My Heart Was Warmed on Capitol Hill
By Pastor Susie Puac
Christ UMC (Sugarland, TX)
On February 25, I traveled to Washington, DC to participate in Faithful Resistance, a public witness advocating for justice for immigrants. For me, this was more than a trip; it was a first step into a space I had never fully occupied before. I did not grow up in an environment that encouraged raising my voice publicly, much less advocating for those whose voices have been silenced. Yet as a Latina immigrant and a clergywoman in the United Methodist Church, I felt a growing conviction that faith calls us not only to belief, but also to action.
When I arrived at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, I immediately sensed that this day would be different. The courtyard was filled with clergy, laity, and people of many faith traditions who had gathered in solidarity against immigrant injustice. It was cold outside, but the spirit among the crowd warmed our hearts. Conversations buzzed with hope and determination as strangers met strangers, united by a shared purpose.
Inside the sanctuary, the worship service was unlike anything I had experienced before. It was not simply the music or the preaching that made it powerful; it was powerful because our belief in loving God with all our hearts and loving our neighbors as ourselves. As Christians, these are not abstract ideals; they are commands meant to shape our lives.
The words shared by bishops and faith leaders stirred something deep within me. As I listened, I felt electrified. Scripture reminded us that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, and that we bear responsibility for how we treat one another and the vulnerable among us. I could not quite name the feeling rising within me, but I knew something had been ignited.
After worship, we carried that spirit into the streets as we marched toward Capitol Hill. People sang and chanted as we walked, and seeing the Capitol building before us felt both humbling and empowering. When speakers addressed the crowd during the public witness, their words about life, liberty, and hope resonated deeply with my faith. My heart filled with emotion as I realized I was part of something larger, a movement rooted not in anger, but in love.
Coming from Texas, this experience felt especially significant. There is sometimes the sense that we need to tread carefully around matters of policy so that we do not alienate members. Respecting differing opinions is important, but there are moments when the gospel itself draws a line. When rhetoric and policies diminish the dignity of our neighbors, faith demands that we speak.
The day continued with visits to congressional offices. Since I had traveled from Houston without a large delegation, I was paired with leaders from the North Texas Horizon Texas Annual Conference from Dallas who had clearly prepared for the moment. They carried letters to deliver to representatives, shared stories from immigrants they serve, and spoke with compassion and clarity. Watching them taught me something important: advocacy does not require extraordinary power, only preparation, courage, and conviction.
What I learned most is how accessible this process actually is. Many people simply do not realize that they can speak directly to their representatives. Now I find myself wondering how we might build that culture of engagement in Texas, whether in Austin or in DC.
Since returning home, I feel an itch I cannot quite scratch. Something began stirring in me that day on Capitol Hill. I am still discovering what it means to carry my voice as a Latina immigrant, and as a pastor. If our faith teaches anything, it is that a love that is real, active, and courageous is powerful enough to change the world.