Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
A large group of people with their hearts in the right place and acting in unison of compassion and faith, Rio Grande Bible Church, led by Pastor Victor Hugo Castillo, has initiated a remarkable outreach program to support migrants on the Mexican side of the US-Mexico border. The church’s efforts are centered around the Senda de Vida shelter in Reynosa, where many migrants have found temporary refuge amidst the challenging conditions at the border.
Rio Grande Bible Church has become a light of hope for many in this dire situation. The church recently delivered 500 hygiene kits to the Senda de Vida shelter, anticipating a major event planned for Saturday, December 23, 2023, at 11 am. These kits are essential for the migrants, providing them with necessities often hard to come by in their current living conditions.
In addition to physical aid, the church also focuses on spiritual nourishment. Approximately 200 audio Bibles in Haitian Creole and 150 New Testaments in Spanish were delivered, catering to the diverse linguistic needs of the shelter’s inhabitants. These efforts demonstrate the church’s commitment to addressing physical needs and providing spiritual support.
On the menu for the upcoming Saturday event are 2,100 tamales, accompanied by beans and lettuce, providing a warm and hearty meal to the shelter’s residents. The church’s dedication to ensuring these individuals are well-fed and cared for is a powerful demonstration of practical Christianity in action.
Beyond the basic necessities, the church has also arranged for sweaters, coats, and hundreds of gifts for children, turning the event into a celebration of hope and community. These gestures of kindness are particularly emotional given the timing – just before the Christmas season, a time traditionally associated with giving and compassion.
The church’s efforts come against the setting of a challenging migrant situation along the US-Mexico border. Like many border towns, Reynosa has seen an influx of migrants from more than 150 countries, each seeking a better life but facing numerous obstacles. Shelters like Senda de Vida provide crucial support, but the needs are often overwhelming.
The Rio Grande Bible Church’s initiative is not a solo endeavor. Several groups, churches, and ministries are joining forces for the upcoming event to serve 1,400 migrants at the shelter. This collective effort highlights the power of community and shared purpose in addressing humanitarian crises.
Most importantly, the church aims to share Christ’s love and teachings, living out the core principles of Christian faith – love, compassion, and service to others. The event will be more than just a distribution of food and gifts; it will be an opportunity to spread hope, encouragement, and spiritual sustenance to those who need it most.
The Rio Grande Bible Church, a McAllen, Texas-based nonprofit, is dedicated to spreading the word of God and embodying the Christian doctrines of love and discipleship. Their work at the Senda de Vida shelter is a vivid example of faith in action, providing temporary relief and a source of lasting hope and inspiration to the migrant community in Reynosa.
Pastor Castillo cited to Texas Border Business a bible passage, Hebrews 13:20-21 from the Reina-Valera 1960 version of the Bible, which speaks about the God of peace who resurrected Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant. It emphasizes the hope that God will make the believers competent in all good works to do His will, working in them what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom glory is given forever.
