You might have noticed several “away” responses if you’ve tried to email one of the Fellowship Southwest staff this month. Here’s a summary of what we’ve been doing and who we’ve gotten to connect with.

STEPHEN

Stephen was in Dallas last weekend to preach at Royal Lane Baptist Church on October 16. Royal Lane is one of the original Fellowship Southwest churches and has been a faithful partner. Here is a recording of the worship service. Stephen’s sermon begins at minute 53. After the service, the church held a potluck luncheon during which Stephen led a conversational presentation about the joint work of Fellowship Southwest and Royal Lane. Occasionally Stephen is invited to speak to our partner churches to connect with congregants and share the mission of Fellowship Southwest. If you are interested in having him come to your congregation, please reach out to him: sreeves@fellowshipsouthwest.org.

CAMERON

Cameron Vickrey, our director of communications and development, joined Elket Rodríguez, our close partner with immigration advocacy and ministry for a workshop presentation at the No Need Among You conference in Waco hosted by Texas Christian Community Development Association.

“The conference was held at First Baptist Church in downtown Waco, and the building was filled with amazing people called by God to the work of serving others in the world. We felt privileged to be counted among them.

“There were dozens of workshops offered at the conference, and ours attracted a small group of eight people interested in the issues of immigration ministry at the U.S.-Mexico border. We had a vibrant discussion about the cultural context in each different border city, and how each place also confronts common issues that direct our advocacy work.”

-Cameron

ANYRA

CBF West Albuquerque

• CBF West came together for their annual gathering. Pastors and leaders from California, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas came together to partner with Del Sol Church, a new church plant in an art film neighborhood. On Thursday, October 6, we gathered in park near the church where the community gathers for live music, food trucks, on the first Thursday of the month. Del Sol Church provides arts and crafts activities for the children who come to the park. Those who came in for the meeting helped the church set up, do crafts, and prepared water bottles with stickers about CBF West and Del Church, for the balloon festival the next day. It was fun observing how the community engages with the church in their outreach efforts.

• On Friday, October 7, the whole team had the opportunity to attend the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Leaving the hotel at 4:30 a.m. Balloons began to launch at 6:00 a.m. while it was still dark. Slowly around 7:00 a.m. over 600 balloons were launched into the sky. A beautiful cultural experience. We were also honored to see a Howeya Family Traditional Dance Group (Acoma). During our time at the Balloon Fiesta, different members of CBF West offered free water bottles to attendees.

• Friday afternoon after a morning nap, we gathered for lunch at Del Sol Church, and CBF West Annual Meeting began. It was so important for me to learn about the unique ministries or churches who represented.

Baylor Collaborative Hunger and Poverty Summit

I represented FSW at the Summit. It was an enriching conference as I continue to navigate my role and dream about the future with FSW.

Representatives of the World Food Program (WFP), shared "We are facing an unprecedented global food crisis and all signs suggest we have not yet seen the worst. For the last three years hunger numbers have repeatedly hit new peaks."

Additional facts from WFP:

• 828 million people worldwide are hungry. That means more than one in ten people goes to bed on an empty stomach every night.

• Of those 828 million, 345 million are facing severe hunger.

• 45 million children under the age of 5 are severely hungry – meaning they’ve suffered from recent and life-threatening weight loss due to lack of nourishment.

• Every 11 seconds a child dies of hunger (Bread for the World)

There are 5 things that are driving factors of Hunger, Conflict, Climate Change, Covid, Cost of food, and Corruption.

Food insecurity therefore becomes a driving force for migration.

One of the plenary speakers was Eugene Cho, CEO of Bread for the World, shared that food is love. He learned this from his father, who endured extreme poverty and hunger. Growing up he didn't hear "I love you" from his parents, but realized as an adult that his parents, even till today always ask him, "Eugene, have you eaten". That was his parent's way of saying, "We love you."

As I thought about our work at the border, and Eugene's story, it made me proud of FSW, our donors and partners. The food we provide on a daily basis to thousands of migrants, is a demonstrating love to those in dire need.

-Anyra Cano, Director of Programs and Outreach

Cintia Aguilar has been traveling across the Southwest this fall offering “Pastor as Social Worker” trainings. At her last count, over 70 people have attended these trainings.

And at the beginning of this month, Stephen and Anyra both attended the meeting of the board of directors for BJC in Washington, D.C.

We love being out in the community with you!