By Harvest Prude with Nicole Ault, Esther Eaton, Leah Hickman, Alyssa Jackson, Joshua Meribole, and Madison Miller

Sioux Center, Iowa, pop. 7,500, is a tight-knit, trusting community. Originally settled by Dutch Reformed immigrants in the 19th century, the town sports well-manicured green lawns, few fences, unlocked houses and cars, and numerous churches. Church and state exist in rare harmony. Public and Christian schools share buses. The city and Dordt College, a Christian institution, share a swimming pool and athletic facility.

By World Journalism Institute students Myrna Brown, Paul Butler, Alex Duke, Steve Patton, Hannah Phillips, Andrew Shaughnessy, Dane Skelton, Russell St. John, Brigitte Sylvestre, and Marty Van Driel—with Marvin Olasky

"Check 'em out. Check 'em out. Check 'em out. Cash for Gold!"

Two yellow pieces of cardboard sandwich Willy Neuius' five-foot frame. Nearby, people pour from a New York City bus. They jostle past Neuius, who stands outside Fast Cash of Apollo, a pawnshop across from the famous Apollo Theater on 125th St. in Manhattan. "Have a good day. God bless you," he calls after them. Other men pause to slap a hug around him.