solve problems. Insight doesn’t solve problems. Action does.

We have all of the awareness that we need. Let us move on to action. I’ll be completing plans on how you can participate this week.

After the whirlwind that I’ve been on the past 10-days, I cannot wait to see what ACTION looks like! One thing that I am certain of is that Sugar Hill Church is ready to step up and make a difference. I am so grateful for a church that leads the way in serving folks that are marginalized in our society with grace, hope and compassion. I love our dear church. It’s a great honor to serve her!

Go in Peace, Chuck

FAR MORE / MUCH BETTER

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I’ve been attending church since I was an infant and I love the church. But if I took the risk to truly tell you how disenfranchised I have felt from the local church at seasons in my life, you might call into question my calling to serve the church as a pastor. As a matter of fact, I promised the Lord that I’d never be a pastor back in my 20’s and 30’s. And honestly, I do not deserve the honor to serve the Lord’s church as a pastor.

As I kid I went to everything the church did. Sunday morning, afternoon and night. Wednesday night and then as I served my first church as a Kid’s Pastor we added Tuesday night outreach and Saturday morning outreach.

I hit a wall with the church. I had neglected my family. I had completely melted down emotionally, physically and spiritually. It was at that moment, I promised God that I’d do anything but pastor a local church. Anything!!

Life Lesson: The Divine is specific with His purpose for us and is not fond of His plans and purpose being shuffled to the back burner of our lives.

So, like Jonah, I ran the other way. Not away from God, but away from His very specific plan for my life. I didn’t realize that every fiber of my being was sensing the Divine’s pull, prod and call on my life! Just as I believe He is calling you as well. After promising God that I’d do anything but be a pastor, I now find myself eight years into pastoring a great church, a great people and I’m more contented, fired up and energetic than ever before. You can experience that and far more. Just throw your fears to the feet of Jesus and jump off the cliff into obedience and watch the glory of the Lord do what He promises you. Yes, it’s freakish, abnormal, counter-culture and frightening. How cool is that? Let’s chase something that fits those descriptors every day!

The challenge? And please do not laugh, but the challenge? Is that church for most of my life has been filled with complacency, and the total undervaluing of both myself and the people that gathered all around me. In far too many churches the seats are filled with spectators watching as other people live out their dreams. That should be horrific to you if you are a member of a local church. I’m convinced that God does not want us to be satisfied with the status quo. He has created us for action, for glory, for victory, for power, and all for Himself. When I read the following words, I was utterly broken – “We have become hypnotized by two thousand years of secondhand, regurgitated truth—two thousand years of spoon-feeding and undernourishment.”

I ran across a few folks that didn’t fall into the trap of undernourished church as a status quo effort for an hour a week. I noticed that those few were radically different in their faith life. They had a bounce in their step. They were less distracted and far more contented in a active faith. I learned that they were mostly where I had been, but their discontentment had driven them to action as opposed to apathy. They wanted to be a part of something that was beyond the normal and way beyond the natural. They hungered for the supernatural. And friend, that’s where I am. The normal life has become a shame to me and I have surrendered my entire being to allowing the Divine to know me and I knowing Him so well that the supernatural becomes the expected rather than a shock.

I believe, with all my heart, that the Divine created us and wired us for action!

I am confident that He wired us up for victory, daring challenges and power – all for His glory! I’m not spending a single day that doesn’t push me, challenge my faith and focus my energy on the things, words and actions that mimic the red letters of Jesus. I’ve discovered how good it is to walk in His power and away from this world’s status quo – even if the church stands still, I will not! And neither should you! Be the spark in your local church! Dare the assumptions, the rules, the apathy and the way things have always been!

I’ve discovered who I am and by the way, who you are, if you are a Follower of Jesus. You and me? We are not tools! Our functions do not determine our worth or our identity. You are not what you do. You are not your job title. You are not what you are limited by! Do you have a desire to be used by God for His plans and purposes? I think many of you would say, “of course, Chuck.” Well I have some great news for you. God, your Creator doesn’t want to use you, He wants to know you, and even more importantly, He wants you to know Him! God used a fish, but He knew Jonah. God used Ahab, but he knew Ezekiel. God used Saul, but He knew David. God used Judas, but He knew Jesus.

Dead and dying religion screams at us that we are tools and when we are broken, we get throw on the garbage heap of broken tools. It’s like the Home Depot on the Island of Misfit Toys.

Jesus teaches us that WE DO GOOD WORK BECAUSE WE ARE HIS! NOT WE ARE BECAUSE OF WHAT I DO!

I know some of you are reading this post and you are thinking, “Chuck you have no idea how messed up my life is. God could never use me.” The great news for you is that God already KNOWS YOU AND LOVES YOU! He still adores you and He still calls you His Child, His Friend, more than a Conqueror, Chosen and Loved, a Citizen of Heaven, Redeemed, a Saint, A Priest, a Member of a Holy Nation. He even makes all of this personal. He values you, calls you, equips you and goes before you, goes within you and carries you when you need Him.

Come On! That’s good stuff! This life can be far better and so much more!

Choose His way today. When you do, you will recognize, as I have, that this life can and will be MUCH MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED AND MUCH BETTER THAN YOU COULD POSSIBLY DREAM.

Go in Peace, But Go in Action
AChuck

I Drank from the Same “Toilet”, Now What?

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I Drank from the Same Toilet, Now What? by AChuckAllen

It was an encouraging day yesterday. Thousands of folks joined me on this BLOG and I cannot thank you enough for caring about our Border Crisis. Now comes the hard part. What should we do?

I am convinced that we have become a nation obsessed with awareness and convinced that somebody out there should do something about it. That friends, is how you wind up on the border. What in the world could one person do to make any difference in this humanitarian mess? I thought that I could go to the Southern Border, give you a truthful report about what I really saw and be done. But that would be catagorized as awareness. Yesterday, I received an invitation to speak into this crisis in Washington Wednesday and Thursday. Come on, really?

Life Lesson: Awareness is helpful, but action is eternal.

None of those Border Patrol Agents will really care that I wrote about them and I can guarantee you that none of the immigrant families and children will care about another piece of the awareness puzzle. Yes, I drank from AOC’s notorious “toilet”. By the way, she still claims that it’s true! Again, shame on you, Congresswoman Cortez. Folks, I really do not want to be part of the awareness quagmire. I want to help bring solutions to the problem. Here are a few ideas on how WE can make a difference on the Southern Border.

  1. Don’t share or assume truth from any source that you do not fully trust regarding the conditions on the border – GOOD or BAD. On any given day, somebody might see a picture of your house when it’s not ideal, or your bathroom may not be spotless. I’ve had Sundays when we were overwhelmed by large crowds and had to adjust and learn. I’ve run events that ran out of food and we had to scramble and make real time difficult decisions. The men and women serving our country deserve great respect and honor. The hundreds of agents that I saw and talked with were incredibly humble and compassionate. They deserve the truth to be reported about them. Take the most recent death of a father and baby. The father only needed to wait about 24 hours longer before crossing, but instead, tried to cross in a location where agents were limited as a result of their new roles as social workers, janitors, childcare experts, kitchen staff, etc. Every role, but what they were trained to do. So, when dad and baby cross and their lives are at risk, who’s fault is it? When I asked about that incident, I saw the brokeness of the agents and the hurt they all felt. Miles and miles from any care and hours and hours without an agent, because the agent is busy with humanitarian efforts, not patroling the borders. Again, shame on “the squad” and the politically motivated on not telling the entire story!
  2. Support this administration’s Migrant Protection Plan. It’s not anymore perfect than the people in President Trump’s cabinet, but where in place, it’s working.
  3. Join me as we discover solutions for temporary housing and care on the Mexican side of the border. I belive we will see the State Department move on a package of $250 million this month to help bring some relief to this effort. The key? Compassionate care that churches and NGO’s can help support now and into the future. AND, keep the flow of immigrants to a reasonable and managable process. The Border Patrol has and still is making huge adjustments to be ready for the next wave. This effort is a long-view that can better the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, for decades. It includes temporary housing and social services that will better prepare migrants as they start the process.
  4. Pray for our Border Patrol. They are the first line of both defense and compassionate care for immigrants. These folks need our prayers for wisdom, discernment and safety.
  5. Help us retain qualified and trained Border Agents. It takes about $200,000 to train a new Border Patrol Agent, but the turnover rate (wildly increased during the crisis and crush of people desiring a new life in the States) could have a devestation impact on the border. Last Saturday, Operation Border Blessing, which is a part of Paula White Ministries hosted a cookout and festival for several hundred Border Patrol Families. Naturally, they kept it a low-key event. Why, you ask? Because anything that Border Patrol participates in is criticized and picketed. The agents can handle it, I’m sure, but their children should never have to hear that their mom or dad are remotely linked in the cataegory of Nazis and concentration camps. That’s absurd and divisive at best! Let’s celebrate and serve these families. I have days that I’ve counseled one too many people and came home “people exhausted.” I cannot imagine coming home and hearing my work being likened to Nazi Death Camps and that I forced people to drink from toilets. That is so wrong in so many ways. I’d like to have one of these Border Patrol festivals for every regional section of the border and am already starting to engage with plans for an August event in McAllen, TX. I’ll let you know how you can help with this as well.
  6. Let’s help stock the pantries of the Border Centers. They need diapers, toiletries, bottled water, snacks, baby bottles, formula, baby food, and non-perishable snacks for teens and adults. There will be much more to engage with and I will be in discussions with both the Border Patrol and Convoy of Hope seeking better and more inclusive ways to help. As I get specific plans in place, I’ll be sure to update you via this BLOG and social media.
  7. We must provide guidance and assistance with new migrants released onto US soil. The fastest way to do that is to help the present churches and organizations that are doing all that they can do. Along The Southwest Border, Shelters and Churches are Scrambling To Help Migrant Families. I am in the process of discovering where and who these locations are. In El Paso, I witnessed a church that has dedicated huge anounts of resources and volunteer manpower to help migrant familes with their next steps, travel, legalities, communications, clothing, and spiritual care. This is not the time to be spiritual snobs regarding who we partner with. If it’s Catholic Charities or non faith-based NGO’s, we still need to jump in and help. If they aren’t from our denomination, who cares? We are talking about people here! I’ll be providing a list of these churches and organizations in the coming weeks. I’ll also be creating a new Faith-Based, Not-for-Profit, 501c3 organization that you can support and get honest feedback about the border conditions along with where every dime is spent, with total transparency.
  8. We can and we must provide labor skills for the thousands of young adult migrants. I know of a plan, not yet launched, that would allow us to move hundreds of young adult migrants into exhisting housing in Puerto Rico (where language is not a problem). Don’t freak yet. Churches and faith-based organizations, along with compassionate NGO’s can provide food and care, including English as a second language. With governmental assistance, those same groups can help teach the young adults skills that will help them provide for themselves and future familes once permantly placed in the US. All of these efforts can also help Puerto Rico recover from recent hurricanes and financial distress.
  9. Stay informed, but stay focused. Don’t get distracted by any voice that offers problems without potential solutions. Far too often, those are politically motivated.

That’s just a start! I’ve been asked to join a discussion with a few critical thinkers and leaders in Washington tomorrow and Thursday, so I should have more information for you later this week. My plans are to speak with the folks in the Administration and in other faith and geo-political organizations on Wednesday and return to Atlanta on Thursday evening. I was planning on some vacation time in July, but the Lord seems to have a plan, that I am yet to fully understand! So, I once again come to you with a request for your prayers over the next couple of days.

I’ll deliver more insight and opportunities to make a lasting impact following my trip to DC. Thank you for reading and for the many, many words of encouragement. I really am very grateful!

Go in Peace,
AChuck

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