Presbytery leaders, members and congregations provided an immediate response
by Gail Strange | Presbyterian News Service
Members of Grace Presbytery’s 24-member worship team were photographed on April 25. (Contributed photo)
LOUISVILLE — Nearly 19,000 unaccompanied minors entered U.S. border custody in March, an all-time monthly record. The onslaught of lone minors overwhelmed the U.S. government’s infrastructure and intake process. The largest Border Patrol facility for migrant children was at 1,640% capacity in late March, holding more than 3,200 unaccompanied minors in a facility designed for 250 people.
In April, the Border Patrol transferred an average of 653 unaccompanied minors per day to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a marked increase from the 369 daily average for March, according to government data.
So, on March 18, when more than 2,000 migrants ages 13-17 arrived at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, the arrival made headlines.
Under the direction of several federal agencies and contracted service operators, Catholic Charities of Dallas was tasked with providing volunteers and spiritual care including worship service for the boys at the center.
An emergency meeting of interfaith leaders — including representatives from the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Methodist Church, Jewish Family Services and Grace Presbytery — was convened to receive daily updates and to prayerfully coordinate efforts to provide two weekly Sunday worship services, a morning Catholic Mass and a Protestant evening worship service.
Grace Presbytery leaders, members and congregations responded immediately.
“The presbytery asked Joanna Kim, Director of Church Services, who grew up in Argentina, to put together a Spanish-speaking worship team to serve in up to three Sundays in March, April and May,” said the Rev. Jesse González, pastor of Iglesia Presbiteriana Getsemaní in Fort Worth, Texas.
“The outpouring of loving support and compassionate prayers have brought more than 25 churches together providing bilingual volunteers that led Spanish worship services on Palm Sunday and on April 25, and will lead the service on Pentecost Sunday on May 23, which will be their last worship in our city,” said Kim.
The Palm Sunday worship team, from left to right, as photographed on March 28:
Paul Demers, Armel Crocker, Elizabeth Callender, Lissa Dallas, Alex Lee-Cornell, Joanna Kim, Jesse Gonzalez, Candice Richey Womack, and the Rev. Dr. Steve Shive, the presbytery’s interim Executive Presbyter. (Contributed photo)
The Presbytery Council has unanimously decided to dedicate the offering of the first-ever presbytery stated meeting since pandemic shut down to the ministry with migrant teens.
“Joanna has provided a wonderful leadership, not only in putting together the worship teams but also enduring endless meetings, contacts, emails with Catholic Charities, FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) and HHS about constant schedule and conditions changes as well as with all the safety regulations and clearance restrictions (background checks, vaccination, no pictures, no press statements, etc.) for participating clergy and laity,” González said.
“Putting together a Spanish order of worship service and music on such short notice required Zoom conversations, many emails and phone calls to ensemble musicians and liturgists. It was a huge task.”
González added that in both worship services, the teens have been very responsive and appreciative of the services put together by the Iglesia Presbiteriana Getsemaní worship teams.
“Music, prayers, Scripture readings and sermons/reflections in Spanish have made both an impact on them as well as motivated them to connect with the liturgy with sincere enthusiasm,” he said.
“It has also been a mutual blessing. We have blessed them, and they have blessed us a lot more. The teens have been very respectful, polite, engaging, and well behaved. Speaking for myself, in both visits it has looked to me as a Youth Quake or convention, kind of a Presbyterian Youth Triennium.”
Worship music leader the Rev. Paul Demers expressed these reflections on the worship service: “When the preacher begins to speak, the boys cheer, their responses continuing to echo his calls. I can’t understand much of what he’s saying, though I desperately wish I could. In this small way, I catch a glimpse of the culture shock that awaits these boys.”
“After praying the Lord’s Prayer, we sing a closing song and receive a benediction. But one benediction is not enough. The boys swarm Rev. Gonzalez, asking for prayers and blessings and rosaries. They hold up their name tags, reminding us all that their lives matter,” Demers said.
As of early May, U.S. officials were holding more than 22,500 unaccompanied children who had recently crossed the border.
Kim said, “This Pentecost, I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will break into our lives, our congregations, and especially into the hearts and journeys of the migrant children. This Pentecost, I pray for a new Creation so that faith communities can rise up to give witness to the risen Christ to other migrants in our land. This Pentecost, I invite you to trust in the gift of Holy Spirit to draw us together as one people and as the connectional church. Your prayers and support matter.”
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