ABOUT MBFC

“It is the vision of this Commission to promote a unified presence of the Methodist Church along the border, working for the extension of the kingdom of God.”

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The Vision and Purpose. It is the vision of the Methodist Border Friendship Commission (MBFC) to promote a unified presence of the Methodist Church along the border, working for the extension of the kingdom of God. The purpose of the Commission is to promote friendship and fellowship, evangelism and mission. The Districts who make up the Commission are: the McAllen District of the Southwest Texas Conference and the Southern District of the Rio Grande Conference of the United Methodist Church; the two Districts in Mexico are the San Pablo District and the Fronterizo District of the Eastern Conference of the Church of Mexico. The District Superintendents from each of the Districts sit on this Board, as well as, one lay person from each District. The MBFC is a General Board of Global Ministries, National Advance Special #982443.

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Greetings!

It is with a grateful heart that we have seen the activities of the Methodist Border Friendship Commission become so fruitful. The vision of the Commission has become a reality through brothers and sisters in Christ using their gifts to share in God’s mission along the US/Mexico border. How truly awesome and what a privilege it is to be a part of God’s work! Quarterly, the Commission has meetings at different locations along the border. Each time we meet to discuss our priorities, ministries, needs, and plans. We break bread and worship. Most importantly, we pray for God’s guidance in all we do, that each decision or plan we make, be acceptable to Him. We see not only our own churches sharing in God’s mission along the border, but UMVIM/PIM teams from across the country coming to serve in some type of ministry on either side of the border. Mission teams come to serve, whether it be gleaning, building wheelchair ramps, renovating homes, assisting in the building of new homes, holding mini-medical clinics, conducting Mission Bible Schools, distributing bibles, working on churches or parsonages, teaching sewing and other skills, tutoring, conducting ESL classes, feeding those who are hungry, collecting items for distribution to those in need, or…the list goes on… As we serve we build and strengthen our relationships with each other and our Lord. We serve together…because it is only with each of us doing our part that we “form one body.” If you would like to learn more about the Methodist Border Friendship Commission and its ministries, please feel free to call, or e-mail! Blessings! Susan Hellums Border Area Mission Coordinator

Board Members from the 4 Districts of the UMC and Methodist Church of Mexico

Eastern Conference of the Methodist Church of Mexico - Fronterizo District

Pbro. (Rev.) Jonas Alvarez is the District Superintendent of the Fronterizo (Border) District. This District stretches from Ciudad Acuña to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. There are approximately 30 churches and preaching points along this stretch of the border. This District, has over 50 churches and preaching sites. It encompasses the state of Coahuila, a portion of the State of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon. Dr. René Martinez is the Volunteer in Mission Coordinator for the Fronterizo District. He and his wife Nora have worked with many mission teams in the Piedras Negras area and south of there in the Las Mañientales area. He serves on the Board as the lay representative from this District.

Eastern Conference of Mexico - San Pablo District

Pbro. (Rev.) Fernando Fuentes is the District Superintendent of the San Pablo (St. Paul) District. This District follows the border from just east of Nuevo Laredo to Matamoros, Mexico. It covers the State of Tamaulipas (excluding Nuevo Laredo) and portions of the States of Veracruz and San Luis Potosi. There are approximately 30 churches and preaching points along the border and over 50 in the entire District. Guillermo“Willie” Berman is the Volunteer in Mission Coordinator for the Eastern Conference of the Methodist Church of Mexico. Willie works with VIM groups in all areas of this Conference and serves on the Commission as the lay representative for the San Pablo District.

Rio Grande Conference - Southern District

Rev. Jose Torres is the District Superintendent of the Southern District of the Rio Grande Conference. The Southern District extends along the border from Brownsville to Eagle Pass. It goes north to Pearsall. There are a total of 35 churches and missions in this District. Arturo Molina is the lay representative from the Southern District. Arturo is a long-time resident of South Texas and member of El Mesias United Methodist Church in Mission, Texas.

Southwest Texas Conference - McAllen District

Rev. Kim Cape is the District Superintendent of the McAllen District. This District follows the border from Brownsville to Laredo, to just north of Alice, Texas. This District has a total of 35 churches. Susan Hellums is the Border Area Mission Coordinator, the staff person for the Commission. She works with pastors, churches and ministries in the four Districts, with direction from the Commission.