Join us for Celebration worship services, in-person and online, every Sunday at 10 a.m.

Providing Sanctuary

Friends,

In 2008, when I started working on the writing project that eventually would evolve into my book on immigration (Neighbor: Christian Encounters with Illegal Immigration), the initial vision for the project was that I would write my book in conjunction with Mason Funk, a filmmaker who was interested in doing a full-length documentary on the same subject.

Eventually, the book/film deal fell through. The publisher with whom we were working decided not to move forward with the project. I found another publisher and Mason pursued other funding sources. Six years later, the film, Anchor Baby, finally has been made, and on Sunday, October 26, at 4PM we will have the opportunity to see the film here at Montclair Presbyterian Church. For the first time the book and the movie will come together as originally planned.

Anchor Baby follows the lives and experiences of a woman who is receiving sanctuary from a Presbyterian church in Los Angeles. It focuses primarily upon the relationship between the woman–an undocumented Guatemalan migrant–and her US-born teenaged daughter. It also explores the impact providing sanctuary had on the congregation.

This is a timely film for our community to be watching. Currently, we are entering into a relationship with the Ordoñez family, which may need some kind of sanctuary in the future. I think we all find Mason’s film to be informative and inspiring as we move forward in our work with the Ordoñez family.

Besides, I’m excited to introduce this congregation to Mason and his fine filmmaking. I’ve actually never met Mason in person, but I went to college with his husband, my father published Mason’s mother’s novel, and I’ve spoken and corresponded with Mason at great length. I’ve also seen some of Mason’s films, including Anchor Baby. Mason is a talented filmmaker, he is a good person and it will be great to have him here.

So if you are free at 4PM on Sunday, October 26, I hope you will join us!

Cheers,
Ben