28 de Febrero, 2014 

Frontera de Cristo seeks to build relationships and understanding across borders-- whether they be political, economic, religious, cultural or national-- as we seek to witness to and live into God's love and justice here on the US/Mexico border and beyond.

Throughout the year, we host different events to bring together folks in celebration, worship, fellowship, sharing, learning and reflection-- and there is usually delicious food involved ;)!  Our next celebration is the commissioning of our new Mexican coordinator Jocabed Gallegos on March 21. Contact melissa@fronteradecristo.org if you are interested in participating.

Check out our 2014 Calendar of Events and consider joining us for one or more of them. 

Also, consider organizing a delegation from your church, organization or family to come and share a bit of life and ministry with us.

Know that we cherish your partnership!

On behalf of your ministry on the border,

 Jeni O'Callaghan           Rodolfo Navarrete          Monika Patience

Larchmont Avenue PC delegation during the border infrastructure tour.

  

We are grateful for the delegations and visitors who shared a bit of life and ministry with us here on the border in February:

  

        St. John's Prep of Collegeville, MN with the School Sisters of

                       Notre Dame; 

  

        No More Deaths Phoenix;

  

        Young Adults in Global Mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church

                      Mexico City;

  

        Maria Arroyo and Omar Chan of Presbyterian World Mission;

  

        Larchmont Avenue Presbyterian Church, Larchmont, NY;  

 

 

"Life on the border is "complicated . . . . and yet joyful, hard and yet beautiful. Before we came it seemed as though the issues were "black and white": those for migrants and those against, and yet here it is cleary not so easy. It was so helpful to look at some of the root causes of migration, poverty, drug trafficking, family needs and then the variety of ways we can respond: Just Coffee, CRREDA, DouglaPrieta Trabaja . . ." -Julie

  

  "Discussions of Bible passages were good because they brought out everybody's perspective. I understand the selected passages better today. Also, I liked the constant prayer and spiritual element of our days." --Patrick

Email us if you are interested in leading a delegation down to the border.

Mission Delegation Manual 

FDC Featured in Mission Yearbook For Prayer

On February 5, the ministry was uplifted in prayer by those who use the Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study! We grateful for the prayers and support of all our partners of all faith traditions.  Here is an excerpt from the reflection:

"Pastor Cat Dodson Goodrich reflects on her internship experience (with Frontera de Cristo):

'Little did I know on that dark, hot night that I had fallen in with prophets and visionaries-the voices crying out in the wilderness, proclaiming the kingdom of God, being church in a whole new way. It was, literally, water in the desert of my parched soul, cool and rejuvenating, and moving me to deeper faith and action. I came to Agua Prieta a little lost, looking for someone to tell me the truth about the world and myself; what I found helped me make sense of what it means to follow Christ and work for wholeness in this broken world.

'Frontera de Cristo's ministry shaped the trajectory of my life, opened my eyes to the borders that divide every town and place, and helped me understand my own call to ministry, advocacy, mission, and organizing for stronger and more just communities.'"

Click here to read entire reflection.

"The Angels Are Back"--Flying Samaritans Clinic 

by Pastor Rodolfo Navarrete Arrieta 

The Angels Are Back.

"Los angeles volvieron!"-this is how some people in the community of Colonia Progreso respond to the arrival of the students from the Flying Samaritans chapter from the University of Arizona. The clinics that they organize in partnership with the Centro Comunitario Nueva Esperanza are a great blessing.

It is beautiful to see the arrival of people at the New Hope Community Center called in response to the saying "Come to me, all you heavy burdened and tired, I will give you rest" with medical and dental support to bring the healing of the body and thus bring blessing to the lives of the families of this community.

The happy faces of children and adults of the hundreds in the community who receive care are motivating. No doubt that our heavenly Father, has the whole world in his hands, and God moves the hearts of all, regardless of religion, language, nationality or ethnicity, to fulfill this great commandment to love God and to love our neighbor.

The next clinic will be at the New Hope Community Center on March 8th, 2014   

The UofA delegation of the Flying Smaritans with Lorena, Melissa, and Selina (center) volunteers of Lirio de los Valles PC.

Professor Rob Hoch spent three weeks with the ministry of Frontera de Cristo in preparation for writing this book. One of the chapters, "Desert Shrines", is dedicated to reflecting on the bi-national ministry of FDC and our partners here in Douglas/Agua Prieta. We are blessed to receive a perspective of our ministry and encourage those who are interested in "putting flesh on the good news" in the midst of your communities to read Professor Hoch's challenging, thought-provoking and hope-filled book.

"With lyrical exegesis, naked vulnerability, and raw courage, Robert P. Hoch invites ecumenical Christians out of our comfortable sanctuaries and into more disquieting neighborhoods. There he urges us to attend to and befriend those flesh-and-blood exiles who live both around and within us and who remain our last, best hope for authentic joy in community. By the Rivers of Babylon is a haunting and beautiful book."
-Robert C. Dykstra
Princeton Theological Seminary  

Bi-national Internship Ministry Partners

With Tucson Borderlands Young Adult Volunteers