Hispanic Baptists seek ways to help border crisis

Hispanic Baptist leaders gather for prayer along the Rio Grande, asking God to bring peace to Central America, where violence is prompting tens of thousands of children to flee to the United States. (PHOTO/Kalie Lowrie/BGCT)

image_pdfimage_print

MCALLEN—The crisis along the Texas/Mexico border caused by an influx of about 50,000 unaccompanied immigrant children into the United States so far this year captured the attention and concern of participants at the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas in McAllen.

convencion banner425“It is necessary for us to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis affecting tens of thousands finding themselves abandoned and in need of basic necessities,” said Jesse Rincones, executive director of Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas.

“We are here to express our commitment as Hispanic Baptists to provide assistance, awareness and prayer for those in need.”

Convencion President Bea Mesquias and other Hispanic Texas Baptists volunteered at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen prior to the annual meeting to support volunteers who are caring for unaccompanied children. Although they were unable to interact with the children, they helped fold clothes and clean restrooms.

They are ‘in need of hope’

“My prayer is that we can work with the government to help these women and children,” Mesquias said. “They have food and clothing and shelter, but they are in need of hope. I pray we can find ways to share the word of God with them and that God will protect them during this difficult time.”

Several Hispanic Baptist leaders stood on the banks of the Rio Grande and prayed for wisdom and God’s sovereignty. Recognizing the difficult circumstances many are fleeing, Julio Guarneri, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, prayed for the children’s home countries.

Prayer for Central America

“We pray for the situations in Central America. We cannot begin to imagine what conditions would push a mom to cross an entire country with their baby in hand, riding on trains, risking their lives,” Guarneri said.


Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays


“We cannot imagine the kind of poverty or violence that they face. Father, we know that they have enough hope that would bring them here. Father, we pray that you would be in the situation there and that your shalom, peace, would be with them.”


We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.

Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.

More from Baptist Standard