Border Reflections Part 3: Church Better Together

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Church Better Together!
In the midst of difficult circumstances, there is much in the way of Church Better Together to be celebrated as this ministry is carried out. A few things of note:

n  Your Generosity Makes a Difference: Last summer in light of the family reunifications, we launched the Border Emergency Fund to help financially support our ELCA congregations and ministries engaged in this important work. Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $36,000 that has touched every aspect of this ministry of welcome by providing needed resources from cell phones to closet space, from room dividers to cots, from a playground to some roof repairs to guests dry!

n  Our Witness to God’s Unconditional Love: One of the unanticipated fruits of this ministry is the engagement of volunteers from across the faith spectrum who are forging an ecumenical and inter-religious witness to God’s all-embracing love. We also met volunteers with no connection to a faith community who are grateful for churches who care so deeply about their vulnerable neighbors.

n  AMMPARO: Our work at the Border is closely connected with AMMPARO, our ELCA strategy for Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities. Created after recognizing the plight of children who were fleeing Central America and arriving in the US alone, this strategy now encompasses whole families and addresses on-the-ground realities both in the US and in the three countries from which refugees are arriving. Bishop Eaton was recently in Honduras to see how our work with the Lutheran Church and other organizations there was providing safe re-entry and new opportunities for those whose asylum claims were denied. To learn more about AMMPARO, see https://www.elca.org/ammparo We look forward to welcoming  Mary Campbell, AMMPARO Director, at our upcoming RMS Assembly.

n  What is Still Needed? As the ministry of welcoming refugees who are seeking asylum continues for the foreseeable future, our congregations and ministries engaged in this important work will continue to need our support. Your contribution to the RMS Border Emergency fund provides additional resources for supplies and infrastructure. There is also a need for volunteers to offer hands-on support. Those wishing to assist can contact Border Servant Corps (https://www.borderservantcorps.org) Although being bilingual in Spanish helps, those without Spanish skills can provide valuable assistance! One immediate need is two 15 passenger vans that could be shared by all the area Reception Centers in El Paso and Las Cruces to simplify the task of transporting families to bus stations and the airport. We are also exploring how to provide some respite and support to the long-term volunteers and coordinators. Above all, we invite your constant prayer for this ministry – for those being served and for those serving – as together we proclaim and embody God’s unconditional love for the sake of the world!


Read Part 1: Who is coming and why?
Read Part 2: The Story of one Reception Site

Comments

Unknown said…
I thought this was an excellent article and am proud of the work our church is doing. I would like to hear the church give support to the necessity of limiting some immigration and working with the government to provide continuing support to families, education, jobs etc. Without language skills, jobs, money, homes, etc poverty areas are going to suffer. Every church in America, actors, sports figures concerned folks with lots of money, should commit to at least 1 family and seeing them through by providing education, food, housing, etc until a family is on there feet. To let more people into the country without that commitment is almost inhumane as they are destined to suffer. Thank you again for a helpful article.
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