By Stephen Cook, Senior Pastor at Second Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn.
Relationships matter. There is no denying that relationships that cross different lines of denominations, political parties, theological perspectives and a host of other markers made a significant difference during my time in Washington, D.C for this year’s Advocacy in Action experience.
Second Baptist Church in Memphis has an ever-deepening partnership with the Christ Community Afghan Church with whom we have shared not only physical space, but a close connection as sisters and brothers in Christ. With recent actions taken against Afghans throughout the country – and with several of that church’s members being detained and ordered deported – I have been reminded of how vitally important relationships are in effective advocacy.
Thanks to a local Presbyterian pastor friend who connected me with a Jesuit brother in the international community, who introduced me to a brilliant young woman from the National Association of Evangelicals with whom I was meeting while in Washington, I found empathy and understanding, as well as closer connections with a member of Congress from one of our districts in Memphis.
Representative Steve Cohen is a faithful member of Temple Israel in our community. He and I have met on many occasions, but my most impactful encounter with him came during our visit with Advocacy in Action. As Cohen and his senior legal counsel listened to my stories about Afghan families – including young children – being detained, denied due process and ordered deported, they responded with honest concern and compassion.
The day after my visit with the congressman, he spent several minutes in a House Judiciary Committee hearing relaying the stories I shared about our Afghan neighbors. I was not aware of this until I received a late-night text from a church member who had seen the congressman on our local news, pleading for the safety of our Afghan friends. The following morning, a friend in another state said he had seen and heard about it also. Others sent similar messages throughout the day.
With each “ding” on my phone and message in my inbox, I was reminded again that advocacy makes deep, meaningful impacts. And, of course, that relationships matter.