In the dusty borderlands of the United States and Mexico, Easter morning dawns not with polished pews and flower-adorned altars, but with the hum of generators and the shuffle of weary feet. At a migrant shelter in Ciudad Juárez, a small group of volunteers and asylum seekers gather under a corrugated metal roof. A makeshift altar is fashioned from a wooden pallet draped with a white cloth. There is no organ, no choir—only the voices of those who have lost everything except their faith. This is the church that Pope Francis spoke of: a field hospital for the wounded. And on this Resurrection Sunday, the message of new life rings especially true for those who have crossed deserts and rivers seeking a second chance.
The scene is repeated in shelters across the border, from Tijuana to Matamoros. Christian volunteers from various denominations—Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical—come together to offer Mass and worship services. They bring not only the Eucharist but also clean clothes, warm meals, and legal aid. For many migrants, the journey north is a Lenten journey of sacrifice; Easter becomes a tangible promise that suffering does not have the final word.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” — Matthew 5:7 (ESV)
Preaching the Risen Christ in Unsettled Places
The Gospel accounts of the resurrection are filled with movement: Mary Magdalene running from the tomb, disciples walking to Emmaus, Peter rushing to the empty grave. Today, that same movement is embodied by migrants who walk hundreds of miles. When pastors and lay ministers enter shelters, they do not preach a distant God. They proclaim a Savior who was himself a refugee, who knew displacement and homelessness. “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20, ESV). This scripture takes on new meaning when shared with families sleeping on concrete floors.
One volunteer, a Methodist pastor from El Paso, describes how the liturgy adapts to the context. “We use a simple liturgy—no bulletins, no projection screens. We read from a worn Bible and break bread that someone baked in a shelter kitchen. The homily is often interactive; we ask people to share their own stories of hope. Last week, a man from Honduras stood up and said, ‘I thought God had abandoned me, but then I saw the faces of these volunteers. That was my resurrection moment.’”
The preaching emphasizes that Christ’s resurrection is not just a past event but a present reality. In the midst of uncertainty—waiting for asylum hearings, fearing deportation, grieving loved ones left behind—the risen Christ offers peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). Shelters become liminal spaces where the kingdom of God breaks in, if only for an hour.
Challenges and Graces
Ministering in migrant shelters is not without difficulties. Language barriers, trauma, and exhaustion can make traditional worship feel foreign. But many volunteers have learned to meet people where they are. They offer bilingual services, use simple songs, and incorporate elements from Latin American piety, such as the Virgin of Guadalupe or prayers to St. Jude. The goal is not to impose a denomination but to create a space where all can encounter the living Christ.
There are also practical challenges: security concerns, limited supplies, and the emotional toll of hearing heartbreaking stories. Yet volunteers speak of profound graces. A Catholic sister from a religious order recalls a night when a young mother asked her to baptize her baby. “We had no holy water, so I used water from a bottle. The mother wept. She said, ‘Now my child has a beginning in Christ, no matter what happens.’ That moment was Easter for me.”
What the Bible Says About Welcoming the Stranger
Throughout Scripture, God’s people are commanded to care for the foreigner and the sojourner. In the Old Testament, Israel is reminded, “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:34, ESV). Jesus himself amplifies this in the parable of the Good Samaritan, where he redefines neighbor to include the one who is different, even an enemy.
The early church was a movement of refugees and exiles. The apostle Peter writes to “elect exiles of the Dispersion” (1 Peter 1:1), encouraging them to live holy lives in a foreign land. Paul reminds the Galatians that in Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free” (Galatians 3:28, NIV). These passages ground the church’s mission to migrants not in politics but in the very identity of the body of Christ.
Today, Christian organizations along the border take these words seriously. They provide not only spiritual care but also tangible support: food, clothing, medical aid, and assistance with legal paperwork. Many see this as an expression of the gospel itself. As one shelter director put it, “We don’t ask for papers. We ask if you need prayer. That’s our starting point.”
Practical Ways to Support Border Ministry
For readers who feel moved to respond, there are several ways to get involved, whether near or far:
- Donate to reputable organizations: Groups like the Kino Border Initiative, Annunciation House, and the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, operate shelters that rely on donations. Financial gifts allow them to purchase food, medicine, and hygiene products.
- Volunteer your time: If you live near the border, many shelters welcome volunteers to help with cooking, cleaning, childcare, or simply sitting with migrants and listening to their stories. Even a few hours can make a difference.
- Advocate with compassion: Contact your elected representatives to urge for immigration policies that respect human dignity. Write letters, make phone calls, or join advocacy networks that promote just and merciful laws.
- Pray for migrants and volunteers: Prayer is a powerful form of solidarity. Commit to praying regularly for those who are fleeing violence and poverty, and for the Christians who serve them. Consider using a prayer calendar or joining a prayer group focused on migration.
As you reflect on these stories, consider this question: In what ways might God be calling you to extend the hope of the resurrection to someone who feels far from home? Whether through a donation, a visit, or a prayer, your response can be an Easter moment for someone in need.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” — Hebrews 13:2 (ESV)
Comments