The God Who Sees by Karen Gonzalez is a memoir that explores the author's journey as an immigrant, a Christian, and a woman. Gonzalez shares her personal stories of leaving Guatemala, finding a new home in the US, and discovering her faith in God. She also reflects on the biblical narratives of immigrants and refugees, such as Hagar, Ruth, Joseph, and Jesus. She challenges the reader to see these stories from a different perspective and to recognize the God who sees and loves the marginalized and oppressed.

Gonzalez does not shy away from sharing her struggles, doubts, and questions. She also does not offer easy answers or solutions but invites the reader to join her in seeking God's presence and justice in a broken world. The book is not only a personal testimony, but also a theological exploration of what it means to be an immigrant and a follower of Christ. Gonzalez draws from various sources, such as history, sociology, culture, and Scripture, to illuminate the realities and experiences of immigrants and refugees.

The God Who Sees is a powerful and inspiring book that will challenge and encourage anyone who reads it. It is especially relevant for those who want to learn more about immigration issues, or who want to deepen their understanding of God's heart for the vulnerable and the displaced. The book will make you see yourself, your neighbor, and your God in a new light.

Very relevant personal story that tackles a subject that people need to be talking about and discovering true stories of immigrants.

In my experience as a pastor, there is sometimes a gap between what I read and enjoy theologically and what the people I serve read and enjoy for the same purpose. There is a delicate balance to finding a book for Bible study or book group that is challenging spiritually, but accessible in writing and story-telling.

When it comes to an issue like immigration, it is extremely important (to me) that the book be accessible and energizing. I want it to be readable to congregants who aren’t already persuaded to one side of the issue. I don’t want a book that “preaches to the choir”, but one that takes ideas of law and order seriously, but takes the issues of compassion and neighbor love even more seriously.

This book for me and, I think, for you is The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong by Karen Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was born in Guatemala and immigrated to the US with her family, through her uncle’s sponsorship of her father (the uncle’s brother), when she was young. In The God Who Sees, Gonzalez weaves her own immigrant experience in between her theological reflections on immigration and immigrants in the Bible and her work with immigrants in the United States.

Gonzalez grew up as a Catholic and is now Protestant, flavor undisclosed. She organizes the book around a few of the Catholic sacraments- reconciliation, baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick, and communion. I will note that since Gonzalez reflects on her own Protestant background as being a little removed from the mystery of the sacraments, even though there are Protestant denominations that acknowledge and celebrate a sacramental reality many parts of life and liturgy.

Gonzalez tells the stories of Hagar, Abram and Sarai, Joseph, Ruth and Naomi, and Jesus’ parents. She notes the kind of immigrant they would be considered in the present-day United States and if they would be (or would have been) permitted the safety or security they sought within US borders. Gonzalez is honest about history, including when and where the US has contributed to humanitarian crises. Her historical notations are readable, factual, and flow well in her narrative. She also admits to times when she was unaware of certain history or grappled with the tensions of what she learned about the US and her gratitude and pride at being a US citizen.

If your US-based congregation struggles with productive conversation around immigration and care for immigrants, this is the book for you. It provides a safe on-ramp into a deeper and more effective conversation about what it means to truly imitate Christ and show hospitality to God in all people. As a pastor, this may not be the most challenging book you read, but I guarantee that it will be very moving to someone(s) in your pew, perhaps moving enough to spur some action.

Many thanks to #HeraldPress and #NetGalley for the advanced readers' ebook copy of "The God Who Sees".
In her debut book, Karen Gonzalez weaves together her own family's immigrant story, snapshots of immigrant life in the United States today, and stories from the Bible of immigrants, foreigners, and refugees. Using well-researched data, individual stories, and biblical precepts, she lays out a distinct look at how we should treat our neighbors all across the globe and on our own doorstep. What would God expect of us? How did Jesus model this for us? How do ancient practices in relating to and caring for foreigners translate to the society we live in today? These are tough questions, and the answers are never easy or simple. But Gonzalez presents a compelling picture of an open and welcome door and seats at our table for all our neighbors, regardless of where they come from.

My mind was blown by this book. I'm a white woman who grew up in a fundamental denomination. It's just been in the last few years that I realized that I had only been taught one perspective of theology and have begun reading books exploring theology from other social locations.

This book is a fascinating mix of theological study, memoir (Gonzalez immigrated from Guatemala as a child), and primer on the US immigration process. I have read the bible through multiple times and I was still stunned by details that Gonzalez uncovered. Here's an example... Hagar was probably not actually the name of Sarah's handmaiden. In ancient Hebrew, Hagar means "Foreign Thing". This woman- who had already been treated so callously and egregiously, had an encounter with God in the desert in which she- a "Foreign Thing"- named God. My jaw dropped. I'm so glad that I read this book- I highly recommend it!

Disclosure- I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which I am always happy to give. ;)
#TheGodWhoSees #NetGalley

The God Who Sees
Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong

by Karen Gonzalez

Herald Press

Christian , Religion & Spirituality

Pub Date 21 May 2019


I am reviewing a copy of The God Who Sees through Herald Press and Netgalley:


In this book we read the riveting story of a family seeking safety in another land. Karen Gonzalez an immigration advocate tells the story of leaving the instability of Guatemala to making a new life in the suburbs of Los Angeles and of Florida. She tells of the language barriers they faced as well as the cultural misunderstandings and the great pressure they faced to assimilate. Gonzalez goes on to tell of her rebirth in Christ through Campus Ministries and how she starts to follow him.




This is not only the story of her families immigration it is also the sweeping epic of immigrants in Scripture from Abraham, Hagar, Joseph and Ruth these Biblical heroes had to pull up stakes and build a life for themselves in places far from their birthplaces!


I found The God Who Sees to be thought provoking and very well written, therefore in my opinion it is worthy of five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

In her debut book, Karen González beautifully weaves together stories from Scripture and her personal life. Her words here are sure to encourage and challenge readers to view Scripture through the lens of a God who sees and loves the immigrant, the foreigner, the refugee.

Scott Arbeiter, the president of World Relief, said this about The God Who Sees: "[It] is deeply personal, solidly biblical, and appropriately challenging. You will find Karen González an able guide to bring clarity and encourage compassion."

I agree with each and every word of that endorsement. I wish that the book were longer, and I look forward to reading more from González in the future.

There are quite a few people who I want to throw this book at...I mean...hand it to... Using immigrants in the bible and Scripture has to say about immigration and refugees, the author makes a case for compassion and reform. A case that we ought not be having to thrust upon people who are supposedly reading the same Good Book and sitting in pews beside us. I may feel confrontational, but this book is not and should appeal to everyone regardless of preconceptions and politics.

Disclaimer: I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the book on immigration and Christianity that I have been wanting! It's challenging but deceptively simple, personal but biblical, and will appeal to Christians on both sides of the political aisle. I highly recommend this!

Wow. This book left me breathless at times. I just finished it and am already considering reading it again. I have also made a list of all the people I will be buying it for when it's released. I feel that this review will be lackluster because I don't want to reveal too much - once I get started, I probably won't be able to stop!!

This book is a stunning account of immigration and creates a connection to the immigrants of the Bible: Ruth, Abraham, Hagar, Joseph, Syrophoenician Woman, and Our Refugee Savior. It truly embodies the heart of Christ through their stories but also through the modern day anecdotes. This book could work well as a Bible Study or an independent read. I believe, in most cases, it will definitely stir up some conversation in a study group! Near the end, there are questions for prayer and reflection.

The God Who Sees stirred something inside of me asking me: How am I raising my voice for immigrants? How am I protecting their vulnerability? Are my current views on immigration based on politics, the Bible, or a combination of both?

"The God Who Sees" is partly a Bible study, partly a memoir, and partly about immigration policy in the USA. In each chapter, the author first talked about a person in the Bible who was an immigrant: Ruth, Abraham, Hagar, Joseph, the Syrophoenician woman, and Christ. Since the author is an immigrant from Guatemala, she provided insight into what an immigrant faces. She told parts of her own story and stories about other modern immigrants (why they immigrated and what they faced). She talked about USA immigration policies and issues that need to be dealt with and improved. She ended with some reflection and discussion questions about immigration.

Since my sister-in-law is an immigrant from the Philippines (and is now US citizen), I'm aware of just how long, difficult, and expensive it can be for an immigrant to legally come to the USA. I would agree that immigration laws need to be reformed, and I found this book interesting and informative. I appreciate the insights that she provided to the Biblical narratives.

This is a book we desperately need. A debut memoir weaved within the framework immigration reform. It alternates chapter by chapter, detailing Biblical heroes who today, would be shunned or turned away due to their immigration or refugee status. The alternating chapters tell the author's personal immigration story. I love this book because there are so many elements to it. But it flows smoothly. It inserts our faith heroes into our own American laws surrounding immigration that are often supported by the Evangelical movement. I have not stopped talking to my friends about this book. I can't wait for it to hit the shelves!