The COVID-19 pandemic has stricken the heart of Pastor Eleuterio González’s ministry to immigrants in Matamoros, Mexico, just across the border from Brownsville, Texas.

“There was an outbreak of COVID at the Mexican federal shelter” in Matamoros, reported Jorge Zapata, director of Fellowship Southwest’s immigrant relief ministry and associate coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Texas. “Government officials told Eleuterio they were going to shut down the shelter.” For months, González and his church, Iglesia Valle de Beraca, have operated a feeding ministry in the shelter.

 “They asked Eleuterio to help them talk to the immigrant families about the problem with COVID, so they would understand,” Zapata added. 

González and 10 members of the church worked until 4:00 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, shuttling immigrants from the impacted shelter. They moved some into the massive tent camp on the levee of the Rio Grande. They also converted Iglesia Valle de Beraca’s facilities into an emergency shelter for the overflow of immigrants who would not fit into the camp.

Some immigrant families are calling relatives in the United States, asking them to provide $50 per month for three months so they can rent small rooms.

The refugees are amassed in northern Mexico as they await the process to seek asylum in the United States. “Please pray for the situation in Matamoros,” Zapata asked. “Also pray for Eleuterio and his church as they take in the immigrants into their building. Pray for the finances of the church and for the decisions.”

Fellowship Southwest provides monthly support for González’s ministry, as well as immigrant relief along the border. FSW plans to increase its support for immigrants in Matamoros in order to help them weather this pandemic storm. To contribute to FSW’s border ministry, click here.