This past May, we issued an urgent call for volunteers to come to Brownsville, Texas, across the border from Matamoros, Mexico, where numbers of migrants were spiking. Our ministry partner in Brownsville, Iglesia Bautista West Brownsville and their pastor, Carlos Navarro, needed help serving the migrants coming through the bus station near them. Many Fellowship Southwest friends made quick plans and answered the call. Though the immigration numbers have stabilized, help is always needed, and this past weekend, three churches from around Texas convened in Brownsville.

From Nacogdoches, Austin Heights Baptist Church sent a group of about eight people, including children. From San Antonio, Trinity Baptist Church and Woodland Church sent a group of about a dozen.

Lance Mayes, associate pastor of Woodland Church, reported:

Our group was from Woodland Chuch and Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio. We helped at Iglesia Bautista West Brownsville on Saturday, sorting and organizing shirts and hygiene kits. On Sunday morning, we worshipped with IBWB, which included a wedding of a widow and widower and a baby dedication. Before worship, our group had a great discussion on migrants theologically using the book of Ruth. We helped at The Welcome Center Sunday afternoon, making 300 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and 130 ham and cheese sandwiches.

Austin Heights sent us this report:

We feel blessed to have been part of the Iglesia Bautista family and working side by side to welcome and "serve the stranger".  We'll never forget Jose, Nelson, Luis, Annabel and little Carolay the newborn.  What a privilege it was to hear their stories!  This experience brought us closer to the realness of a beloved community where all are welcome to receive Christ.  Our circle of friends just got a lot bigger!  We were all so impressed with the love and commitment that Carlos, George, and crew showed to migrants, the homeless, and his congregation.  They were truly inspiring and we look forward to deepening our relationship with Iglesia Bautista West Brownsville and Fellowship Southwest.

If you are interested in coming to serve alongside Iglesia Bautista West Brownsville, meeting migrants face to face, learning their stories, and helping to make their transition a little more comfortable, please email anyra@fellowshipsouthwest.org. We are ready for you!