Chafin Lecture 2020

In March 2020, The Center for Church and Community Impact (C3I) hosted the Barbara Chafin Endowed Lecture Series on Family Ministries. C3I was thrilled to welcome author, speaker, and immigrant advocate Karen Gonzalez to speak on immigration and families. Ms. Karen Gonzalez is the author of the book The God Who Sees: Immigrants, The Bible, and The Journey to Belong. The lecture below is titled “The God Who Sees: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Conversation.” With gentleness and clarity, Karen González offers the stories of biblical immigrants, focusing on Ruth, a woman who left her land and was loved and received by the people of Bethlehem as one of their own. Using her own theological explorations of immigrants from her book The God Who Sees: Immigrants, The Bible, and the Journey to Belong, Karen guides diverse audiences to see their immigrant neighbors as God does. Throughout the presentation, she defines important terms, discusses U.S. immigration laws, engages the facts using the most up-to-date research from leading think tanks, economists, and scholars, and provides practical steps for engaging with immigrants and advocating for them at a local and national level. Karen’s speaking style is warm and engaging, encouraging people to ask questions, reflect on biblical stories, and trust in the bountiful economy of our God.