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Building Relationships and Understanding Across Borders
 
 
Participants in our annual Board and Staff Retreat

 




July 31, 2014

 

 

31 de Julio, 2014 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
         
          On November 22 and 23 we will be celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Frontera de Cristo with worship, fellowship, educational opportunities, music, and of course delicious food. Please put those dates on your calendar and plan on joining us as we give thanks to God for the opportunity to cross borders for thirty years seeking to live out the good news of Jesus Christ who has "broken down the dividing wall of hostility that is between us". 

We are grateful for your partnership that helps make our ministry possible and ask you to pray with us that God may give us courage to cross new borders as we continue to seek to be proactive, positive and faithful witnesses here on the US/Mexico border and beyond!

 

 

Peace,

 

         Jeni O'Callaghan      Rodolfo Navarrete Arrieta          Monika Patience       Carmina Sanchez

              President                   Vice President                         Treasurer               Secretary 

 

 

 

 

 

Unaccompanied Children and Border Crisis


 

 

 

In the face of the heartbreaking crisis of the unaccompanied youth and children that have been arriving to the border, we have been heartened by the outpouring of concern and desire to respond in compassion from many of our partners.  The children and youth are not being housed in the Douglas/Agua Prieta area, although the mayor of Douglas has reached out to the US government offering welcome to the children and youth.  Presbyterian Disaster Assistence has been meeting with church leaders in Arizona and has developed a good resource page providing educational, worship and advocacy materials as well as opportunities to help.

 

Bi-national Retreat:

 Being Peacemakers Cultures of Violence

 

Whether confronted with the reality of drug violence, or the violence of economic and political systems that pit human beings against one another, or that of domestic violence, God calls people of faith to be peacemakers seeking to be agents of positive transformation in our families, churches, communities and world.  Coordinator Jocabed Gallegos led the adult portion of our retreat as we reflected, envisioned and discerned how God is continuing to call us to be peacemakers across borders.

 

Dr. Lori Keyne, director of the Cochise College Community College, led our children's portion with Songs of Peace.  Hear and see the children singing Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace).

 

Images of the Bi-national Retreat 

 

Songs of the Earth                        Songs of the Earth by C. Susan Nunn

                            Author and Publisher Donate Proceeds to Frontera de Cristo  

 

Looking for some good summer reading that will also support our ministry?

Susan Nunn and her publishers are donating a portion of the proceeds of her new novel Song of the Earth
to Frontera de Cristo. This page turning novel weaves together themes of migration of families, spirituality, brokenness, hope and the formation of unlikely relationships across borders.
 

  

Susan has been a friend and partner of Frontera de Cristo, the Migrant Resource Center and Caf� Justo for over a decade and says:

"For many years, I experienced the open hearts and the giving spirit of a treasured few who live and work, unselfishly, on the borderlands of southeastern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. These people, from many different churches, and many with no specific affiliation, just harboring a deep love for all mankind, embraced me with their openness and their giving spirit, while working tirelessly in the struggle of human rights. It's been a humbling experience, and, in the process, I found my own spirit strengthened as it became infused with care and undying love for all. My voice became stronger. I found my passion.

  

I believe anytime one receives such a gift, they should give in return. My giving, and that of our generous publishers at Branch Hill Publications, both Genie and Jim, will be to donate a portion of the proceeds of the sales of this book to Frontera de Cristo, located in the sister cities of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico and Douglas, Arizona.  

  

Frontera de Cristo is a Presbyterian border ministry and is an influential voice for humanitarian rights and immigration reform.  This ministry, having been in existence for many years, believes in the power of community and maintains a strong presence across the Borderlands.  They work hand in hand with all faiths towards ensuring all people are treated fairly, no matter their race or creed. Check them out online: www.fronteradecristo.org."

  

Thanks Susan!

  

Click here to read the literary e-site She Writes interview of Susan about the book.

 

 Juan Carlos Cardoza Oquendo:

Reflections of a Bi-national Intern

 

Juan Carlos (c) with Phil Kennedy (l) and the Adams Maldonado Family at Ghost Ranch during a break from the Immigration and Churches' Responses Workshop at Ghost Ranch in 2011.

Juan Carlos served as a summer intern with us in 2007 and has continued to be a good friend and partner.  He is currently serving as Policy Advocate at the Workers Defense Project in Dallas, TX. In a recent interview, Juan says: 

 

"I learned so much about working with other people different from me and I learned so much about me. . . It has allowed me to embrace who I am as a Christian as a follower of Jesus Christ. . . . It is one of those stones in the path that has directed me to where I am today. . . . and I am very thankful."

 

  Click here to see full remarks 

 

Help Us Celebrate Our

30th Anniversary

 

We are celebrating 30 years of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed here on the US/Mexico border and beyond.  As part of the celebration, we are collecting "remembrances".  Please send your reflections and pictures of your experiences with Frontera de Cristo to us as we re-member 30 years of bi-national ministry.
 
We'll be posting pictures from different parts of our history on Facebook every Thursday-- what many in Facebookers call "throwback Thursday"--we'd love to add yours to the archives.  If you haven't already, please like us on FB! The first thirty new likes will get 50% off the two featured books in this addition.
 
Also, please mark November 22-23 on your calendars.  We will be sending out information soon about our 30th Anniversary celebrations in Agua Prieta.
 
Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support!

 

 

More Books For Summer Reading

 

  

                    Presbyterians on the Frontier:
   A Story of Presbyterian Border Ministry 1984-2014

This book is the result of 20 years of volunteering with Presbyterian Border Ministry (PBM) and three years of research, interviews and writing.
According our Coordinators Jocabed Gallegos and MarkAdams: "We have both been shaped by PBM-- it is the water we swim in. We are grateful to Parrish for writing Presbyterians on the Frontier allowing us to step outside of the water and more fully understand the power of God to transform lives, including ours, through this crazy thing called bi-national ministry."
You can get your copy for $12 by going to our secure donation web-site and putting Presbyterians on the Border in the memo line or email us..  (If you choose to pay $30 for the 30 years of PBM, $18 will be tax deductible.) Books will ship June 13.

Parrish W. Jones
, PhD. a retired Presbyterian (USA) minister, has written for the Presbyterian News Service and "Presbyterians Today" on PCUSA missions. This work is a result of 20 years of volunteering with Presbyterian Border Ministry (PBM) and 3 years of research, interviews and writing.
Order your copy now!!!
         Caf� Justo: Cafeina con Conciencia  

has arrived  

 

FDC's   Just Trade Center just received its first shipment of Caf� Justo: Cafeina Con Conciencia, the Spanish translation of Just Coffee: Caffeine with a Conscience.

 

If you would like to receive a copy of the book, click here and give $20 through our secure donation site and put "Book in Spanish" in the memo or email us.

 

 We are very grateful to Dr. Miguel Ugarte, professor of Spanish and his team from the Univeristy of Missouri: Rosa Morales, Danilo Leon, Lorena Medrano, Hilda Fennelle, Toshiya Kamei, Tomas Blazquez, Blanca Kelty, and Charles Presberg who translated the chapters.

 

We are also grateful for Dr. Lee Ann Grace of Buffalo State University and Howard Henry-- members of University PC Buffalo and  longtime partners of FDC, who worked hard to edit, copy edit and format the book.

 

 

Mexican Coordinator Chosen As An International Peacemaker 


As a response to an increasingly conflict-ridden and fragmented world, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program created the International Peacemakers Program.

 

International Peacemakers are leaders from global partners who come to the US to share their experiences as peacemakers. We are pleased that our own coordinator Jocabed Gallegos will be serving as a International

Peacemaker to give voice to the important work of peacemaking and reconciliation along the Mexico/US border.

 

From September 19-October 12, Jocabed will join church leaders from Syria, Russia, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Palestine, the Philippines, South Sudan and the Caribbean in speaking in churches throughout the US to share how God is working through the church to bring about a more just, loving and peace-filled world. 

 

Click here to meet the other peacemakers.

    
Save The Dates:
October 31-8, 2014 
November 7-15, 2014
Coffee, Migration and Faith
Border to Border Delegation

 

 17

    

We are already signing up folks who are interested in joining our 2014 delegation.  Because of interest, we have added another week. Join us in building relationships and understanding across borders enjoying great coffee, wonderful fellowship, delicious food, and incredible hospitality in the rainforest in 2014!
  
Click here to see the 2014 flier!


  
 Click here to see pictures from 2013 Delegation.
  
Please email [email protected]  if you are interested in the delegation, but not ready to register yet.

David Cifuentes and family sharing with the 2013 delegation.

 

 

   
 
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Support 

Frontera de Cristo by:

  

1)  Joining us in giving thanks to God for:

  

  --the blessing of our call to witness that Jesus Christ is our peace across the borders that seek to divide us; 

 

2) Praying with us for God's guidance and help in:

  

--Responding to the reality of the impact of drugs on the families and communities of Agua Prieta;

 

 3) Providing Support to the Migrant Resource Center:

 

-The MRC invites YOU to visit or volunteer. Come, learn, and be blessed by our brother and sister migrants.

 

-MRC Donation needs:

 

-Shoelaces

 

-Underwear

 

-Socks

 

-MRC Volunteers commute by bike-but we need helmets and bike lights! Please consider donating to help keep us safe on

the roads.  

 

 

-Financial donations will help pay MRC operating costs, but food items when donations are scarce and keep our bicycles in operating condition.

 

 

3) Donating by clicking the donate now button.

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