Sunday Afternoon Reads: An American Deportation

The Bulletin

Christianity Today

News, News Commentary, Society & Culture, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.4 • 586 Ratings

🗓️ 9 November 2025

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez snuck into the US in the 1980s from Colombia, rooted themselves in California where they became Christians, and eventually became lay leaders at Saddleback Church in Orange County, California. CT’s Andy Olsen got to know the Gonzalez family and recounts their complex and poignant story in his piece ‘An American Deportation.’ We’ve asked Andy to read his piece out loud. We think you’ll love it. Settle in and enjoy! READ THE WRITTEN VERSION: -They Led at Saddleback Church. ICE Said They Were Safe. by Andy Olsen. GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN: -Join the conversation at our Substack. -Find us on YouTube. -Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Andy Olsen is the senior features writer at Christianity Today. He previously oversaw the print magazine team. His writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, among other outlets, and has been recognized by the Religion News Association and the Evangelical Press Association. ABOUT THE BULLETIN: The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today’s editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more. The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Producer: Clarissa Moll Associate Producer: Alexa Burke Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs Music: Dan Phelps Executive Producers: Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This paid message is from Pew Research Center.
0:03.5	The U.S. Census doesn't track religion, but Pew Research Center's religious landscape study does.
0:09.3	Since 2007, it's provided a comprehensive look at the ever-changing role of faith in America.
0:15.0	With responses from more than 35,000 Americans, the religious landscape study provides authoritative data on religious beliefs,
0:22.5	practices, and identities across all 50 states. To explore how faith shapes your community,
0:28.1	visit pewresearch.org slash RLS. As hosts of the bulletin, we are passionate about featuring
0:35.5	voices you know and love as we share breaking
0:37.9	news and discuss issues that are shaping our world.
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0:45.0	today using our special link, ordercc.com slash the Bulletin.
0:50.6	Bulletin listeners like you get 25% off your subscription and unlimited access to the platform that elevates the stories and the ideas of the kingdom of God.
1:00.1	That's orderc.com forward slash the bulletin, all one word.
1:05.5	We look forward to having you join us.
1:13.3	Hi, I'm Clarissa Mall, producer and moderator at The Bulletin. You're not used to hearing
1:18.8	from us on Sunday, but we're here to offer you something new and very special today.
1:24.1	Sunday afternoons are for rest and recreation and reading. And when there's a fantastic
1:30.3	CT article that we've enjoyed reading and we think you will enjoy hearing, we've decided to ask
1:35.9	our journalists to read their articles right here on the show just for you. Today, our journalist
1:42.3	is Andy Olson, senior features writer here at CT, who shares his
1:47.0	poignant story that follows the immigration journey of Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez.
1:52.1	The Gonzalez has migrated to the U.S. in the 1980s from Colombia, rooted themselves in California
1:58.2	where they became Christians, and eventually became lay leaders
	...

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