Redemption to the Nations is housing unaccompanied migrant children who arrived at the border in recent weeks in one of its unused buildings, a move that thrust the Chattanooga-based Pentecostal church back into the latest nationwide immigration debate.
The church property in Highland Park became a lightning rod of debate and rumors on social media over the weekend.
Kevin Wallace, lead pastor at Redemption to the Nations, said his church’s involvement is part of a years-long push to be more involved with national immigration issues. Wallace has been the target of criticism from the political left for his actions concerning immigration – and now he is the target of criticism from the political right.
“They are vulnerable and they have no one to advocate for them, and we’re just trying to help. That is in keeping with our vision as a church,” Wallace told the Times Free Press. “It’s in keeping with the mission of the Gospel, and that’s why we made the decision. And I understand people aren’t always going to recognize why we do what we do.”
In June 2018, during a national outcry about President Donald Trump’s detention policies, Wallace drew attention for tweeting at the president and the Department of Homeland Security to say he had an unused dormitory he would be glad to use for housing migrant children.