Explores the power of faith to drive resistance to anti-immigration policies in the United States
God’s Resistance chronicles the work of faith-based activists who have mobilized to counter the effects of mass detention and deportation. Focusing on Southern California, home to a large undocumented population, the authors examine which strategies have been most effective, as well as the obstacles that faith presents to organizing effectively. In-depth interviews with over forty activists, leaders of congregations, lay participants, and immigrants allow us to hear at first hand the challenges and occasional triumphs of this work.
The authors show how faith-based organizations have a distinctive set of advantages to leverage in social movements that are often overlooked and underappreciated by secular activist organizations, but they also face particular challenges that can hinder their effectiveness. The volume offers insights into how these advantages can be maximized, and how the obstacles can be overcome. The powerful testimony from asylum seekers and detained immigrants found in these pages, along with the concrete examples of effective strategies, are indispensable for anyone invested in the fight to recognize the humanity of one of the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
Brad Christerson is Professor in the Department of Sociology at Biola University and co-author of The Rise of Network Christianity, Growing Up in America: The Power of Race in the Lives of Teens and Against All Odds: The Struggle for Racial Integration in Religious Organizations.
Alexia Salvatierra is the Academic Dean of the Centro Latino and the Associate Professor of Mission and Global Transformation at Fuller Theological Seminary and co-author of Buried Seeds: Learning from the Vibrant Resiliency of Marginalized Christian Communities.
Robert Chao Romero is Associate Professor in the Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the author of several books, including The Chinese in Mexico, 1882-1940 and Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity.
Nancy Wang Yuen is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) consultant for Peoplism and author of Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism.
"The combination of deep-insider knowledge and involvement with several groups across many years allows for the telling of a different story about religion and immigration than those that focus on religious opposition to immigrant support.… Goes a long way toward developing a deeper understanding of the potential that faith-based social movements possess to create positive social change, and exactly what that change could entail." ~Richard Flory, Executive Director, Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California
"Illustrates the critical roles faith-leaders and laity play in educating and mobilizing a formidable corps of spiritual and moral advocates. This tome will go a long way in unearthing hidden stories of prophetic advocacy and public solidarity. This story and many others need to be heard. A must read!" ~Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero, President and Founder, National Latino Evangelical Coalition
"A visionary guide for how to fight for an immigration system that sees no stranger. Brilliant, heart-led, indispensable." ~Valarie Kaur, Founder of the Revolutionary Love Project
