At the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) Southwest Conference in Santa Ana on February 5-7th, Susan created a self-directed prayer experience on the topic of immigration called the Bloom Walk where participants had the opportunity to reflect on the communal sins of our nation, our personal need for the love and affirmation of God, the deaths of many in ICE custody, and ways that believers could take action and share Christ’s love through letters of encouragement to students and individuals in detention during this time.
On Friday of the gathering, Susan led a workshop where 14 leaders and students shared “I am” and “I am not” statements, exploring how anti-immigrant messages have shaped their identities and experiences as Christ-followers. In addition, students outside the church offered their perspectives on the Church in recent months. Together, the group learned from one another’s experiences and reflected on how the well-being of students, from elementary school through college, is impacted by recent immigration raids. The two-hour workshop provided a space for sharing, empathy, and affirmation, and ended with a call to commitment. Using a small play parachute, each participant declared their hopes and prayer requests for the future.
The CCDA Southwest Leadership Team also invited Susan to lead a closing celebratory large group activity on the last morning of the conference. Based on Isaiah 61:11 “For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.” Susan taught the participants a simple group worship dance to the song “Beautiful Things” to celebrate God’s work in the world in spite of the current difficulties.