McALLEN, TEXAS (PNS) On a warm June day last summer, a small group of volunteers found 40 asylum seekers camping out on the Reynosa-Hidalgo bridge near McAllen, Texas. From that day forward, the mission was clear: help people in need. Angry Tías and Abuelas (aunts and grandmothers) of the Rio Grande Valley has spent the last six months working to make sure asylum seekers have what they need to start over in the U.S. Blankets, food, water, toiletry kits and toys make up the list of supplies provided to families either waiting on a bridge to enter the U.S. or preparing to board a bus to other destinations. A delegation from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) just returned from visiting the Texas/Mexico border, where it met with asylum seekers and ministry groups like Angry Tías to learn more about what they’re doing to make the new arrivals feel welcome. “Just reaching out with a hug can make a difference in that adult or child’s life and going beyond that to be sure they … [Read more...]

(PNS) Presbyterians view immigrants more favorably than they did in 2011 and are more involved in immigrant ministries than they were in the past. These are the key findings of the May 2017 Presbyterian Panel survey on Immigration, Refugees, and Immigrant Ministries. The results were released earlier this month. “These attitudes seem to reflect that Presbyterians take pretty seriously the biblical mandate to welcome the stranger,” said Susan Krehbiel, who works on refugee and asylum issues for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.   The passage in Hebrews (13:2) urging Christians to welcome strangers is “very important” or “important” to how most members and ministers of the Word and Sacrament understand contemporary immigration and refugee issues, panelists’ responses show. The Hebrews passage reads: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (NRSV)  “It is also clear from survey responses that … [Read more...]

McALLEN, Texas — As people from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador continue to make their way to the Mexico-U.S. border, a delegation of Presbyterian ministers and leaders headed to McAllen, Texas this weekend as part of the Interfaith Caravan of Hope. The delegation from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) includes the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón Olivieri, co-moderator of the 223rd General Assembly; Rev. Jimmie Hawkins with the church’s Office of Public Witness; and Amanda Craft and Teresa Waggener with the church’s Office of Immigration Issues. The delegation was joined by representatives of Mission Presbytery, the Synod of the Sun and a student delegation from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. For several months now, thousands of people have been slowly making their way to the U.S. border in hopes of starting a new life. The group has fragmented in recent weeks, with many heading … [Read more...]

McALLEN, Texas (PNS) — It’s been a long four months for Marleny and her family. Since Aug. 28, she, her daughter, son-in-law and nine-year-old grandson have been on the road from El Salvador to the U.S. border. They’ve been at the Mexico-U.S. border for two weeks and are still waiting to talk with border officials. A Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) delegation met with Marleny and other families awaiting their turn this weekend across the river from Brownsville, Texas. The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the PC(USA), Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, director of the church’s Office of Public Witness, and Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, co-moderator of the 223rd General Assembly, were accompanied by Amanda Craft and Teresa Waggener with the church’s Office of Immigration Issues, as well as Rev. Dr. Sallie Watson with Mission Presbytery and Valerie Young with the Synod of the Sun. The group spent three days meeting with church leaders and other volunteer groups, including … [Read more...]