In Matamoros, Valle de Beraca launches construction project, education initiatives

Iglesia Valle de Beraca—a key partner in Fellowship Southwest’s immigrant relief network—is making progress on construction of a community center in downtown Matamoros, Mexico.

The center will provide some short-term housing for immigrants passing through the city, located just across the U.S.-Mexico border from Brownsville, Texas. 

It also will be the home for a range of services designed to improve immigrants’ lives—including a vocational school that will teach baking, body shop and car-painting, and welding. It also will be the base for music classes and physical instruction, such as boxing classes for children.

Many of these programs already have been launched, even before the building is complete, reported Jorge Zapata, associate coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Texas and founder of the Hearts4Kids nonprofit.

“In two weeks, we will start a school for migrant children,” Zapata said. “We already have teachers ready to start teaching 80 elementary and middle-school children.”

“The Mexican government is very pleased with what we are doing in Mexico—helping both Mexican residents and migrants,” he said. “We have taken a big burden off their hands.” Consequently, the State of Tamaulipas has made its system of state parks in the Matamoros area available to Iglesia Valle de Beraca, and these facilities are the temporary home for the school and adult-education programs. Pastor Eleuterio González has been authorized to oversee use of the parks.

Meanwhile, Zapata is leading the effort to raise funding for the new building. A Presbyterian agency is developing a grant that will help pay for the building and the programs, he said, adding, “We still need more funds to complete the construction project.”

To support Fellowship Southwest’s immigrant relief ministry, which includes the work of Iglesia Valle de Beraca and other work with refugees along the border, click here. If you would like to contribute to the Matamoros construction project, click here.