My personal journey

Growing up in the Dallas Ft. Worth area I quickly learned that economics play a significant role in people's lives. The extravagant status symbols and shopping opportunities of the North Dallas suburbs provided an eerie juxtaposition to the quiet desperation of poverty in urban Dallas. Prime real estate was gobbled by strip malls while families struggling to gain footing found themselves without affordable housing.

Larry James and Central Dallas Ministries organized opportunities for local communities of faith to spend a few hours walking alongside people intentional to pair the breaking in of the kingdom of God with the transformation of citizens in Dallas. These multiple encounters through my early adolescence reoriented my thinking towards the poor. One misguided friend once spoke in terms of bringing God back to the inner-city, he was quickly corrected with a wise man saying, "We cannot bring God back to the inner city because he never left it in the first place!" Wonderful work is done here alongside those with whom the work benefits the most.

My grandfather farmed for many years in West Texas before working for the state department in the Texas Water Commission. I sometimes forget that agriculture is in my blood. When I'm reminded of this heritage I recall family gatherings where wonderful stories about the hardships and blessings of working the land. There is a palpable sense of fulfillment, pride, and accomplishment in these stories.

My time spent with Dr. Waymon Hinson afforded me yet another reorienting experience. I've come to learn that not all farmers have been treated equal, more than that, many have been treated inhumanely. Many family's stories about farming are laced with pain, tragedy, and an overwhelming sense of powerlessness. Access to loans and vital information have been withheld along racial lines. Dr. Hinson regularly comes into contact with people who's life is forever altered by these discriminations and actively pursues resources while advocating for systemic change.

Both of these reorienting experiences remind me of something Jesus would be apart of. Jesus did not come to help a distant disenfranchised people group but rather called out for justice, mercy, and love from in middle of a crowd. He surrounded himself with people who were in need of healing and were in need of a voice. Jesus calls out for us to dive into the river social of justice and advocate alongside our fellow sisters and brothers against every injustice in existence. Injustice incarnated in the form of biased economic policy, short-sided legislation, systemic racism, or overlooked and underrepresented people groups. Our purpose is to join the chorus of those calling out against injustice and oppression in all its forms.

-Scott
MFI Intern