By Elket Rodríguez

This has been a tough-yet-rewarding year for Jorge Zapata‚ associate coordinator of CBF Texas, Fellowship Southwest’s immigrant relief director and founder of Hearts4Kids, a nonprofit ministry that serves the poorest communities in the Rio Grande Valley. 

A pandemic, a hurricane and thousands of hungry immigrant families on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border have redefined Zapata’s ministry in 2020.

“I feel overwhelmed,” he acknowledged. "Right now, nobody helps anybody, because everything stopped."

The COVID-19 pandemic multiplied the struggles border communities face, but not the resources needed to tackle on their needs, Zapata said. Financial contributions and volunteers willing to serve on the border, home many of the poorest communities in the United States, have decreased.  

“We need workers who can help us pray and volunteer, as well as assist us and provide financial support as well,” he explained.

Still, Zapata, and a group of volunteers from his congregation—New Wine Church in La Feria, Texas—persevere in their service to the immigrants who live in the colonias, the impoverished unincorporated townships that populate the Rio Grande Valley.

On top of his other duties, Zapata leads a joint effort that involves CBF Disaster Response, CBF Texas, Fellowship Southwest, Hearts4Kids and numerous churches to provide long-term recovery relief to victims of Hurricane Hanna. “We continue to provide (construction) materials for families affected by Hurricane Hanna in the colonias in the Valley,” he said. “The goal was to help six families, but we are going to help 11.”

Similarly, Zapata and Hearts4Kids are preparing to deliver winter clothes and Christmas gifts to families living in the colonias. “We have received jackets, blankets and toys,” he said. “On December 25th, we always host an event to deliver the gifts. This year, it's going to be a drive-through."

Food distribution—which is an integral part of Hearts4Kids’ ministry—has been affected by several federal food programs that are set to expire this month, he reported. However, Hearts4Kids continues to distribute sacks of rice and beans to four ministries and churches in Valley, as well as to various other ministries to immigrants in Mexico.

Zapata also celebrated the distribution of more than 20,000 face masks to families living on both sides of the border during the past three months. 

Full of challenges and successes, Zapata thanked God for divine protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have worked, risking our health and our staff, because we could have gotten sick every day, and God has delivered us,” he said.

To contribute to Fellowship Southwest’s Immigrant Relief Fund, which supports the ministry of Zapata and other pastors and churches all along the border, click here.

Elket Rodríguez is the immigrant and refugee advocacy and missions specialist for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Fellowship Southwest.