Much of the U.S. Church Missionary work has stopped in Mexico because of the violence and murders. But the churches still want the ILLEGALS to come to Texas and the U.S. so the Citizens can be exposed to all of the drugs, drug wars, murders, rapes and all of the crimes and violence that follow the the ILLEGALS into the U.S.

Churches cross the border: Missionary work in Mexico
In the midst of debating and lobbying for immigration reform, churches continue to reach out to families facing violence, poverty and drugs on both sides of the border.

Mexico is a popular destination for missionaries, with thousands of Americans serving there long-term and even more visiting for week-long missions trips. The recent death of a missionary serving along the Texas-Mexico border is evidence of the danger many churches have long feared.

"The issue of whether churches should continue their trips to Mexico is a hot topic within many Texas congregations. In fact, one of the last North Texas churches to keep sending folks to Juarez, Suncreek United Methodist Church in Allen, just decided not to send teams there," said From the Dallas Morning News.

The number of Baptist mission trips to Mexico have been cut, as organizers and participants worry about border violence, but Texas Baptists are still working with churches across the state to sponsor new congregations.

Daniel Rangel, director of Texas Baptists River Ministry, said the convention strongly is encouraging groups wanting to serve along the Texas-Mexico border to minister on the Texas side of the boundary. Few teams have gone ahead and served in Mexico, and the convention requires those who want to minister there to spend their evenings on the Texas side of the border if they want the convention's assistance in facilitating the groups' efforts.

Despite the encouragement to serve in Texas, some areas have seen a significant drop in the number of mission teams serving and the overall number of mission teams through River Ministry has decreased since the Mexico border violence broke out.

In years past, River Ministry facilitated 50 El Paso mission teams in a typical year. Last year, it helped seven teams there. The number of trips working through the Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association has been cut in half to 25. However, in the past three years the number of mission teams serving in Laredo through River Ministry has grown from zero to 40.

James Denison, the theologian-in-residence for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, emphasizes what congregations across the state can do in their own communities to help.

"First, we can engage our nation's drug problem directly. Addiction treatment in a spiritual context has consistently proven effective, but most churches have little or no involvement in such ministries. When we counter poverty and family breakdown we strike at the root of America's drug crisis," said James Denison, , in a post on the Dallas Morning News' Texas Faith blog. "Second, we can strengthen ties with faith communities in areas most affected by drug-related violence. Even if we cannot send volunteers, we can provide financial support and encouragement. It is vital that spiritual leaders engaged in this crisis know they are not alone."

Despite the risks, Mexico is home to the one of the largest missionary training centers for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known for its active, churchwide missionary program. One activist in Utah, though, has called for the Mexican government to suspend visas for Mormon missionaries, saying the LDS church needs to take a stronger stance against immigration enforcement on a state level, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

The church has not signed a document favoring compassionate legislation for undocumented immigrants in Utah, but issued a statement to endorse it, emphasizing Jesus' teaching to love their neighbor, the importance of keeping families together and recognizing the right for border security.

It's doubtful that the activist's petition will result in President Felipe Calderon taking action against the church in Mexico, and Mexican groups in Utah have come out in support of the LDS' humanitarian work in the country.

Posted by Kate Shellnutt at February 16, 2011 09:53 AM

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