Border Crisis: Second in a series
As the director of disaster relief for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and a former resident of the border region himself, Scottie Stice and his colleagues have spent years giving aid to migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border. But these days, “we have had an increase in numbers,” Stice said.
Waves of Baptist volunteers from across the U.S. have flooded his state in recent weeks to offer aid to the influx of largely Central American migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The deluge of Southern Baptists and other evangelical relief groups has surprised some.
The Catholic Church has historically dominated the aid operation in Texas and retains robust partnerships on both sides of the border.
Evangelicals have garnered less attention — perhaps because, according to the Pew Research Center, they may be more likely than any other faith group to believe that the U.S. does not have a responsibility to welcome migrants.
But just as the Catholic Church retains robust partnerships on both sides of the border, so do the Baptists.
Mike Carlisle, director of missions for the San Diego Southern Baptist Association, said his group has a missionary who teams up with local churches from the National Baptist Convention of Mexico, in Tijuana, to offer food and showers for migrants currently trapped in bureaucratic limbo.
“For weeks our missionary single-handedly provided breakfast for those awaiting immigration processing,” Carlisle said. “He was asked by some of the officials there to expand his work.”
Alvin Migues, emergency disaster services director for the Texas division of Salvation Army, said the organization recently convened a meeting in Mexico City that included discussion of enhancing its coordination with divisions on the Mexico side of the border.
Stice said many Baptists volunteer at so-called “release shelters” — facilities that offer short-term housing and food for immigrants after they are released from Border Patrol facilities but before they travel to a permanent location to await a court date.
Meeting basic needs
One such shelter is operated by West Brownsville Baptist Church in Texas, taking in about 25 people per day.
Another is located in Del Rio, where Texas Baptists and the Salvation Army are preparing for an influx of support from Samaritan’s Purse, the evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization run by Franklin Graham.
Graham told CBN News that Samaritan’s Purse is now working with 18 partners to assist more than 200 churches caring directly for immigrants on both sides of the border.
Stice said the volunteers typically help prepare and serve food at the shelters as well as help keep shower units clean.
“(The migrants) come in and get something to eat, maybe some clothes, a shower if needed and have a safe place to spend the night,” said Stice.
Churches also are finding ways to minister to border partrol agents and their families.
A missions team from Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas, held a fun day and gave out backpacks and school supplies to agents’ family members in El Paso.
Some observers, including Stice, said that evangelical groups have become increasingly involved simply because of the political and religious debate over immigration.
But Stice dismisses the politics of the border as the driving force behind Baptists’ commitment, arguing the motivation is primarily spiritual.
“It’s a biblical mandate,” he said.
How to help
For information on how your church, small group or missions team can help with ministry efforts at the border, contact The Alabama Baptist at 205-870-4720, ext 103.
Share with others: