Posted: 8/8/03
| Alfonzo López, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Peregrino, talks with Juan Rodriguez about his past alcholism and later conversion to the faith. |
Church's mission wrapped
up in its name: Perigrino
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
EL PASO–Most church names are symbolic reminders of the faith or historical markers. For Iglesia Bautista Peregrino, the name points to a ministry.
“Passers-By Baptist Church,” as translated by its pastor, Alfonzo López, reaches out to a constantly changing community of poverty-stricken Texans, recent immigrants and illegal aliens near downtown El Paso.
Residents continuously move in and out of dilapidated federal housing, run-down apartments and rudimentary homes. The overwhelming majority of people are single parents or illegal aliens.
 |
| Alfonzo López visits visits with Maria Alvarez and her son Frank about participating in an upcoming Vacation Bible School. |
In this setting, López sets out to make a difference in the name of Christ.
“We have need on both sides” of the Texas-Mexico border, López said. “If we look in the United States, we can see a need here.”
Through Urban Allies, a ministry loosely connected to his church and funded by the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions, López provides a food pantry, clothes closet, literacy classes, furniture, household items and occasional financial help to needy families.
He also helps illegal immigrants become United States citizens and then helps them bring their families to Texas.
The humanitarian outreaches are vehicles to share the gospel, López said.
“As they come for us to help them, that's where we share the gospel,” he explained. “We don't promote it as 'we help illegal people,' but the community is such that 50 percent is illegal people. Our goal is to reach people for Christ.”
López believes evangelism is done through relationships, and that attitude can be seen everywhere he goes. He knows most people's names and family and financial circumstances. He remembers each person's needs.
Those he does not know, he stops to meet. He waves at everyone who passes by, and his sincerity seems to be welcomed by all. Even in unplanned visits, people drop what they are doing and invite him in with large grins.
He spends time talking with each person and asks how he can help. He inquires about family members and spiritual conditions. Every conversation ends with a prayer.
Meeting needs is not enough for López's 40-member church. The congregation holds several Vacation Bible Schools a year that include games, movies and Bible studies.
Maria Alvarez's children Frankie, 6, and Fernie, 4, said they enjoy the Vacation Bible Schools. Volunteering for the outreaches fulfills their mother.
“I want something spiritual for the children to learn,” Alvarez said. “I like to share the change Christ has made in my life. They learn a lot about Christ. Nowadays, not many people can teach about Christ openly.”
Additionally, López hand-selects children to go to Opportunity Camp, a New Mexico Christian summer camp for unchurched youth. He chooses kids he believes to be strong prospects for becoming Christian believers.
Children can return to the camp only if they bring at least one non-Christian friend. This year, López can give 12 scholarships to the camp. Other children will not be able to afford the $150 fee.
The events are a step toward a deeper spiritual relationship, he said.
“We can grow people to Christ,” López insisted. “Discipleship is a process. We know in one week we are not going to get everyone to come to church, but maybe we can target four or five families.”
López developed a network of contacts throughout the community that helps him assess needs and organize outreach. Friends and church members identify needy families.
His small congregation has partnered with other churches to improve the neighborhood. Mission teams from around the state have painted and remodeled houses and the church in the community.
The Christians' efforts transformed lives in the surrounding neighborhood. Alvarez was involved in gangs before she crossed into Texas. Another resident, Juan Rodriguez, has overcome alcoholism and is dedicated to his family.
“It is like the Lord Jesus said: You draw the net. Sometimes you catch good people,” López concluded.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.