Pastor Tony Suarez, founder of Revival Makers and Vice President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), led a significant religious event on Good Friday in McAllen, Texas. During a tent revival, he declared the southern border as belonging to Jesus, drawing attention to the ongoing immigration crisis. His ministry has been conducting a series of revivals along the southern border, reportedly attracting over 9,000 attendees. Suarez, a member of Donald Trump’s informal evangelical advisory board since 2016, has been a vocal advocate for immigration reform that balances border enforcement with a path to legal status without offering amnesty.

Advocacy and Political Involvement

As an influential Latino evangelical leader, Suarez has endorsed Trump for the 2024 election but has expressed disappointment in the Republican Party’s handling of border issues. This stance reflects a broader disillusionment among Latino evangelical leaders, who find fault with both major political parties. The NHCLC’s campaign, “The Urgency of Now,” launched in March, calls for comprehensive immigration reform. Despite recent declines in illegal border crossings, Suarez believes the border remains in crisis, criticizing President Biden’s actions as politically motivated and ineffective.

Diverging Evangelical Views

The article highlights the complexity of Latino evangelical perspectives, noting that they are not a monolithic group. While Suarez focuses on immigration, other leaders like Rev. Gabriel Salguero emphasize issues like poverty and education. Salguero, representing the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, stresses the importance of policies like the child tax credit and nutrition assistance programs. He also advocates for bipartisan immigration reform that balances justice and mercy.

The Challenge of Evangelical Identity

Some leaders, like Bishop Jesus Santos Yáñez and Rev. Juan García, distance themselves from the political connotations of the term “evangelical,” while others, like Salguero, aim to reclaim its historical meaning. This debate reflects broader concerns about the intersection of faith and politics among Latino evangelicals.

Source:

Latino Evangelicals Push for Immigration Reform Ahead of Election

Photo by Barbara Zandoval on Unsplash

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