Author Archives: Latino Townhall
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Las Personas No Son Ilegales
Departe de DANIEL GARZA
El trabajador agrícola por un largo tiempo ha sido una figura importante en la experiencia norteamericana. Sin embargo, sospecho que un gran número de norteamericanos, sin darse cuenta del daño que las palabras pueden causar, continúan refiriéndose al 48 por ciento de las personas que trabajan en el campo y en violación de la ley migratoria como “ilegales”. Pero somos mejor que eso, ¿no es así?
Hoy en día, la etiqueta ofensiva es ubicua: se encuentra en algunos periódicos y revistas, es utilizada por los supuestos expertos en programas que resaltan temas políticos, sale de las bocas de pequeños, y es repetida en oficinas cada vez que se toca el tema de la reforma migratoria.
Supongo que algunos de nosotros inconscientemente oímos esta etiqueta repetida por 
otros tantas veces que simplemente se convierte en un designio conveniente. En efecto, también se lo hacemos a varios otros grupos. Por ejemplo, devotos cristianos, particularmente aquellos de cualquier religión que expresan su fe públicamente, como Tim Tebow y George Bush, se convierten en blancos de ataque y desprecio público.
O quizá, algunos inconscientemente optan por usar este designio negativo porque sutilmente deshumaniza a estas personas para hacerlos aparentar menos que nosotros mismos, y así salvarnos de hacer un esfuerzo para considerar que sus sueños y aspiraciones son de igual importancia a los nuestros. Porque si sus sueños lo fueran, es decir, igual a los nuestros, haría toda la diferencia.
Actualmente, hay dos millones de trabajadores agrícolas –la mayoría que trabajan en el campo son de México– y a pesar del trato despectivo que reciben, silenciosamente continúan haciendo sacrificios personales y contribuciones vitales a la economía norteamericana. Estos sacrificios abarcan desde la separación de sus países de origen, de sus familias, y de lazos culturales hasta tener que laborar en los trabajos más desafiantes y arduos, los menos premiados, y bajo las más difíciles condiciones.
Yo mismo fui criado jugando a la sombra de los árboles del huerto y en las largas filas de las remolachas en los días que no había clases, hasta el día en que tuve suficiente edad para laborar al lado de mi familia, a los 14 años. Durante el tiempo que trabajé en el campo, probablemente presencié a agentes fronterizos estadounidenses en busca de trabajadores no autorizados una docena de veces. Hombres en uniformes verde oscuro con placas doradas salían de un convoy de camionetas oficiales justo antes que gritos alarmantes de “la migra” penetraran el dosel de árboles frutales, y enseguida se creaba un caos.
Hombres y mujeres desesperados, algunos con sus hijos en sus brazos, corrían para evitar la captura y la deportación. Nosotros nos quedábamos quietos junto a nuestras escaleras, esperando que mi padre pacientemente explicara al primer agente que se acercara: “Está bien, nosotros somos ciudadanos estadounidenses”. Y hay que reconocer que siempre le creían.
En ese momento me asaltaban sentimientos de resentimiento, confusión e impotencia. Mi instinto era el de intervenir, oponerme, obstruir. Pero cuando uno es muy joven, acepta las cosas con resignación. Es decir, la evasión constante, el anonimato y la invisibilidad son una forma de vida para aquellos que viven en las sombras, el precio implícito que uno paga por uno intento a conseguir la oportunidad.
Es una forma de vida que cobra un precio caro.
Recuerdo que una ocasión un compañero de trabajo se acercó a papá, y comentó que había decidido regresar a México después de cinco años de sufrir una vida dura en Estados Unidos. Trabajado al máximo, mal pagado, menospreciado, y cansado de vivir en la sombra, dijo que ya había aguantado suficiente. Mi padre le puso su mano en el hombro y le deseó lo mejor. Al final de la semana se fue y nunca lo volvimos a ver.
En el otoño de 1987 papá tomó la decisión de retirarse del campo para siempre y abrir un negocio. Después de treinta años de ganar el mismo sueldo, se quedó sin ningún plan de jubilación, sin un plan médico, sin acumular días de descanso o de enfermedad, y sin una fiesta de retiro. En silencio, nos subimos al coche un día después de haber llenado el último canasto de manzanas y nos fuimos.
Y aunque el mundo no tomó nota de este paso importante, fue un gran día para nuestra familia. Habíamos dejado atrás los días de trabajo arduo en el campo, y pronto nos integramos a la clase media, y nuestra familia se benefició.
Hay muchos incidentes más y otros recuerdos que aún permanecen conmigo y que reflejan las adversidades que enfrentan los trabajadores agrícolas y me hacen sentirme agradecido, cada día de mi vida, de aquellos que aún continúan afanándose, trabajando duro y sudando a la intemperie –día tras día– generalmente invisibles a una nación no siempre agradecida.
Aún más, muy pocos reconocen que la necesidad de los trabajadores agrícolas es indispensable. Al escuchar a quienes hacen un llamado para la deportación en masa, uno podría casi asumir que las frutas, verduras y carnes aparecen y siempre aparecerán en las tiendas y a precios baratos por obra de magia. También se podría asumir que existe una línea larga de norteamericanos agraviados y molestos porque sus puestos en el campo han sido tomados. Ninguna de estas creencias es correcta.
Ignorando que las semillas deben ser plantadas; los campos cultivados; los pequeños árboles irrigados, los árboles frutales podados, y las flores atendidas; que las frutas y las verduras deben ser fumigadas, mantenidas en calor durante el invierno, recogidas, clasificadas, empaquetadas, apiladas y transportadas por cientos de miles de personas, aun así muchos deportarían a estas mismas personas el día de mañana si fuera factible, sin tener en cuenta las consecuencias.
Y existen otros trabajos manuales que también desempeñan, como reparar techos, cortar el césped, lavar platos, ordeñar, limpiar cuadras de caballos, y atender a personas en la tercera edad, para nombrar solo algunas ocupaciones que no siempre reciben suficiente agradecimiento de nuestra nación.
Y a veces los utilizamos de chivos expiatorios cuando la economía va de mal en peor, cuando hay más desempleo, y cuando el gasto federal se dispara. Sí, lo reconozco, aproximadamente 12 millones violan nuestras leyes migratorias. Pero esto no es una excusa. El término “ilegales”, cuando se utiliza para etiquetar a personas que en general son buenas, decentes y trabajadoras, las criminaliza, y no a la acción ilícita que haya cometido, y no es correcto usarlo. Como otros ya han dicho: los seres humanos no son ilegales, lo que no es legal es la acción.
Con una facilidad asombrosa muchos se refieren a estas personas como “ilegales” mientras sus hijos escuchan estos comentarios. En realidad, no puedo pensar en otro grupo de niños norteamericanos expuestos a tan cruel desprecio de sus padres. ¿Es que acaso no sentimos el dolor de ser víctimas de ataque y objetos vivos de desprecio?
Ciertamente el pueblo norteamericano ha expresado libremente su continua inconformidad con todo lo que tenga que ver respecto al tema de inmigración desde la fundación del país, y seguramente el debate continuará más allá de esta generación. En realidad, este artículo no tiene el objetivo de persuadir al lector a favor o en contra de una reforma migratoria específica, sino que simplemente es un llamado a un diálogo respetuoso.
La sociedad estadounidense es la más bondadosa y compasiva del mundo. Pusimos punto final a la mancha milenaria de la esclavitud. Cuando el totalitarismo y el fascismo amenazaban con dominar el mundo, fuimos nosotros los que detuvimos su avance. Y estoy convencido de que hoy día, a pesar de todo, seguimos teniendo la fibra moral para resolver los difíciles retos que enfrenta nuestra generación.
Así que exprese su postura sobre la inmigración de acuerdo a sus convicciones; es, por supuesto, su derecho. Pero a pesar de su postura sobre el tema, mi esperanza es que como norteamericanos, examinemos qué es lo mejor para nuestro país, socialmente, económicamente y políticamente, sin tener que acudir a frases lastimosas que no aportan nada al diálogo.
Los inmigrantes en Estados Unidos siempre han mostrado una loable ética de trabajo, un compromiso admirable con la familia, y siempre han sido defensores y valiosos contribuyentes a nuestro sistema de mercado libre. Estas virtudes son las mismas que la gran mayoría compartimos como norteamericanos, y sobre todo como humanos.
Daniel Garza es Director ejecutivo de la Iniciativa Libre. Previamente fue subdirector en la Oficina de Asuntos Externos en la Casa Blanca.
People Are Not Illegal
by DANIEL GARZA
Farm workers have long been an important and enduring fixture of the American experience. Yet far too many Americans, unsympathetic to the damage words can have I suspect, will refer to the 48 percent of those who farm work in the United States in violation of our immigration law as “illegals”. We’re better than that, aren’t we?
Today, the impolite label is ubiquitous – it’s in newspapers and magazines, it’s used by pundits on political talk shows, it spews from the mouths of babes, and uttered by the office water cooler whenever the issue of immigration reform comes up.
My guess is that some of us use the term out of obliviousness – we hear the label so often from others it simply becomes an apt moniker. We do it to others too. Devout Christians, particularly people who express faith publicly like Tim Tebow and George Bush, are deemed fair game for similar “acceptable” disparagement by the public.
Or, some unconsciously opt for the moniker because it subtly dehumanizes and renders them as lesser than ourselves, as if to spare us from having to consider that their dreams and aspirations are equal to ours. You see, if they were, equal that is, it would make all the difference.
Currently, there are two million farm workers – the majority of which hail from Mexico – and despite the disparaging treatment they receive, they nevertheless quietly continue to make personal sacrifices and vital contributions to the America economy. These sacrifices range from separation from their countries of origin, families, and cultural ties to working the most challenging and rigorous jobs, under the most difficult conditions, and for the least reward.
I myself was raised playing under the shadows of orchard trees and in the long rows of sugar beets on days there was no school until I was old enough to labor alongside the family – at 14 years of age. While working the fields, I probably witnessed U.S. Border Patrol Agents make sweeps for unauthorized laborers about a dozen times. Men in dark green uniforms and gold badges would pour out of a convoy of government vans and trucks just before alarming screams of “la migra!” would permeate under the canopy of fruit trees – chaos would immediately ensue.
Desperate men and women, some gripping their children in a tight hold, would scramble and scurry every direction to evade capture – and subsequent deportation. We would stand by our ladders, in stillness, waiting patiently for my father to explain to the first agent that approached “It’s okay, we are U.S. citizens” (to their credit, they always believed him).
All at once, I was struck by feelings of resentment, confusion and helplessness. My instincts were to intervene, to object or obstruct. But one, especially one so young, resigns to the way things are because, well, that’s the way things are. That is, constant evasion, anonymity, and invisibility is a way of life for those “living in the shadows”– the implied price one pays for a shot at opportunity.
It is a way of life that takes its toll.
I recall on one occasion a fellow worker walked over to dad, said he decided he would be moving back to Mexico after five years of hard living in the United States. Overworked, poorly paid, unappreciated, and tired of living in the shadows, he said he had had enough. My dad placed his hand on his shoulder, held it there for some time, and wished him well. He was gone by the end of that week never to be seen again.
In the fall of 1987 dad himself determined to leave the fields for good and open a business. After thirty years of being paid the prevailing wage, he had no retirement, no health plan, no vacation or sick leave days accrued, and no retirement party. Quietly, without fanfare, we got in our car one day after filling the last bin of apples and moved on.
Although the world didn’t stop to mark the milestone, it was a great day for our family. Days of arduous farm work were now be behind us, and soon to be added to the middle class rolls, our family was better off for it.
There are scores of incidents and other memories I hold that speak to the adversities faced by farm workers which give me reason to be grateful, every day of my life, to those who continue to slog, toil, and sweat under the elements – day in and day out – mostly sight unseen.
What is more, few concede the Nation’s need for agricultural labor is indispensable. Listening to those who call for mass deportation, you would think fruits, vegetables, and meats magically appear on store shelves, and at cheap prices – and always will. You would also think there is a long line of aggrieved Americans, upset their farm jobs were taken from them. Neither assumption is true.
Ignoring that seeds must be planted; fields must be cultivated, saplings must be irrigated, fruit trees must be pruned, and blossoms must be thinned; that fruits and vegetables must be fumigated, kept warm from the cold, picked, sorted, packed, stacked and transported by hundreds of thousands of people; some would deport the very people that do these things tomorrow if it was feasible without fully grasping the economic consequences of such an act.
And there are other menial jobs they do such as roofing, mowing lawns, dishwashing, milking, cleaning horse stables, and adult senior care to name a few that do not get as much as a nation’s thanks. They do them anyway. Even as we scapegoat them when the economy goes bad, when job numbers dip, and federal spending skyrockets.
Yes, I know, twelve million are estimated to be in violation of our immigration law, and I agree it is an undesirable condition. It’s not an excuse; the term “Illegals”, when used to label otherwise good, decent, hardworking people criminalizes the person, not the illicit action he or she committed. As has been said by others; humans are not illegal, what they do is illegal.
Rather, with astonishing ease and comfort many refer to them as “illegals” while their children stand listening close by. Actually, I cannot think of another group of American children exposed to more cruel disdain of their parents – and we call them “anchor babies” to boot. Have we not felt the sting of being a walking, living target of someone’s contempt?
Americans have expressed ongoing disagreements over immigration since the nation’s founding, and there is little doubt the debate will continue long after we’re gone. This piece is not an attempt to persuade you to advocate for or against immigration reform, it is solely a call for a respectful dialogue.
I know Americans to be the kindest, most compassionate people on earth. The stain of slavery –which had existed for thousands of years- was obliterated by us. When totalitarianism threatened to take over the world, we stopped it. And I’m convinced we have the moral fiber to solve the ethical challenges of our time.
By all means, voice your convictions regarding immigration reform, it is, of course, your right. But regardless of where you stand on the issue, my hope is that as Americans, we examine empirically and collaboratively what is socially, economically and politically most advantageous for our country without reverting to condescending pejoratives. It adds no value.
Immigrants to America have always shown a strong work ethic, a deeply rooted commitment to provide for their families, and have always been ardent defenders and valuable contributors to our free market system. These are virtues the vast majority of us share as Americans, and more importantly, as fellow humans.
Daniel Garza is Executive Director of the Libre Initiative. Previously he was deputy director in the Office of External Affairs at the White House.
Workforce Leadership Summit and Job Fair – 2012
Event Sponsor and Job Fair Registration <Download
LATINO TOWNHALL
& College of Southern Nevada
Workforce Leadership Summit & Job Fair
(All Students Welcome – Ages 16-23)
Friday, April 13th – 6 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, April 14th – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at College of Southern Nevada – Charleston Campus, Bld. K
Facts and Statistics: A Rationale for Summit
The unemployment rate for youth is at 17%—nearly twice the average of the national unemployment rate. –Society for Human Resource Management (Nov. 2011)
From April to July 2011, the number of employed youth 16 to 24 years old rose by 1.7 million to 18.6 million… rate for Hispanic youth was 53.6%.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Latino Townhall is currently seeking 100 High School students (ages 16 to 18) and 100 College students (ages 19-23), to attend a Workforce Leadership Summit & Job Fair at the College of Southern Nevada.
Our intent and purpose is to prepare youth for workforce readiness.
Topics to be covered are:
> S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting
> Cover letter writing
> Resume building
> Best Job Interview Practices
> Dress for Success
> Building Social (Capital) Networks!
> Students will have access to many Job Fair booths with a potential for hire.
REGISTER NOW for FREE!!!! <Download
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Organizational Intelligence: Confronting a Fear-based Working Environment
Employed as a leadership coach for various organizations over the past two years I encountered many working environments; some great, some good, and unfortunately, some bad ones. The one most demoralizing is the fear-based working environment. You know that place of employment, where there’s little to no motivation to passionately pursue and expand organizational goals. The problem isn’t the employee but leadership’s inability to foster respect and build trust. In a fear based one working environment, the leader (manager or owner) controls with fear, creating negative vides in the workplace. This type of environment is challenging to say the least. In an economy like ours (December 2009), it is much more difficult for any employee to leave their job for a better work setting, so they stick around hoping for any kind of change. Like the movie, The Matrix, it’s like being caught in a never ending simulated reality; once you’re in it, you can’t leave. If you do leave, you have to get at the end of line, and wait for weeks, even months to be called for an interview. So what‘s an employee to do? The ideas presented in this blog post will help you navigate through this kind of working environment.
In a fear based working environment employees’ walk on eggshells wondering when the leader will show up to reprimand someone publically. I personally witnessed this scenario first hand many times. I remember a situation where employees were doing their jobs when suddenly the owner appears, standing quietly in a corner unannounced, watching to see if anyone says or does something slightly out of line. As soon as employees’ became aware of this person’s presence the atmosphere changed, giving each other “the look”, as if, “Be aware, she’s here!” As the owner walked around, the employees became quiet, perhaps hoping she would not choose any of them to pick on.
On other occasions, procedures or systems were changed simply by the owner’s whim or because a client-customer made passing comment or mild complaint. Instead of keeping or making a slight adjustment to a working system, a whole new system was devised and implemented. And most critical of all, reprimands were too often made in the open or in meetings, not in a private office.
Liz Ryan, author of Ten Signs of a Fear Based Workplace notes:
“Fear shuts down our ability to think creatively, collaborate, and bring passion to the job. When getting through the day requires a focus on keeping one’s head down, taking no risks, and sucking up to anyone in management, your organization’s soul has left the picture.”
A fear-based working environment is difficult to change, since the owner/leader is set in his or her ways. Insecure leaders who think critically of others, rather than optimistically breed fear. Weak employees, who fear confronting the obvious elephant in the room, would rather put up with it, keeping the status quo. A leader creating this type of environment is usually caught in trap; to change would mean he or she would have to admit they have been managing wrongly, and would need to change their ways. So the struggle to achieve excellent working cultures stalls organizational effectiveness, even quenching the human spirit.
How does one confront such a leader? The best way to do this is through group confrontation, where several respected, tenured and highly qualified employees approach the leader in private with a short list of observations. What is a leader to do, fire this elite group? If a leader has any sense he or she should receive this honest feedback to gain respect required to lead effectively, then create the changes needed to transform themselves and their working environments.
What are other suggestions required to turn this type of working environment around?
Latino Townhall’s Top 25 Quotes of 2011
These are Latino Townhall’s Top 25 Quotes of 2011, which are provided to inspire you to stimulate your thinking, and help you through times of difficulty. I have provided my name at the end of each quote in case you want to copy and paste on social media sites. Thank you for your support in 2011:
Fear is the sure beginning of failure, eventually leading to one’s demise. –Joel Garcia (January 2011)
Every Christian should aspire to a leadership role becuase the Spirit of God within them is constantly moving and creating change, and this is what leaders do. –Joel Garcia (April 2011)
Leading with love is the most excellent way. –Joel Garcia (April 2011)
To overcome incompetence do not stand-alone rather deepen your pool of knowledge by standing alongside others. –Joel Garcia (April 2011)
Listening provides the context you need to ask the right questions. –Joel Garcia (May 2011)
Your personal gifts prophesy to your future. –Joel Garcia (June 2011)
Hope is the assurance of a release date from your wilderness journey. –Joel Garcia (July 2011)
Leaders who reinvent themselves see things in a whole new way, therefore, driving needed change in their environment. –Joel Garcia (Aug. 2011)
A comprehensive Christian worldview must instill belief, power and the ability to transform culture. –Joel Garcia (Aug. 2011)
If you keep hope alive, you stay alive. –Joel Garcia (Aug. 2011)
A gospel with power adds wonder. –Joel Garcia (Aug. 2011)
Ideas have a better chance of life in a community. –Joel Garcia (Aug. 2011)
Complaints measure your ineffectiveness, while solutions measure your effectiveness. -Joel Garcia (Aug. 2011)
Creativity rebounds during moments of rest and solitude. –Joel Garcia (Sept. 2011)
Every action you take sets in motion something greater; transformation begins with enough of the right actions. –Joel Garcia (Aug. 2011)
When a man loses his moral compass, he lands in desolate places. –Joel Garcia (Sept. 2011)
There’s no transformation without a struggle. –Joel Garcia (Sept. 2011)
The gift of change is loss; if we don’t learn to let go we’ll never change. –Joel Garcia (Sept. 2011)
Servant leaders inspire others to be and do their best by their lifestyle. –Joel Garcia (Oct. 2011)
Tension and misunderstanding go together; get understanding and watch tension gradually release itself. –Joel Garcia (Oct. 2011)
You can’t “cherry pick” your character, it’s cultivated through time, choice and action. -Joel Garcia (Oct. 2011)
The primary objective of parenting is making a child beautiful on the inside. –Joel Garcia (Nov. 2011)
Wisdom triumphs over experience. –Joel Garcia (November 28, 2011)
Submission doesn’t come when you ask for it; it happens when you’ve work for it. –Joel Garcia (November 28, 2011)
Ten Strategies for Empowering Latino Youth
It’s time for Latino/Hispanics to set aside their “cultural lens” and see life through a different one. The one I am referring to is the “success lens”. I am personally exhausted hearing the same ‘ol lingo from family, friends and casual conversations at networking events, “That’s how Latinos do it!”, or “A si somos”, meaning that there’s a settled way of doing things in our culture. This is cultural pride, and that’s the central core of this issue… cultural pride keeps our community stuck in a cycle of mediocrity. It’s time to put off the old, and put on new thinking. So what do young Latinos need to know to succeed? I was contemplating this question for awhile on a Saturday afternoon as I watched a game of college football. The following strategic tools emerged before me to empower Latino youth:
1. Become a Christian
Jesus said, “You must be born-again“, meaning that you must have a spiritual encounter with the Savior who can transform the way you think, act, and live. Therefore, seek to know God personally (not religiously), and make Him known to others. Spirituality should be your top priority since it’s key to awakening your inner person. Many Latinos are stuck in religion; we must move away from that mold and seek the true lover of our souls.
2. Learn and master the English language
Learn to write effectively and communicate well. Don’t be shy to take classes that challenge your verbal development such as speech class, debate, and rhetoric. Speech class in college helped me overcome my fears in speaking in front of others. I’m so thankful for that class.
3. Find your passion and life mission
You must ponder and answer these questions: Why am I here? What was I created to do? Develop a life mission statement, something that will guide you and direct your decision making. Here’s a glimpse at mine:
I was created to help others find their niche and passion in life; to develop them to display their fullest potential.
It’s simple yet tells people that I love personal development and helping others find their place in life. Second, your passion is what energizes you to do what you do best each day. When you’re passionate, it’s like there is no difference in days; a Monday is like a Friday because you love what you do. Combined, your “mission” and “passion” are powerful tools for personal engagement, and engaging others.
4. Discover and cultivate your innate gifts and abilities
You must ask yourself: What are my strengths? The Gallup Organization conducted a 25 year study and discovered 34 innate strengths common in people. The test reveals your top 5 signature themes. You can take an Online test to discover and develop your personal gifts. Go to this link: http://www.strengthsfinder.com/home.aspx . Yes, there is a small cost but its worth the investment.
5. Find good mentors
Find mentors who will help you think critically. Mentors who will teach you “how” to think, not “what” to think and believe. Usually, youth pastors make good mentors.
6. Build your relational network early
A network can be your school, church and place of employment. Make friends horizontally (your peers and co-workers), and vertically (your teachers, coaches, employers, etc.) When you graduate from High School keep a list of teachers and administrators who made a difference in your life, and stay in touch with them. You’ll never know if you’ll need them in the future to provide you with a reference or open a door. Don’t forget to foster new relationships while managing old ones. Relationships are key to your success!
7. Develop your character
Character is developed over a lifetime of choices, so start early in life; speak well of others, learn to love others, and respect them even if you disagree with them. Ask others, like your mentors, to speak into your life, provide feedback and check your blind spots periodically.
8. Learn and practice generosity
Learn to give your time, talent and personal treasures away to others. Freely you have received, freely give. A generous person never has to worry about the lack of supply. What you sow you shall reap. Generosity is basically living with an opened hand.
9. Never stop learning
Some people develop pride and think they “know it all”. Therefore, be a life time learner, read books, leadership journals, magazines, listen to audio tapes of great leaders. Don’t settle for mediocrity but strive for personal excellence. Learn from others, even if they are younger than you. Build a personal culture of a learner.
10. Seek to be affluent and influential
When you seek to become affluent (having money) and influential (impacting others), you won’t have to count on government to take care of you, and you will be able teach others to be self-sufficient. Don’t allow others to make you think wealth is “wicked” or that the “wealthy” are greedy. Those who point to “greed” are full of envy themselves, don’t listen to them. Class warfare causes unnecessary divisions. Wealth is a biblical concept. God meant for you to have money. Godly people like Abraham, King David, King Solomon and countless others were wealthy individuals. God meant for you to have wealth and be influential. However, don’t let the love of money control your life. You must control your desire for only money since “the love of money of the root of evil” but building personal wealth is critical to your viability.
Can you add your wisdom to this list?
Developing a Comprehensive Christian Worldview
A comprehensive Christian worldview must instill belief, power and the ability to transform culture.” ~Joel Garcia
As Christians we are commanded by the apostle Peter (1 Peter 3:15) to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Understanding and communicating our faith is only one of three components that define a comprehensive Christian worldview, two additional pillars remain; displaying power by the Holy Spirit, and the impact Christians have on culture to transform it in the God’s image. Many Christians have difficulty communicating their faith without using “The Bible says…” or “God says…” We must take notes and learn from the apostle Paul who stood on top of Mars Hill (Acts 17). In Athens, Paul communicated a Christian apologetic to an intellectual elite who asked him about his faith. Paul posed his answers to fit their historical background and understanding. Paul did not fail as some have proposed; he merely presented the gospel to a secular crowed in a way they could understand. Many of his listeners were tracking his message up until the time he brought up the resurrection from the dead; many snickered, while a handful of them believed.
A Christian worldview must have three components to make it viable. These three components include a set of beliefs, which are communicated effectively in conjunction with the manifestation of the Spirit’s power via signs, miracles and wonders; the ensuing outcome is personal and cultural transformation.
1. Belief
Every worldview philosophy has a text, a code or a set of beliefs it adheres to. In this respect, the Christian faith is not any different from other faiths, philosophies, etc. The sacred text, known as the Bible, forms our views; the way we worship, the way we live, approach and apply solutions to the problems that exist in the world. For instance, the central message of the early church was the life, crucifixion (death), burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. They were witnesses of the Majestic King on earth; they saw, touched and spoke with God incarnate. After witnessing the resurrection of Jesus, no one could shut up the early preachers, even at the point of death. They kept their message intact and undeluded. When we study the patterns in Scripture, when the Word was preached, it was accompanied by signs, miracles and wonders.
2. Power
The one distinction between the Christian worldview and all other views known to mankind is it’s simple claim to “resurrection power”. No other belief system or religion in the
world has a central feature such as the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not only is the resurrection of Christ a settled belief in scripture; it’s a reality in the 21stcentury church – we believe Jesus rose from the dead, and this power is alive and accessible. Luke, a traveling companion of the apostle Paul, provides a glimpse into this premise in Acts 14:3:
So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there (Iconium), speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.
In the city of Iconium, we see a strong connection between their message and ensuing “power” released to perform miraculous signs and wonders. The spoken Word accompanied by power produces amazing results; it gets the attention of people.
3. The Capacity to Transform Culture
Christians sold out for Christ possess power by the Spirit of God to affect positive changes in their physical world. The gospel has power; the ability to change people’s lives, to heal, change atmospheres and environments, and to transform culture in His image. The apostle Paul was accused of turning “the world upside down” (Acts 17:6), dividing cities in two, and at one point a lawyer bringing charges against him describes Paul as a “plague” (Acts 24:5), meaning his message was having an impact upon culture. Paul drove the religious and non-religious establishments crazy; they persecuted him, threw him in prison and many times almost took his life. The power of the Holy Spirit residing in him and others affected the spiritual and physical climate, thus, impacting and transforming culture (Acts 19).
A Christian worldview is nullified when any of these three aspects are absent.
What are your thoughts of a Christian worldview? Is there one size fits all?
Una Nota para Pastores
Amados Pastores, Oro y confió que nuestro Señor Jesucristo siga manifestándose en sus vidas y congregaciones. Declaro que veremos todos juntos su Gloria en nuestra hermosa ciudad de las Vegas.
Como muchos de ustedes sabrán el Señor puso en mi corazón iniciar una Escuela de Liderazgo Transformacional desde hace mucho tiempo y creo que ahora es el tiempo de iniciar esta escuela para beneficio del cuerpo de Cristo y tomando la oportunidad de esta carta quiero informarles que nuestra escuela comienza el martes 13 de septiembre de este año en curso. Esta escuela está destinada a alcanzar y formar nuestra próxima generación de líderes de nuestra comunidad.
Latino Townhall, Inc. ha sido certificada como una Escuela Privada de Educación Superior en Nevada. Esta es una escuela para nosotros los latinos. Disponemos de 12 cursos sobre liderazgo basado sobre la roca fuerte de nuestra fe que es Jesucristo. Nosotros capacitamos a los estudiantes a tengan la ”mente de Cristo” para que así influencien en el área que ellos decidan por terminar en la vida, gobernando con esa mentalidad.
Esta visión es imposible hacerla yo solo, necesito del cuerpo de Cristo y que nos unamos a correr la voz en los próximos tres domingos anunciando en su congregación nuestra escuela. Un anuncio no es suficiente, y como pastores que somos, necesitamos tomar la visión más de una vez. Por qué estoy diciendo esto? Estoy oyendo que muchos de nuestros jóvenes latinos después de la escuela secundaria no están motivados para la universidad, otros necesitan buscar un trabajo, y muchos están en casa jugando juegos de video sin ningún propósito para la vida. ¿Mi pregunta es por qué perder más el tiempo?
Nuestras clases de otoño tendrán lugar cada martes por la mañana, tarde y noche. Estas serán en Inglés (una clase es en español y se reúnen cada sábado de 6 a 8 pm.). Nos hemos comprometido a ayudarles a aprender, crecer y vivir la vida abundante que nuestro Jesús prometió. También estaremos con el estudiante a la par que su carácter y liderazgo es formado con nuestro equipo de entrenadores de vida. Con nuestros contactos el estudiante podrá prepararse para encontrar trabajo.
Joel Garcia
Presidente’ de Latino Townhall, Inc.
