Invitation from Rev. Rich Doerrer-Peacock:

Cruzando Fronteras, an ecumenical organization formed by three Christian denominations (one of which is our own UCC Southwest Conference), works with a shelter for asylum-seekers waiting in Nogales, Mexico for an opportunity to apply for asylum in the U.S. The shelter is called La Casa de Misericordia or La Casa for short. We, through the SW Conference, offer substantial financial support in addition to pastoral leadership. Rev. Randy Mayer, the Senior Pastor at the Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita, is the Chairperson for the Steering Committee. And our Conference Minister, Rev. Bill Lyons, serves on the Board. Randy describes it as an incredible shelter with an amazing director, and her board of directors are the managers of the project. Cruzando Fronteras is in Covenant with La Casa—he sees this as an accompaniment—taking direction from the director and her board.

I’m writing this article because I want to help inform our SW Conference of the work that is being done on our behalf. I have found it to be very difficult to find information and you may have, too. Then I saw a video in a most unlikely place, a buddy organization of mine called AZJFON. My claim to fame is that I helped lay the foundation for this 501(c)3 called Arizona Justice for Our Neighbors. One of the things it does is offer legal assistance to those seeking asylum. And it turns out that AZ JFON is offering its legal services to those seeking asylum at La Casa.

AZ JFON is offering a video that I’ve seen before. It is a virtual tour of La Casa, via Zoom. The informative video provides a first-hand view of the shelter and the clients as well as insight into the decisions that these people face as they decide their next steps. Look for Randy in the video! Yay, Randy! Following the video there will be a time for questions and comments.

It is this Thursday, August 5th at 1:00 pm (Arizona time), 2:00 pm (New Mexico & El Paso time).

Register here. (The registration will sign you up for three subsequent tours of other border organizations, but you are certainly not committed. However, I’m very familiar with Humane Borders and would like to see the Virtual Tour on Thursday, Aug. 12th. I’ll consider the other ones, too.)

I hope to see you on Thursday,

Rich Doerrer-Peacock