11 - A Search for the Principles Behind Migration
2022 No 11
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.
--Proverbs 3:13
If you read our first post in this blog series, you will know that we designed each article to be consumed individually. But you would also know that the posts are interconnected, having been stitched together linearly. The original thought had been to write a book. However, had that been the case, none of this material would be available for quite some time and then to only a limited audience. We chose to shorten the process and expand the potential audience by giving you the information in smaller pieces and over an extended period. In some respects, you are reading the book as it is being written. Assuming you have been with us from the beginning, you have just finished the introduction. Woohoo!
We have sought to remain at the proverbial 40,000-foot level during these past three years of research. (That would be 12,000 meters for our European readers.) We have tried to keep a high view of global movements to discern the principles that are most likely true for all migrants. What we have found is that there are certain aspects of mobility that run consistently across almost all forms of migration. If those factors are not considered, then conclusions could be drawn that would be inaccurate. It would be like trying to understand hydrodynamics, the movements of water, without considering the impact of gravity, slope, temperature, etc.
Consequently, we believe that these principles are integral to almost every form of migration. They are always working in the background at some level. They are the answers to three core questions… “Why did you move?”, “How did you move?” and, “To where did you move?”.
People on the Move
Generally speaking, we have found that people migrate because conditions exist that make movement either necessary or attractive. Some were being pushed from their homes, while others were pulled into new places. To make any progress, they needed help, and generally, that help came at a price. Ultimately, their journey took them in specific directions. There is an old saying that every road goes somewhere. It may not be where you intend to go, but if you are on that road, it will take you there. Migrant highways are similar. They go places. It is in those places where we find people, often desperately searching for answers.
Most of those places are urban, and there is already an active presence of God’s people in almost all those places. Often there is a church. And in many of those churches, their people have embraced the calling to love their new neighbors and give them the answers to life's most critical questions. That may be why God allowed these migrants to land in that community. Remember Paul’s message to the Athenians?
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. –Acts 17:24-27
Our goal in writing these articles is to provide the kinds of information and encouragement that will help best inform the local church as she seeks to care for her community. It truly is that simple! In that light, our objective over the next dozen posts will be to present some five principles in the background of every migrant. For the moment, allow me to offer a glimpse of what they may be.
Five Universal Principles of Migration
The first principle is that everyone is a migrant. If we are not careful, we can be tempted to categorize people into specific boxes. Why? Because we love to apply labels. Unfortunately, this can be prevalent in the field of migration studies. There are legal migrants, illegal migrants, displaced persons, and trafficked persons. Each box holds a host of sub-categories of descriptors. Doing so, however, can create an environment of separation and isolation. How many places have you been where it was “us” (the church) versus “them” (the migrants)? This contrast is unfortunate because very few of “us” have not experienced movement at some time in our own lives.
And with that movement, we… and they… experienced change! They move into a different world. They are exposed to other ideas, cultures, and ways of thinking. Often without intent, they begin to become receptive to that which is new and different. And if they return home, they bring those new ways back into their native community and culture. This change will become essential to understand and consider as we engage moving people with the love of Christ. Why? Because this kind of change often has a positive impact on their receptivity to the gospel.
The second principle is that everyone moves for a reason. Few people wake up one morning and decide to go on an adventure without regard for the financial, physical, and cultural costs. Every migrant has a story. Each can tell you why they left home. And… each of their stories is real. Some will have been pushed from their community by conflict, natural disaster, poverty, or even by others in the community. Others were drawn to a new place, anticipating that they would go to school, find a job, or join another family member. But they all have a reason, and that reason becomes a compelling motivator for movement. Compassion compels us to hear their stories. Their story often reveals their brokenness and the very depths of their hearts, dreams, and desires.
The third principle is that no one moves alone. Even on the short rural to urban movements, one needs help to either get where they are going or to survive when they arrive. Such is especially true for the distant migration routes. Networks exist at every level to facilitate movement. Some of those networks are family or community-oriented. In many cultures, religious networks exist to help their adherents achieve their goals. Even those who try to “go it alone” must take advantage of some form of independent network to make progress. Then, of course, the smuggling and criminal networks are always in the shadows of every urban context. The key to remember is that networks of some sort are necessary for movement in all cases.
The fourth principle is that money dictates the pathway. Here is an unfortunate observation … the poorest people do not intentionally migrate. I know that sounds harsh. Let me state it another way. It takes money to go anywhere. Often, it takes a lot of money! Remember, no one moves alone. And those who stand ready to help do so for a fee. How much money one has available at any stage of the journey will determine the migration route, the time it takes to migrate, the end destination, and often the suffering endured. Those with resources, who can migrate legally, will buy a visa and a plane ticket. Those with resources and who cannot migrate legally must often pay a smuggler to get them to their desired location. Those without resources often pay as they go, begging, borrowing, and working. In the end, each may expend the same amount of money. The difference will be the time taken and, once again, the suffering endured along the way.
The fifth principle is that the migrant is never in control. The factors that influence migration and the policies that control migration are often well beyond the capacity of any individual to direct. Migrants are often pawns in the hands of governments as they seek to achieve their political or economic ends. All one government has to do is turn the other way, and thousands of migrants can cross into a neighboring country overnight. Or, borders can close on very short notice, stranding migrants in a transit country for years. Student foreign visas are often distributed based on the economic or positional benefit achieved by the granting government. Human trafficking is big business and, for many governments, provides substantial resources.
This last principle may be difficult for many to comprehend. But if you doubt my words, tell me how much control you have when you are sitting in the seat of a discount airline? (Or any airline, for that matter!) Once you enter their system, you are entirely at their disposal. Generally, things go as planned. But get sideways with a flight attendant, or a volcano erupts, or a war starts, or someone tests positive for COVID or perhaps drops their mask..., and your journey will come to an immediate stop. The same is true for almost every migrant. They lose control from their very first step away from home. Unfortunately, many are abandoned in transition zones, living in limbo for years. No one ever imagined this lack of control on the front end of their journey, creating a deep sense of desperation.
Each of these five principles becomes particularly evident when placed into the context of African migration. Our task for the next few weeks is to present that context and begin to see things through the eyes of a sub-Saharan migrant. Proverbs 3:13 teaches us that the blessing of understanding is that it makes wisdom possible. Our prayer is that in that wisdom, the Lord may use each of us to see and then love our neighbor next door.