June 2014 - Presbyterian Border Region OutReach

NEWS FROM
THE BORDER
Presbyterian
Border
Region
Outreach
Edition No. 01 • June 2014
Ministering Along
the BorderToday
The ministry previously known as the
Presbyterian Border Ministry (PBM) is
experiencing a rebirth. This ministry that
was started in 1984 out of a joint venture
between the Presbyterian Church (USA)
and the Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de
Mexico (National Presbyterian Church of
Mexico) has a new name – Presbyterian
Border Region Outreach (PBRO) and a
new purpose and mission. As the world
changes and transforms, our needs as
human beings – spiritual, emotional,
physical, and social needs – change. As a
response to this, we understand that the
way we minister and serve must do the
same.
PBRO’s purpose is “to live out the Gospel
of Jesus Christ holistically on both sides
of the US-Mexico Border, in partnership
with other faith organizations and
non-profits to reduce poverty and
violence in the Border Region.” We
endeavor to proclaim and witness the
Gospel of Jesus Christ by:
1. Engaging in ministries of compassion
which empower people and communities along the U.S./Mexico border.
2. Promoting mission education by
providing opportunities for U.S. and
Mexican Presbyterians to share their gifts
with Presbyterian Border Region
Outreach.
3. Promoting mutuality in mission
through bi-national structures for
oversight and implementation of their
ministry.
4. Supporting Presbyterian and other
PBRO Board of Directors Meeting Feb. 2014
ministries located along the border,
responding to the social and spiritual
needs of the residents of the border, and
engaging in funds development to
support these purposes.
5. Collaborating with and supporting
existing border churches.
6. Promoting justice in all areas; always
raising a prophetic voice in those places
where the Kingdom of God is being
proclaimed and realized on earth.
PBRO’s purpose is:
To live out the
Gospel of Jesus
Christ holistically on
both sides of the
US-Mexico Border.
“
”
Our desire is to direct our ministry
efforts on both sides of the border to
address real needs as consequences to
increased poverty and violence. We are
guided in our efforts by the Critical
Global Initiatives (CGIs) generated by
World Mission of the Presbyterian
Mission Agency of the Presbyterian
Church (USA). These three issues briefly
listed as: addressing the root causes of
poverty, evangelism, and reconciliation
among cultures of violence, assist the
church in narrowing its mission focus to
have greater impact in the areas mentioned. As those committed to work
along the U.S./Mexico border, we see
these guiding principles as key
elements to our future ministries as
well. We are working in six different
sites along the border ranging from San
Diego, CA/Tijuana, Baja California to
McAllen, TX/Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Led
by the words in Ephesians 1:7-10
(NRSV), “In him we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of
our trespasses, according to the riches
of his grace that he lavished on us. With
all wisdom and insight he has made
known to us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure that he
set forth in Christ, as a plan for the
fullness of time, to gather up all things
in him, things in heaven and things on
earth,” we aspire to embody the understanding that we are first brothers and
sisters in Christ. Christ allows us to
break down the human barriers that
divide us to help us see that we are all
God’s creation. This liberates us to work
beyond the borders of states to engage
fully in God’s mission.
Presbyterian
Border
Region
Outreach
Edition No. 01 • June 2014
Six bi-national border
ministry sites at PBRO
Contact US
Making History
PBRO President
1.Compañeros en Misión
Nogales, Arizona/Nogales, Sonora
PO Box 1966
Nogales, AZ 85628
Phone/Fax: 520.287.3060
Email: mision@qwestoffice.net
4.Proyecto Amistad
Laredo, Texas/Nuevo Laredo Tamaulipas
PO Box 17866
San Antonio TX. 78217-0866
Phone: 956.413.1184
Email: proyectoamistad@gmail.com
www.proyectoamistad.org
5.Pueblos Hermanos
San Diego, California/Tijuana, Baja
California
Chula Vista Presbyterian Church
940 Hilltop Dr.
Chula Vista, CA 91911
Phone: 619.599.4471
Email: bobbattenfield@sbcglobal.net
www.puebloshermanos.org
6.Puentes de Cristo
McAllen, Texas/Reynosa, Tamaulipas
PO Box 1499
Hidalgo, TX 78557
Phone: 956.843.7277
Andres and Gloria Garcia , US
Coordinators
Email: puentes.usc@gmail.com
www.puestesdecristo.org
Since being in El Paso, John has served
on the board of Pasos de Fe and has
been very active in that ministry in
Ciudad Juarez and El Paso.
John has also visited all six border sites
of PBRO as a representative of the
national ministry board as well as
serving as Vice President and President of PBM and now (interim) President of PBRO.
2.Frontera de Cristo
Douglas, Arizona/Agua Prieta, Sonora
P.O. Box 1112
Douglas, AZ 85608
Phone: 520-364-9257
Email: mark@fronteradecristo.org
www.fronteradecristo.org
3.Pasos de Fe
El Paso, TX/Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua
244 N. Resler Dr.
El Paso, TX 79912 USA President John Nelsen
Phone: 915.584.5822
Email: info@pbro.org
all of which were organized through
Project Amistad.
Rev. Dr. John M. Nelsen has been a
pastor for over 35 years serving
churches in Maryland, Oklahoma and
for the last 6 years at University
Presbyterian Church in El Paso, Texas.
John has been involved with Presbyterian Border Ministry for over 20 years.
While serving First Presbyterian
Church of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, John
led over 17 mission trips to the Border
Those personal visits have had a
meaningful impact on John in seeing
how the Lord is working through the
people of these various ministries.
John believes that the future of the
Church is to be found along the Border
as people of faith in much different
economic and cultural states work
together for the common good.
John wholeheartedly believes in the
action / mission statement of PBRO:
“Living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ
holistically on both sides of the
US-Mexico Border, in partnership with
other faith organizations and nonprofits to reduce poverty and violence in
the Border Region.”
Newsletter Subscription
Send an email to info@pbro.org with contact information to receive by mail or
email.
Getting Involved
For more information about how to be involved through PBRO including hosting
a speaker from the organization, please contact Omar Chan at
info@pbro.org
Giving Opportunities
Financial donations can be given at
www.presbyertianmission.org/donate/E047933.
It is through your thoughtful and prayerful support that PBRO can engage in
these transformative ministries along the border. THANK YOU very much!
- PBRO Team
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Presbyterian
Border
Region
Outreach
Edition No. 01 • June 2014
Called to
Serve on the
Border
Facilitating the work of
PBRO
Calling a facilitator to PBRO –Presbyterian Border Region Outreach
realized that as it tries to refocus its
ministry efforts, it was important to
have someone who could dedicate
their time and energy to the overall
work of PBRO. This position was
created to coordinate the varying
ministry efforts along the different
border sites to assist guiding each
location as they implement mission
principles to their particular context,
to maintain connections with constituents already involved in border
ministries, and building relationships
with potential constituents.
have learned that
“ Iwith
a clear vision
and working
together as a team,
we can create
meaningful and
effective ministries
that help those most
in need.
”
We are glad to announce that Omar
Chan has accepted this position, a
Mission Co-worker post through the
Presbyterian Church (USA). Omar is
originally from Guatemala City,
Guatemala. Along with his family,
Omar moved to the United States to
seek additional educational opportunities. He graduated from Indiana
University with a degree in operational management.
Omar desired
Omar Chan - Facilitator
strongly to utilize his academic studies
for the betterment of those Guatemalans who are not offered this same
kind of opportunity. After finishing his
university studies, Omar looked for
employment possibilities to serve and
accompany those most vulnerable in
Guatemala. For the past 5 years, he
returned to Guatemala to serve as the
Operational Director for a medical
mission, faith-based organization.
Omar brings a wealth of experience in
the technical and planning areas for
non-profit organizations as well as a
deep understanding and commitment
to serving as a cross-cultural bridge
having worked with many communities from Latin America and from the
United States. He brings a desire to be
part of work that engages different
communities in seeking justice and
dignity for all. As the facilitator for
PBRO, Omar hopes to be able to bring
the sites together creating a more
cohesive and comprehensive program
along the 6 different ministry sites. As
PBRO seeks to live out its new vision,
Omar will be working closely with the
ministry sites to realize that work in
each context. Omar says of this new
work, “I have learned that with a clear
vision and working together as a
team, we can create meaningful and
effective ministries that help those
most in need. God wants us all to
experience the love and goodness
given to this world. Being part of a
team involved in this kind of work is a
wonderful opportunity to help
change the world for the better.”
He is a member of Highland Presbyterian Church in Louisville, KY. Omar
does not come alone to this position;
his family will also join him, his wife,
Amanda Craft, and his young sons
Alejandro and Matteo. The Chan Craft
family will be relocating to El Paso, TX
in early July 2014. Until then, Omar is
working from Guatemala.
“I thank you for your prayers and
support as we continue in this new
step in our journey. It is a clear illustration of how connected the church
family is,” says Omar. If you feel
touched by Omar’s call, and would like
to accompany him in mission financially, please do so at www.presbyterianmission.org/donate/E200506.
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Presbyterian
Border
Region
Outreach
Edition No. 01 • June 2014
Nurturing
Partnerships
as Regional
Liaison
the mission co-workers serving there as
well. Since the U.S./Mexico border is
under her region, she will be able to
assist with the work of PBRO and our
border partners. She, too, is dedicated
to engaging communities in reconciliation and justice-building ministries
having worked for the Presbyterian
Peacemaking Program prior to mission
service. “God has called us to right the
News From
The
Ministry
Sites
Puentes de
Cristo
Community Outreach
Through Christ’s Love
Amanda Craft - Regional Liaison for Guatemala & México
Omar’s wife, Amanda Craft, is also an
appointed Mission Co-worker through
the PCUSA. She was previously
serving the Uníon Sinódica Femenil
(Presbyterian Women) of the National
Evangelical Presbyterian Church of
Guatemala.
“God has called us to
right the broken
relationships.
”
This past year, she transitioned into a
new position as Regional Liaison for
Mexico and Guatemala. In this new
role, Amanda serves in an administrative role with the global partners in this
region and in a supervisory role with
broken relationships. Serving with and
among those in this part of the world
has allowed me to be involved directly
in this piece of God’s mission. It’s a
privilege and an honor. I’m changed
each day by engaging with others in
God’s mysterious love. I pray that I can
accompany others as they experience
this, too,” says Amanda as she reflects
on her time in mission service. She is a
member of Highland Presbyterian
Church in Louisville, KY as well.
“The church family supports us in
marvelous and wonderful ways. Your
prayers and well wishes give a new
meaning to God’s light in the world.
They enrich and inspire us,” says
Amanda. If you feel called to support
Amanda’s work financially, please do so
at www.presbyterianmission.org/donate/E200512.
This community outreach program is
designed to provide pastoral care
services to persons living in border
towns who are struggling. To implement this purpose, Puentes de Cristo
has established an evangelism
program for children 5-12 years old
and their families living in Colonoia
Lucio Blanco, Reynosa, Mexico.
Puentes de Cristo continues to
improve the quality of life for 20
children and most vulnerable ones in
this neighborhood accompanying
them as we address their physical,
emotional, and spiritual needs. "Community Outreach" is intentionally
evangelistic so that people experience
Christ's love in their life. Reaching out
in love helps these individuals experience Christ and church in a new way.
The church becomes a safe, comforting place.
We at Puentes de Cristo invite you to
accompany us. Please pray for us
taking a “minute for mission” each
week to include this ministry located
in Hidalgo, TX and Reynosa, Mexico in
your prayers. Learn more about our
ministry programs at www.puentesdecristo.org and share what you learn
with your congregation.
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Presbyterian
Border
Region
Outreach
Edition No. 01 • June 2014
Compañeros
en Misión
Going to School
and is a member of his school team as
he takes full advantage of the opportunities presented to him through this
school experience.
Due to faithful support and financial
gifts, we are pleased to announce that
we will renew the scholarship program
in 2014. We give thanks to God for this
marvelous news, and pray for those
who support this program.
Proyecto
Amistad
Reaching Out with Club
Amistad
While Federico was incarcerated for a
year for immigration violations, he was
comforted because his children were
being nurtured and ministered to
through Club Amistad. This program
provides a safe place to learn, play,
create, participate and grow in mind,
body, and spirit. It supplies children of
Club Amistad with hot meals, Bibles,
notebooks, pencils, coloring pencils,
paper, sports equipment, musical
instruments, and more. The children
learn and develop through the AMO
Program, music/art/drama lessons,
sports and community service projects.
Federico and his family
joined the local church in
Nuevo Laredo due to his
children’s participation in
Club Amistad.
Federico and his family joined the local
church in Nuevo Laredo due to his
children’s participation in Club Amistad, and four years later, he is now
director of the local Club and is serving
as a deacon in the church.
Our children are the surest way of
bringing forth God’s vision for life in
contrast with cultures that often manifest violence and corruption. Proyecto
Amistad invites you and your church to
join with us and the churches in Mexico
to make a difference. Let’s follow God’s
hand in shaping a future where
children have great hope and security.
Club Amistad is helping churches and
families make an impact in their communities. Children and parents who
had no church home are introduced to
the host church and develop friendships with church members who volunteer in the Clubs. Frederico and his
family are examples of how lives are
transformed. You can find out more
about this program and others
supported by Proyecto Amistad at
www.proyectoamistad.org.
Pictured is 11 year old Vicente Diaz
Luna, who is attending the 4th grade
and earning A’s in school. He is a
member of the Misión Sol de Justicia
in Nogales, Sonora. His mother is a
Sunday school teacher and works in a
factory that produces dental devices
for dental services in the United States.
She is divorced and the only one who
provides for her family. It has been
difficult to offer positive educational
opportunities for her children. This
scholarship
program
facilitated
through Compañeros en Mision helps
by creating an alternative for children
to seek a path of education instead of
the dangers in the street. The scholarships assist students with their school
fees. Vicente is fascinated with soccer
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Presbyterian
Border
Region
Outreach
Edition No. 01 • June 2014
Frontera
de Cristo
Your Support
Accomplishes
Amazing Things!
•Growing the partnership between the
Presbytery of Southern Kansas and the
Presbiterio de Chihuahua and the impact
of Café Justo through the Café Justo
Presbiterio to Presbytery Partnership
program that has increased the number
of churches participating with addressing
root causes of immigration by buying
Delegation from Presbytery of Southern Kansas
visiting Café Justo Roaster
We are grateful for your support whether
through prayer, the gift of money, time
and talents, and/or encouragement
through letters, emails, or visits. As we
end this year of life and service together,
we want to recognize that God
accomplishes pretty amazing things
through this bi-national ministry with
whom we are privileged to serve:
•
Providing a place of welcome and
refuge for over 7000 men, women and
children at the Migrant Resource Center;
•
Café Justo, raising the awareness of the
partnership
between
the
two
presbyteries and raising funds for
mission;
•
Providing a two years’ worth of beans
(2013 and 2014) for our partners at the
CRREDA (drug rehabilitation center), the
CAME (Migrant Shelter), theourLady of
Angels Children’s Home, the CAINA (after
school program), the House of Hope and
two children’s breakfast programs.
•
And
much
more
www.fronteradecristo.org
found
at
Facilitating immersion experiences for
15 Universities, 2 Seminaries, 12
Churches, 5 High Schools, and 3
Organizations
with
over
400
participants, while mostly from the US
we are blessed to have had participants
from over a dozen countries from each
continent;
Pueblos
Hermanos
Giving financial, emotional and spiritual
support for 67 men and 12 women
throughout the year who are in recovery
from alcohol and drug addictions;
Pueblos Hermanos, the San Diego/Tijuana bi-national ministry since 1985, has
used health education to eastablish a
Christian witness at new mission sites in
Baja California. Nurse Marta Gonzales
has been the catalyst for the outreach
effort of Salud y Vida (Health and Life).
The health clinic has opened the way to
•
•
Supporting the continued growth of
the Siloe Presbyterian Mission in Agua
Prieta and their growing ministry with
children;
plant several mission churches at rural
sites in and around Tijuana. Moreover,
she has expanded the program
outreach by recruiting and training 15
volunteer health workers.
During the past two years, the Salud y
Vida clinic trailer has operated from a
hilltop site in Real de Rosarito, a new
750-home development east of Rosarito Beach. The clinic conducts classes on
good health practices from prenatal
care to child nutrition, teen and family
counseling, and even a grandparents’
club. Bible study groups soon follow, as
well as Saturday school tutoring or
computer classes. Joining the outreach
effort has been Puelbos Hermanos’
mission partner, Baja Presbyterian
Missions. BPM raised funds to enable
the Presbiterio Fronterizo Noroccidental to purchase the Rosarito double-lot
for the Salud y Vida trailer, and where a
Mexican Presbyterian church will be
built.
Growth in the number of missions and
churches in Baja has come about not
only through donations from PCUSA
donors and churches, but by the evangelical zeal of the Mexican congregations themselves. Pastors are training
their elders to conduct Bible studies in
their homes. Since 2010, the roster of
missions and churches has grown from
15 to 27 locations. Salud y Vida has
provided a strong witness of Christ’s
love for everyone.
Health Clinic Makes
Christian Witness at New
Mission Sites
Trained volunteer health promoters
answer questions from neighbors.
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Presbyterian
Border
Region
Outreach
Edition No. 01 • June 2014
Pasos de Fe
A Ministry of
Presbyterian Border
Region Outreach
Pasos de Fe is a ministry of PBRO in the
states of Chihuahua (MX.), and Texas and
New Mexico (USA). Its mission is to realize
the reign of God by:
with the other 5 ministry sites). We want to
encourage individuals and groups to come
to the Border even if they do not cross. There
are numerous wonderful programs and
experiences on BOTH sides of the Border.
Special Story
Jocabed Gallegos,
International Peacemaker
-Participating in holistic evangelism and
supporting churches as they minister to
their communities on both sides of the
international border;
-Always being guided by the Holy Spirit
1. Continue to develop the Community
Center located in the Guadalajara barrio in
Juarez. Goals are to provide worship, health
care, and education. Accomplishments:
center, staffed by a pastor and two
seminary students, is open on a regular
basis and is providing: a. Worship services in
the chapel; b. Vocational training and
spiritual education to paroled prisoners
recently released; c. Regular classes for
women and children; d. periodic health
clinics.
2. Continue to offer weekly worship services (Spanish) in El Paso. A weekly Sunday
afternoon worship service and education
for children is offered at University Presbyterian Church. Also included is a weekly
fellowship and education activity immediately following service.
3. Assist those families/individuals going
through the Consulate process (Juarez).
The goal is to enlist the help of pastors and
churches during this very difficult process.
Several families have been assisted, though
not recently.
4. Increase contacts made with churches
and Presbyteries. It is the hope that with the
assistance of our new PBRO facilitator we
will get the word out about Pasos (along
FDC shifted their focus to work more as a
community. The visiting delegations and
receiving communities needed to work
together to find local solutions. We
conducted surveys to discover the real
needs of the community. Out of those
surveys, we created a community center
“Nueva Esperanza” (New Hope), where the
people took classes and learned a skill.
After working in other areas in FDC following my graduation from seminary, I became
fully involved with mission groups, and FDC
offered me the position of Mission Delegations Facilitator in 2011. In 2013, we
received around 400 people. Delegation
participants learn about the realities along
the border and how FDC and its community partners are addressing the issues of
drugs, violence, and poverty.
-Strengthen the bonds of faith and
Christian fellowship by promoting reciprocal ministries between the churches of both
nations; and
Because of a significant decrease in the
amount of mission groups from the United
States, we have focused on the following
priorities for the immediate future:
to depend on the groups that were bringing them things.
As a response to an increasingly conflict-ridden and fragmented world, the Presbyterian
Peacemaking Program created the International Peacemakers Program. International
Peacemakers are leaders from global partner
churches who come to the US to share their
experiences as peacemakers. We are
pleased that the Mexican Coordinator of
Frontera de Cristo (FDC), Rosario Jocabed
Gallegos Viesca, will be serving as in International Peacemaker to give voice to the
important work of peacemaking and reconciliation along the Mexico/US border.
A glimpse of Jocabed
I was born in Gómez Palacio, Durango,
México to a Presbyterian Family. I am a
fourth generation Presbyterian. This is not
common in northern Mexico. In fact, my
father is an ordained pastor.
My experience with Frontera de Cristo (FDC)
is where I started to understand issues of
peacemaking and compassion. I got
involved with Frontera de Cristo in 1991,
when my dad was transferred to work at Lily
of the Valley Church and serve as the
Mexican Coordinator of FDC. During this
time the realities of the border were different. In fact, there was not a clear border. It
was something simple made of sticks and
wire. Visiting delegations focused on
people’s physical needs. Unfortunately, the
people who we served through FDC began
I have also been cared for personally by the
FDC community. It has been difficult as a
woman who feels called to serve God as an
ordained pastor in a church that does not
agree with this call. During my time in
seminary, I was the only woman in my
classes seeking ordination. Although my
presbytery supported me attending
seminary, they did not have space to call
me as a pastor. Then in 2011, the National
Mexican Presbyterian Church decided to
affirm its understanding that women
should not be ordained as pastors. After
that affirmation, the General Assembly
broke relationships with the Presbyterian
Church (USA). This was a huge hit for me –
the two things I loved most were torn
down. I was worried about my position
with FDC since it was a shared ministry
between the two churches. I thought I
would feel rejection; however, I found a
warm place of comfort and love.
We ask for your prayers, so FDC, our
partners, and our ministry can walk firm
steps to being faithful witnesses of how
God is moving on this border.
You can learn more about Jocabed and her
work in peacemaking by inviting her to visit
your area through the International Peacemakers Program. More information about
how to request Jocabed is available at
http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/peacemaking/international-peacemakers/.
The application deadline is June 30, 2014.
7
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Border
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Outreach
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