Putin hasn’t yet said whether he will be at the talks, which U.S. President Donald Trump has urged the two sides to attend as part of Washington’s
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Right after Sunday worship at St. Paul’s-San Pablo, Juan Carlos Toapanta lay in a lounge chair set up by the altar, needles sticking out of his forehead, wrist and foot for an hourlong acupuncture session.
“Just like the Lord’s light helps emotionally, the body’s pain is treated as well,” said the Ecuadorian construction worker, who suffers from sciatica and has worshipped at the Minneapolis church for about five months. “Everything feels freed, emotionally.”Founded by Swedish immigrants in the late 19th century, the church is now a predominantly Latino congregation. Like most other churches in the U.S. that serve migrants, it has expanded its humanitarian, financial, legal and pastoral ministries during the Trump administration’sIt has also added monthly well-being sessions — at no charge — with acupuncture, Reiki and cupping therapy to ease the stress that uncertainty and fear have sown among the migrant community — including people in the U.S. illegally and U.S.-born citizens in mixed-status families.
“We have to feel well to respond well, not with panic and fear, which leads to nothing good,” said Lizete Vega, the church’s family engagement coordinator. “People here feel that they’re protected and can be cared for spiritually, emotionally and physically.”Faith leaders have increasingly found themselves called to help their congregations with mental health concerns, from
Some see the need to provide reassurance and well-being as a growing part of their ministry to migrants, even as revised federal immigration guidelines now provide more leeway for
in or near houses of worship.Trump has long criticized Zelenskyy, saying he didn’t “have the cards” to win the war and blaming him for
by not giving up Crimea, but in recent days hasas well, saying he was complicating negotiations with “very bad timing” in launching deadly strikes on Kyiv.
Trump said Wednesday night on NewsNation that the deal, “in theory,” means that the U.S. will get more from Ukraine than it contributed. “I wanted to be protected,” he said, adding that he didn’t want to be looking “foolish” by not getting money back for the investment.For Ukraine, the agreement is seen as key to ensuring its access to future U.S. military aid.