“Welcome, sir!” said the friendly Customs and Homeland Security officer when I visited the States last August. But what a contrast it was when I arrived at the same airport this February! To my horror, I was told that, due to a change in the law, my R1 (religious worker) visa was no longer valid. I was asked to “accompany” another officer to a room where I had to wait two and a half hours while they decided what to do with me.

The officer who eventually dealt with my case was very kind and helpful. “I need to talk with my supervisor to see what we can do,” he said. When he returned, he informed me they had two choices—return me to the UK on the next plane or allow me to stay on “humanitarian grounds.” Praise God, they chose the second option, and I was able to attend the AFM winter meetings I had flown 4,000 miles for.

Though the experience wasn’t particularly nice, in the end, grace was extended to me, and all I could do was humbly accept it in the spirit it was given. It reminded me of the grace God offers us through Jesus, His Son. We don’t deserve it. There is nothing we can do to earn it. We can just accept it and rejoice. Thank God that our entrance to the heavenly country will not be dependent on a visa issued by an earthly government. But there are still millions of people who need to be made aware of the admissions criteria for heaven. Please join us in our efforts as we share the Good News that our acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ is all that is required. —Graham Allcock

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