Call Waiting

March 22, 2008  --  Got something to say?
Print This Post Print This Post

Our Town By Jon MelegritoBy Jon Melegrito
Im standing one recent Saturday morning in the sanctuary of the Florin United Methodist Church in Sacramento, listening to a group of young Filipino Americans - replete with drums, bass guitar, keyboard - invite us to dance and sing Christian hymns of praise.

We are swaying and clapping to the rhythm. Theres around 50 of us - preachers and lay leaders - mostly from Northern California, from places like Stockton , Sunny Vale, Delano and Vallejo . Weve gathered for a weekend of discussion and discernment. Mainly, to see how we can reach out to the thousands of unchurched Filipinos hungry for spiritual nourishment, or simply yearning to be in touch with the mysteries of their faith.

And these children are showing us the way with their music, unbridled energy and infectious enthusiasm.
We call it Paglago, or lush growth. More than a program, its a movement for evangelism, of bringing people to Christ. We launched it four years ago in Las Vegas , where more than 70,000 service workers and retirees live. Things can bloom in the desert, we declared. And what happens will not stay there.

Today, Filipino American faith communities in Sin City are thriving. And the virus is spreading.
In Sacramento , the Filipino population has grown by almost 100 per cent in ten years, to more than 33,000 today. The largest concentration - more than a million - is in the counties of Alameda and San Francisco . The highest rate of growth is in Sonoma , posting a 137 per cent increase within a decade, according to the 2000 census.

But these are mere statistics. To community leaders, the challenge has always been translating these numbers into political clout. Like a voting bloc, the way the Hispanic vote has been widely courted by politicians. Or an influential voice in public policy, the way Jewish Americans have made their presence felt in government and business.

To religious leaders, these densely populated areas of unchurched Filipinos represent a community that has brought its unique gift of spirituality to America .

Yes, we have a story to tell.
This election year, its heartening to hear both presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama speak movingly of the need to address issues in moral terms. Issues like economic dislocation, the consequences of the Iraq War, national security, globalization and immigration. They inspire us to assume a greater role in public life. Religious traditions should speak out not only about abortion and same-sex marriage but about war and peace, stewardship of the environment, poverty and other social justice concerns.

Like other minorities, we are excited about the possibility of a woman or a black man becoming president of the United States . Its a breakthrough we can all relate to because we see the possibilities of faith intersecting with politics in a way that will truly heal the wounds of this broken nation.

After having been on the Hillary campaign trail since November, logging thousands of miles flying from coast to coast, and driving thousands more across Iowa s rural flatlands and Texas freeways, this stop-over in Sacramento may seem like a detour but its actually part of the same journey for me.

Standing in this sanctuary, swaying to the beat and rhythm of praise music, I can see how one can be so moved in the rapture of the moment.

But the call of the spirit to dance still requires us to keep our eyes wide open, with both feet firmly on the ground.
E-mail your comments to jonnmele@aol.com

Share This
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

Posted by News Team | Filed Under Our Town 

Comments

Got something to say?





Authentic Diecast Model Cars
Close
E-mail It