Ministry opportunities amidst border situation

• Pray for the families and children, law enforcement personnel and elected officials. 
  
• Volunteer with River Ministry missionaries serving in McAllen or Nuevo Laredo. Contact Gloria Tillman at gloria.tillman@texasbaptists.org or (214) 828-5182.
  
• Give to purchase food, Bibles and discipleship material for ongoing border ministry.

The Texas Baptists response to family separations along the Texas and Mexico border is continuing. Following a call to prayer, and an urging to contact elected officials, ministry opportunities in McAllen and Laredo/Nuevo Laredo are available to Convention churches who desire to meet the needs of those impacted by the recent immigration situations.

Reyes urges prayer and civic engagement

In a statement released on June 18, Gus Reyes, director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, urged Texas Baptists to pray for the children and families, law enforcement and political leaders.

Reyes expressed thanks to President Donald Trump for his commitment to end family separations. “We are thankful President Trump has issued an executive order to end family separations at the border,” said Reyes. “There are still details to be determined, especially regarding the 2,300 children already separated from their parents, but this is a good initial step. We hope and pray that the children who have been separated can quickly be reunited with their families.”

Reyes encouraged Texas Baptists to reach out to their federal elected officials to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform including a permanent solution for Dreamers. Click here to view the CLC's legislative priorities on immigration. Click here for the contact information of your US Senators and representatives. He also encouraged Texas Baptists to check out the resources of the Evangelical Immigration Table for ways to think biblically about immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

River Ministry missionaries in need of donations, volunteers

Texas Baptists River Ministry missionaries are responding to the influx of immigrants crossing the border by assisting refugees in the Rio Grande Valley and deportees in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Vanessa Lerma, River Ministry missionary in McAllen, coordinates volunteers for a Respite Care facility which serves several hundred refugees passing through the border city each month. The facility has seen an increase in refugees over the last month, with more than 150 people passing through daily. Lerma is collecting donations and hygiene kits to distribute to refugees.

In Nuevo Laredo, local churches are feeding 300 deportees a day at a detention center. During their 1-2 day stay at the church, deportees are provided hot meals and are also ministered to through prayer and Bible studies. Monetary donations are being used to provide food and Bibles.

Volunteers, including medical and dental teams, are invited to serve at the McAllen Respite Care facility and with churches in Nuevo Laredo. Click here to make a donation to assist refugees and deportees. Contact Gloria Tillman at gloria.tillman@texasbaptists.org or (214) 828-5182 for more information on volunteer opportunities, hygiene kit drop-off locations and prayer points.