Proximity Humanizes, Distance Dehumanizes: A Conversation with Our Friend Sarah Blumenshine

We are back with Season 4 of the Let's Talk: Faith & Justice Podcast! In this episode Elizabeth and Sarah Blumenshine, the director of Intercultural Ministries at Emanuel Gospel Center, discussed faith and justice, with Sarah sharing her background in teaching and work with immigrant communities. They explored how religious communities are responding to current political and social challenges, particularly regarding immigration, and discussed the importance of reducing distance and increasing proximity to better understand and support affected populations. The conversation concluded with discussions about immigration advocacy, reliable information sources such as Mira Coalition and the Immigrant Family Services Institute (ifsi-usa.org), and the role of faith in addressing social issues, with Sarah emphasizing the need for individuals to take action while acknowledging their limitations and relying on divine grace.

“But remember that hope isn’t something we need to conjure on our own. It is a grace that God gives, allowing us to face evil and death, yet still believe that the life-affirming Spirit is always at work within and around us, bringing about good.We are the ones who must dare to believe that seeds of new possibilities, invisible to us now, have already been planted in the soil of our lives, and they are slowly taking root. New life will emerge from the ashes of what is lost. – Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde