Refugee Crisis on our Border

Photo from the United Methodist web page/blog

Our Mission Council is addressing the issue of the refugee crisis on our border with many of the refugees being children.  In the next few months we will be directing the readers of the blog and of the church newsletter to information about how the United Methodist Church is responding so that we have a clearer answer when asked "What can we do?"  Being far removed from the day to day scene of tired children and families arriving at our border, we are seeking ways to support the churches in the area who have outreach programs to help with the situation there.  

 

For sure we can pray for the hundreds of volunteers who have worked along the border for years addressing the issues of injustice, especially related to children coming from Mexico and other Central American countries.  In addition to the volunteers, we can also pray for the children.   Many of the children in miraculously surviving the arduous trip then qualify as legal refugees because of the dangers they face in returning their own country.  The realities of life in their home countries cause the US to recognize them refugees.  The US has a  legal process in place to determine their future status. 

 

Members of the Mission Council have found that the United Methodist Church is responding to the needs of the children in the border area.   UMCOR has sent 18,000 personal hygiene kits (like the ones we pack when we go to Sager Brown and/or Midwest Mission Distribution) and $10,000 to the Southwest Texas Conference.   Brownsville UMC, Laredo Holding Institute (supported by United Methodist Women), and McAllen UMC are churches who have long standing programs in working with immigration on the southern border.  The difference this year (as we have all read) is the increase in the number of people asking for asylum.
 

El Valle District has a great Facebook presence which will begin to help us understand the issues the church is facing everyday.   Our September mission offering will be going to one of the programs of the UM connection in Laredo, Brownsville, or McAllen.