Thanksgiving for Multiethnicity – Part 1: Our Family's Blessing

Thanksgiving season invites us to remember our blessings and give thanks to the “Giver of every good and perfect gift that comes down from above” (James 1: 17).  This Thanksgiving, we are remembering how God has gifted us, and so enriched us with a great diversity within our family and friends. 

In this blog, you will meet a few of our family members and friends whose different backgrounds have enriched our lives while sharing many of our values and hopes.  As you may soon realize, your family is probably also blessed with an ancestry rich in diversity by their geographic origin, ethnicity, culture, nationality, and customs. For our purposes here, we will lump these ways of viewing diversity in the human race under the term ethnicity.

We should note at the outset that Abby and I are blessed with multi-ethnicity in our own ancestral lineage; namely, Native American and Germanic.   Abby’s grandmother, Alva Mae Bright (above) was ¼ Cherokee.  Meanwhile, the name “Silvius” has a Roman origin.  [Listen carefully to Season 1 of The Chosen and you will hear Quintus refer to a centurion named Silvius.]  As the graphic above (Click to enlarge.) explains, because of the divergence of many different Romance languages from the Latin, it is difficult to trace the nationality of a “Silvius.”  [Read more on the name “Silvius” HERE.] How about that?  Isn’t it likely that all of us have some multiethnicity or at least "internationality" in our blood?  [Again, we are lumping these two concepts for simplicity.  Hope no one minds-- "Comment" below if you do.]

Multiethnicity of the First Thanksgiving
Speaking of our family history, we remembered that the gathering on that “first Thanksgiving” in 1621 (and again, in 1623) was also ethnically diverse.  The Pilgrims who survived their treacherous voyage across the Atlantic had faced harsh weather and limited food.  Many of them died, but providentially those who reached Plymouth Rock were saved by the good will of Tisquantum, or “Squanto,” a Native American of the Patuxet tribe of the Wampanoag confederation.  

Squanto and members of his tribe graciously assisted the Pilgrims as an interpreter to establish communication and peace with the Wampanoag’s including its chief, Massasoit.  Then, Squanto and his tribesmen assisted the Pilgrims in hunting game from the forest, obtaining seafood from the Atlantic, and growing corn and other crops.  This marvelous show of God’s providential care was the focus of that first Thanksgiving celebration.  But the backstory which centers on the life of Squanto is even more amazing.

The Pilgrims were amazed to learn that Squanto had been captured by English sailors and taken as a slave to Europe (circa. 1614).  There, he and other captured Native Americans were taught to speak English as preparation for them to be guides for explorers of the North American frontier.  A more complete account of Squanto’s life (See HERE) reveals a second time in which he was captured and transported to Europe; but this time he was purchased from the slave auction block and set free by the brothers of a local monastery.  As a free man, Squanto eventually returned again to his homeland where he became that saving grace to the Pilgrims we noted above.  Governor William Bradford recognized Squanto’s miraculous role and later wrote that he was “a special instrument sent of God for their good.”  [For additional details on the spiritual context of how God worked among the lives of the Pilgrims, see HERE; and a book Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving, by Eric Metaxas, HERE.]

Multiethnicity in Our Family
Just as God’s providential hand had worked on behalf of the Pilgrims even before they arrived at Plymouth Rock, so God made prior provisions for our family that we now are realizing.  Allow us to highlight some significant ethnically diverse relationships of our early family history that facilitated and enabled the unfolding of God’s provisions for us and our children two children in future years.

Abby and I both attended Malone College (now Malone University) where we met, became engaged, and then married after graduation, in 1969.  At Malone, we became friends with students of various ethnicities, especially African Americans and also international students from Africa.  We especially remember Brindell with whom we worshiped, occasionally studied, and enjoyed double dates eventually including the junior-senior banquet.

During the first summer after Bradley’s birth in 1970, we traveled to Kalamazoo, Michigan for graduate level courses in ecology at Western Michigan University.  While we were there, we visited various sites including the sand dunes along Lake Michigan and the Kellogg’s cereal company of Battle Creek.  This was to be the beginning of a significant role of Michigan education, geography, and sports in our family.  

One year later, the three of us moved to Morgantown, WV for my doctoral studies.  There we became friends with international students from several continents.  Two Middle Eastern graduate students, one a Muslim and the other Jewish, invited us to their apartment where they served us their favorite dishes which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Among our neighbors in the trailer court in which we resided during graduate school were Alvaro and Jane, a delightful couple from Brazil, who soon began to love and spoil Bradley.  They introduced us to their Brazilian and Mexican friends and we all went on a day-trip into the mountains of Maryland to enjoy swimming and picnicking.  Later, when we settled in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois for a lectureship in botany at the University of Illinois, Alvaro made a special effort to visit us while he was on campus attending an international conference.  Of course, Alvaro was especially delighted to see Bradley. Our daughter, Melinda was born in Urbana, IL a few months later.

Little did we know that at the same time, a little Brazilian girl named Raquel de Paula was growing up in southern Brazil, daughter of Portuguese and German parents, and would later decide to move to Michigan where our paths would meet as we will describe below.

While at the University of Illinois, I was fortunate to serve with the faculty of the Department of Botany chaired by an Indian-American plant physiologist named Govindjee.   His research on photosynthesis earned Govindjee the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society of Photosynthesis Research, in 2022.  

[Read Govindjee's biography HERE.  And more HERE.]  [If you recall the Calvin-Benson Cycle of photosynthesis, this interview of Andrew Benson by Govindjee may be interesting—HERE.]

Following our two years at U. of Illinois, we moved to Maryland for employment as a plant physiologist with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville outside Washington, DC.   As a researcher within the Light and Plant Growth Laboratory where two of my colleagues are noteworthy:  N. Jerry Chatterton was a fellow plant physiologist and bishop within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; and, Takuma Tanada, a Hawaiian-born American, was also conducting 

research, specifically on the effects of red and far-red wavelengths of light and the element boron on photomorphogenesis of plants, particularly the roots.  Mr. Tanada is recognized for the discovery of the “Tanada Effect,” named for the effect of specific light wavelengths on plant roots.  [More HERE.]  In 2011, Tanada was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award in the United States, for his assistance to the U.S. military in World War II.  He died in 2018 at age 98.

Believing that all research and no ministry to others makes John a dull boy, our lives in Maryland were greatly enriched among other family activities by our worship at Belcroft Bible Church.  There, we enjoyed our ministry to the career singles and met Ravi Waldon and Heidi Sweetman.  The two married, raised two sons, and Ravi is now a Principal at Michael Graves Architecture & Design [Click HERE.]

When we became part of the Cedarville College (now Cedarville University) faculty in 1979, it was my honor and blessing to represent the university at the Academic Council of Au Sable Institute for Environmental Studies in northern Michigan.   I was also blessed to lead numerous trips to northern Michigan with my students for field laboratory studies in environmental physiology and ecology. 

Meanwhile, Bradley was completing his high school (Cedarville H.S.), undergraduate (Cedarville University), and graduate education in mechanical engineering (Rensselaer) and settling in Michigan.  There he eventually met and married Raquel de Paula, once the little Brazilian girl we mentioned earlier.  Raquel had grown up and moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she was serving as a nanny.  Bradley is Founder and president of The Little Leaders Company [See HERE.] and Raquel is Project and Program Manager for the University of Michigan.

Not long after Brad and Raquel had settled in Ann Arbor, Melinda who had completed her secondary and undergrad college education in the same institutions as Bradley, married Steve Salyers of English descent, and they had three children, Caleb, Kiara, and Della Rose.  We enjoyed many visits to the Salyers home near Temperance, Michigan; and, we were blessed to worship with them at Northpoint Church of the Nazarene, pastored by Steve for eleven years.  At Northpoint, we made friends with many African Americans, Hispanics, and other brethren of European descent.

In 2012, we retired from Cedarville University and moved to Wooster, Ohio where we joined West Hill Baptist Church.  Among the new friends we met at West Hill were members of our missionary family.  Keeping our ethnic focus of this blog, I will note three families who are indigenous missionaries. Aroop and Rebecca Kumar

serve in Bangalore, India; and Daniel and Anna Telfort minister in Port au Prince, Haiti. The Kumar’s and the Telfort’s are husband-wife teams who serve in one or more local churches and teach men who are studying to be shepherding pastors.  They also reach out to individuals and families experiencing great spiritual and physical needs.  The Telfort’s work with Bibles International and Daniel has nearly completed the entire Bible in the Creole language.  

Matt and Daniela Brenner serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators in a mission to bring the Gospel to indigenous people in rural Brazil. Matt grew up near Wooster and married Daniela whose hometown is Garça, Brazil. All five of the Brenner family are "on mission," each in their unique way as anyone would testify who has spent time with them.

In recent years, Steve and Mindy’s son Caleb completed his secondary education and enlisted in the  Army National Guard where

he met Soni, an enlistee of Indian descent from Philadelphia.  Caleb and Soni married in 2019 and reside near Pittsburgh where we have enjoyed several blessed times visiting them. 

In 2022, our older granddaughter, Kiara married her best friend, John Basford, born of German and English parents. They await the arrival of their first child next year.

Marvelous Multiethnicity
So there you have it.  The family account of John and Abby Silvius, a multiethnic couple who have been blessed to meet and enjoy the friendship of a diversity of ethnicities over the years.  And, most blessed of all is that we now are part of a multiethnic family.  We look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving together this year as a family.

Of course, our earthly genealogy, wonderful as it is, has carried the curse of sin reaching all the way back to Adam and Eve.  Sad as it sounds, this fact must be reconnect with by humbly yielding to Christ whose sacrifice of His holy life in our place earned Him the right to say, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father [in Heaven] but through Me. (John 14: 6). 

If you have yielded your life to the saving grace of God through Christ (Ephesians 2: 8-10), regardless of your ethnicity, you will be part of that numberless multitude described in Revelation.  We hope you are! 

The Scripture from Revelation (Right >) and the testimony below, written by a Cedarville University alum and friend of Abby and I, provide a fitting end to this blog:

“I truly believe God is glorified by this diversity of peoples and ways of living. So wonderfully unique, but all bearing His image. All of us are touched by common concerns, many are touched by crisis, but all are offered peace that passes understanding. Truly, it’s a gift.”  - Julie Titus Sanders

Where to Next?
In Part 2 of “Thanksgiving for Multiethnicity,” we will describe the workings of God in an Asian family that ministers to multiple ethnic groups and nationalities around the world.  

Meanwhile, if you have questions about your relationship to Jesus Christ and wonder if you will be part of that “great multitude” described in Revelation 7 (above), why not check out “Steps to Peace with God” [Click HERE.]  We also invite you to respond in “Comments” below, or e-mail us at silviusj@gmail.com

Election 2024: What Can We Agree On?

Hello Friend.  Thank you for your recent Facebook post on the 2024 presidential election.   I agree fully with the claims in your opening paragraph as far as it relates to American government and its founding principles.  For example, you refer to our “system of government” which unusual, having survived nearly 250 years.  I decided to respond to your post in detail while hoping that we can maintain your anonymity, if you wish, while giving your thoughts and mine a larger audience.  Meanwhile, I hope to remain one of your “conservative friends.”

Protect Separation of Powers
To begin, I will assume that we can agree that a key to America's longevity is the commitment of our leaders to respect and maintain the “separation of powers” with three independent federal branches; namely, judicial, executive, and legislative. But sadly, the federal separation of powers has been challenged in recent years by threats leveled at Supreme Court justices who have held conservative interpretations of our Constitution—threats leveled directly at justices seated in Congress during State of the Union speeches, by rioters outside the homes of justices, and by efforts to “pack the court” with additional justices to “legislate” a liberal progressive social agenda.

There were also efforts by U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in collaboration with the current Federal Department of Justice to remove or limit “presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts.”  [See Trump v. United States, HERE.]  Contrary to the notion that Donald Trump as president would “become a dictator,” the Supreme Court upheld “presidential immunity” which our founders had established to prevent the executive branch from becoming powerless against the encroachment by the separate powers of the legislative and judicial branches. [See SCOTUS decision HERE.] 

Therefore, in answer to those who believe Trump would “become a dictator” in his second term, couldn’t we agree that as long as our three branches of government are mutually constrained by the Constitution, there is little danger of any president literally becoming a dictator, even during situations like the recent pandemic when unprecedented powers were exerted by the federal government to control our coming and going’s.  During this time, President Trump blocked immigration from China and cooperated with Anthony Fauci in marshalling resources to prevent and treat those infected by the virus.  Interestingly, Dr. Fauci was an unelected official given great power but whose motives and recommendations in retrospect are now quite questionable.

Protect Our Borders
Next you refer to “our nation and its peoples” which to me would include a geographic area defined on the map by borders.  Historically, law enforcement of a controlled immigration system at our borders has been the basis for civic order in our nation.  As you know, our immigration system has allowed us to become a “nation of immigrants,” a rich melting pot that has welcomed the great masses of many different ethnic groups and nationalities to enter our borders—and, to enter legally with a sense of pride in becoming true citizens with opportunity to become successful through hard work as individuals who assimilate into American culture, salute our flag, learn and celebrate our history, and enjoy our customs.  But, as you know, the Biden-Harris administration threw off the controls on immigration under the Trump administration by executive order which has allowed millions to flood our borders, towns, and cities as lawbreakers, many of whom do not respect or want to adopt our American values—i.e. as you wrote, “values above all that are greater than greed or fear or resentment or revenge.” 

Comparing Performance
I also agree with the value you place on our U.S. Constitution which “prioritizes the worth of the individual, provides for free expression, opportunity, and freedom of religion.”   Assuming we can agree on these qualities and principles as being worth holding onto, the question becomes, “Which presidential ticket is the most likely one to preserve them?”  Somewhat uniquely, both opposing presidential candidates have shown us their leadership philosophy, skills, and accomplishments in their respective 4-year terms.  Of course, to judge between the Trump-Pence and Biden-Harris administrations, we need to sort through the biases of the news media (e.g. Fox News and Newsmax versus CNN and CNBC) which portray Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in different lights.  Some happenings are more difficult to interpret than others, especially because both sides have spoken rashly (e.g. Trump: “I’ll be a dictator from day one” referring to his promised reversal of Biden-Harris policies and executive orders such as the one that has incentivized millions of immigrants to cross our borders illegally; or Biden: “[Trump] supporters are garbage”). 

Personalities and campaign slogans aside, allow me to refer to several historical occurrences that are objectively defined.  For each of these, let’s ask how the two administrations compare:
1.  How many wars began under each administration?
2.  How many indictments were issued by the sitting president when a losing candidate questioned the results of the presidential election—i.e. against Hillary Clinton the loser when Trump was president versus against Donald Trump the loser when Biden-Harris were in power?
3.  How does the cost of living compare between the two administrations?
4.  How many threats to the integrity of the Supreme Court and the lives of its justices?
5.  How many efforts to defund the police and border officials?
6.  Which presidential candidate participated in fund-raising to support of those involved in burning our cities and destroying government property including memorials to our founding leaders?
7.  How many Americans and non-citizen immigrants have died from fentanyl poisoning or child trafficking under each administration?
8.  How many Americans now have the opportunity to vote in deciding at the state level the fate of unborn children?
9.  Which administration has had the lower morale, more resignations, and fewer enlistments into our military because of the division being stoked by “diversity-equity-inclusion” philosophy?
10.  Which administration has had more cities, including Aurora, CO and Springfield, OH having to deal with tens of thousands of illegals who cannot speak English or drive safely, and who struggle to adapt to American culture while themselves having left behind families now divided and disrupted?

Each of the above comparisons are measurable and can be objectively assessed.  Each one affords us with a comparison of the quality of leadership of Trump-Pence versus Biden-Harris during the respective prior presidential administrations.

Two Media Narratives: Split Nation
In spite of the contrast we see when we compare how the two administrations fared under the ten measurements above, there remains the fact that our nation is evenly split between their supporters.  (See attached statement.)  Friend, if we can agree that half of American voters support each ticket, is it fair to make the case against Trump based on reports of “what Trump might do?”  For example, when Trump mentions he may have to use the military, isn’t this part of a history of his actions as president?  Recall that he either called in the national guard or threatened to call it in when major cities were being allowed to burn (e.g. Minneapolis during Tim Walz’s term as governor of Minnesota).  Just prior to the day of the January 6 demonstrations (“insurrection”), President Trump had asked for deployment of the national guard which would likely have prevented the invasion of the capitol (Click HERE to read.]  House Speaker Nancy Palosi, whose responsibility it is to provide for capitol security now blames herself for not being more proactive [Read more HERE.]

You also mention Trump’s use of “the enemy within.”  I’m not sure how you or I would react if we were subjected to the 8-year series of attacks in which Trump’s opponents have used the legislative branch to impeach him over what turned out to be fabricated charges without supporting evidence (“Russia gate” and “Ukraine gate”).  Next, the close 2020 election that he contested (just has Hillary Clinton had done in 2016) turned out to have been influenced by the FBI which knowingly suppressed the criminal evidence in the “Hunter laptop.” Then, a night-time raid on Trump’s home followed by a series of indictments in which the Biden-Harris department of justice has colluded, followed by two assassination attempts, both  of which resulted from obvious lack of competence.  Are we and is Donald Trump right to take lightly the notion of “an enemy within?”  No matter what we imagine when we hear his claim of “the enemy within” at very least, it amounts to federal officials who are lawbreakers and they ought to be identified and brought to justice.

Finally, there is the claim that Donald Trump is a liar.  Although you have not mentioned it, Trump is also called a Fascist, a racist, and other names.  But he has claimed innocence in case after case which eventually bears out that he was telling the truth.  Meanwhile, our current president has been shown to have lied in saying that he was not part of massive influence pedaling schemes involving Hunter who may have colluded with officials from China, Ukraine, and other nations in their efforts to gain access to the Biden administration.

What Can We Agree On?
In conclusion, my friend, I hope this response conveys my understanding of the contrasts between the two 2024 presidential tickets in a well-reasoned, respectful manner.  I am glad we agree that we are blessed with a “system of government, designed by the framers nearly 250 years ago [that is the reason why] our nation and its peoples have prospered like no other on the planet.”  I am also glad that you and I “hold values above all that are greater than greed or fear or resentment or revenge; [and that our] US Constitution prioritizes the worth of the individual, provides for free expression, opportunity, and freedom of religion.”   Because of these principles and values, we and our loved ones have been able to live in freedom and pursue meaningful callings including our calling to botany and land stewardship.  I only hope that our votes will result in the election of a leader who can help preserve these values and opportunities.   I welcome your “Comment” below.

Note:  I am especially excited at the prospect of an administration that can not only restore national sovereignty and community safety through border security and due process for lawbreakers, but also one with a vision such as that offered by RFK jr who looks at “health” in a holistic manner involving environmental stewardship as a context for addressing agriculture, our medical health system, and nutrition.   I welcome your comments on this prospect as well.