During this time of crisis impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Word of Life (Verbo de Vida) Ministry of the First Church of the Nazarene in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, is active; sharing food and masks with the people of their community who are most in need.
During the month of September, the Word of Life (Verbo de Vida) Ministry was benefited by the organizations, United Fund of Chihuahua and the Department of Families in Mexico (DIF), with meats, fruits, vegetables, groceries, among other items. This allowed the ministry to prepare and deliver 100 packages of food every day to the most needy population. Ciudad Juarez is positioned on the border of Mexico where there is much need.
Additionally, they brought food to 30 children and the staff of a children’s center operated by the Salvation Army. “This has been a very challenging and exciting experience,” said Rev. Conrado Monterrosa, pastor of the church. “Because of the COVID contingency plans, prepared meals are offered to take away and only children are allowed to take food.”
In addition to the delivered food and in collaboration with the Salvation Army, they were able to deliver masks to people throughout the community.
Pastor Monterrosa said that it was a blessing to see people extremely grateful for receiving food to satisfy their hunger. He added that as a church, they are motivated to continue serving with love by hearing powerful testimonies such as the one he heard from an older woman. The lady told them that she was caring for her three grandchildren, all under ten years old, because their father is isolated and without work, for having contracted COVID-19. The pastor said that these children suffer even more because they were also abandoned by their mother.
Pastor Monterrosa added that, although the economic capacity of the church is not enough for the enormity of this project, the Lord supplied all their needs. “Thank you to the church volunteers who have embraced the vision of serving and fulfilling the mandate of Jesus. Thank you, in a special way, to the donors who are so blessed by giving generously.”
Since August 2015, the First Church of the Nazarene in Juarez opened a community soup kitchen to serve the most vulnerable populations: children, the elderly, and migrants, from Mexico, Latin America, Asia and Africa and more, who arrive at the border of Mexico seeking asylum in the United States. Over these past 6 years, the Church of the Nazarene has prepared and delivered around 30,000 thousand plates of food as an expression of love and compassion.
Source: Reverend Conrado Monterrosa de León, Pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
