River Ministry assisting influx of migrants in Piedras Negras

PIEDRAS NEGRAS, MEXICO—A recent influx of 1,800 Central American migrants into the community of Piedras Negras, Mexico, has caused Texas Baptists River Ministry missionaries Shon Young and Dr. Gloria de la Peña to spring into action. Piedras Negras is located near Eagle Pass, Texas, on the Texas/Mexico border.

Many of the migrants, who arrived around one week ago, came with little to no possessions or resources. The local Mexican government created a shelter in an abandoned warehouse and reached out to local churches to help provide meals and basic necessities. The River Ministry missionaries are working to coordinate donations and assistance for local Mexican Baptist churches which are serving the migrants.

De la Peña delivered a donation of clothes from Baptist churches to the migrant families on Thursday, Feb. 14. She urged believers to join in prayer for, “authorities and families in transit who are in the city and the churches, so that we may continue to share the Gospel and testify to our Lord Jesus Christ through service, as well.”

On Feb. 13, Daniel Rangel, director of Texas Baptists River Ministry, sent supplies for 1,000 toiletry kits to Young. Youth at Young’s church, City Church in Del Rio, will assemble the kits and then deliver them to sister churches in Mexico for distribution.

Rangel also shared about local Mexican Baptist churches which will begin serving meals. They are equipping a mobile feeding unit with the supplies needed to serve hundreds of meals per day.

Monetary donations are needed to purchase basic food supplies including rice, beans and cooking oil, and additional toiletry kits. Click here to give by credit card or check or you can mail checks to Texas Baptists, Attn: Finance and Accounting, 7557 Rambler Road, Suite 1100, Dallas, TX 75231-2310. In the memo write "River Ministry" to ensure that your funds are designated properly.

For more information on River Ministry needs, visit texasbaptists.org/riverministry or call 214.828.5394.