Where Have We Seen This Before?
By Cintia Aguilar
This weekend we all witnessed the images coming out of Los Angeles. If you haven’t yet taken the time to understand what’s happening, I encourage you to seek out credible sources and read about it. What we’re seeing is a community rising up—coming together to advocate for their rights. But the images are difficult to watch. The very authorities entrusted to protect all people were launching smoke-filled canisters toward peaceful protestors.
Where have we seen this before?
On April 18, 2018, a similar uprising took place in Nicaragua. The government announced reforms to the social security system, increasing payroll taxes and reducing pension benefits for the elderly. In response, young people and community members poured into the streets in peaceful protest. But their voices were met with brutal repression. If you compare images from Nicaragua in 2018 to those from Los Angeles this past weekend, you’ll see something striking: different countries, same scene. Law enforcement turning against the very people they are meant to protect. Communities demanding justice, only to be silenced. A unified community crying out to be heard.
So what’s the difference between the two situations? Nicaragua’s president has held power since 2006, and while the country isn’t officially a communist state, its democratic practices have been steadily declining. The relationship between the government and the people is strained at best—and dangerous at worst. Any sign of dissent is perceived as a threat. There is no middle ground. It's the administration’s way or no way.
Since 2018, many Nicaraguans have been forced to flee their homeland. Simply offering a drink of water to a protestor could result in being blacklisted. Many who fled sought refuge in the United States—a country meant to be a sanctuary for the persecuted. And yet, some now find themselves facing persecution once again, this time at the hands of the very government they thought would protect them.
But Nicaragua is not the only place this has happened. We’ve seen it in Scripture too.
In the Book of Acts, the early church was persecuted. Believers were arrested, threatened, scattered, and even killed for their faith. Many had to flee their homes seeking refuge. Persecution is not new. The patterns we see today are echoes of a reality humanity has endured for generations.
And so the question becomes: What is the role of the Church in moments like this?
As followers of Christ, we are called to do better. This is a wake-up call. The Church must be the love, the peace, and the strength this world so desperately needs. And it's not too late to take a step forward.
There are many ways your congregation can engage—but if you’re looking for guidance, the Thriving Congregations Immigration Ministry (TCIM) offers a meaningful path. Through this two-year cohort program, churches are equipped to strengthen or plant immigration ministries that serve and advocate for immigrant communities. Participants learn alongside others on the same journey and receive financial support to help bring their vision to life.
So we ask you: Will your church take that step forward? Will you become the loving neighbor Christ has called us to be?
If you’re ready, we warmly invite you to attend one of our upcoming TCIM Information Meetings—on July 10 or September 9—to learn more about how your church can respond to this call.
