A sponsoring pastor in Minnesota told a local newspaper, It would be wicked to just bring them over and feed and clothe them and let them go to hell. The God who made us wants them to be converted. If anyone thinks that a gospel-preaching church would bring them over and not tell them about the Lord, they're out of their mind.
A pastor in Minnesota expressed a strong conviction regarding the responsibility of churches to not only provide for the physical needs of immigrants but to also address their spiritual needs. He emphasized that simply aiding them with food and clothing without sharing the message of faith would be morally wrong. His belief is that the essence of their divine mission is to help these individuals find spiritual salvation through conversion to Christianity.
This perspective reflects a broader theme in Anne Fadiman's "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down," which explores the intersection of cultures in a medical context. The book highlights the complexities of providing care while respecting the cultural identities of patients, particularly the Hmong community. The pastor's sentiments illustrate how deeply intertwined social support and spiritual guidance can be, particularly in the context of immigrant populations.
