News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Acts of Faith: 2005

July 15, 2005 Ted Richardson [/assets/story/image_buynow.comp]
Sandy Irving, a volunteer driver for the National Farm Worker Ministry, says goodbye to Mexican migrant workers Tomas Soto-Sanchez, left, and Lorenzo Garcia-Bautista as she drops them off at their Lee County labor camp after driving them to a union meeting in Raleigh. The workers otherwise could not have attended the Farm Labor Organizing Committee meeting, where they expressed concerns about limited access to medical care, low wages, no pension and no air-conditioning in their trailer. Irving volunteers to drive migrant workers once a month, June through September. Toward the end of her double 240-mile round trip Sunday, Irving recalled the words of a favorite hymn: "We will work with each other, we will work side by side./ And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride./ And they'll know we are Christians by our love ..." "What better way to guard their dignity than to take them to a place where they have a voice, where they are empowered to make their own decisions?" Irving asked. "Otherwise, they're stuck."
About This Project


Ethan Hyman
"Acts of Faith" explores the different belief systems that co-exist in the Triangle area. Ten years of heavy migration has brought many new faiths to the region, turning the Bible Belt home of Billy Graham into a spiritual coat of many colors. Mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples, Sikh Gurudwaras, synagogues and scores of Christian churches have become spiritual and social centers for a radically changing population. The demographic shift has pushed congregations to find innovative ways to keep their members while attracting new arrivals. "Acts of Faith" was born as a way to show this new religious diversity and analyze the role spirituality plays in people's daily lives.


Pailin Wedel
When covering an event for Acts of Faith, we look for situations that evoke strong emotion and try to bring readers into the moment. Though holidays and major celebrations are important, we also look for unexpected expressions of faith and quieter moments of solitary exploration. We hope to give readers insight into the breadth and depth of faith by showing how people incorporate it into their everyday lives.


Ted Richardson
For two years, Sher Stoneman and Susana Vera produced this column. In 2004, they handed it over to Ethan Hyman, Scott Lewis and Lisa Lauck. In 2005, Ted Richardson replaced Scott Lewis on this project. In 2006, Pailin Wedel replaced Lisa Lauck.

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