Tijuana

Founded almost sixty years ago by Martha Gomez, the orphanages of Tijuana Christian Mission haVE been caring for children and teens who have no homes. Three generations of the Gomez family are now carrying on the work.  Martha has been heard from the beginning as saying, “I will never turn a child away from my house", and Fellowship Church has served alongside them for over 20 years.
There are two campuses of TCM: one in Tijuana for older kids and the other near Rosarito for younger ones.
Even though the courts place kids at TCM, it is not government supported. The ministry relies on private and church donations. Fellowship is very grateful for how TCM has shepherded our people over the years and how they have led us into many of the relationships we have today in Tijuana. 

Sara Gomez of TCM, herself a battered woman, discovered that there was no residential facility in Tijuana where women who had been beaten or raped could recover and be safe. So, she started one—Women of Purpose. The police bring them, many with kids. They arrive traumatized, isolated, and afraid from unspeakable treatment from husbands, boyfriends, or others. At the shelter, they walk into love, peace, and an understanding community. Counseling is provided as well as job skills training. The shelter is a beautiful, pastoral home with a view of the Pacific near Rosarito, Mexico. To meet, talk and pray with these women and play with their kids is an encounter not soon forgotten.

The news and politicians tell us about the migrant crisis, and rightfully so. There are hundreds of thousands of people at our southern border whose deepest desire is to get into our country. And, yes, the situation causes big problems in cities and states across the border from Mexico. But the migrants are in crisis, too. Most of them are running from certain death in their home countries—they are not just running to a better life; they are running for their lives. We use words like “migrants”, “illegals” or other terms, but they are “souls” full of fear, grief, and sorrow. They need love and compassion—listening ears—words of encouragement—the truth of the gospel and prayer. We visit several migrant shelters in Tijuana. We enter into deep conversations, bring down spiritual walls, and become, for a moment in time, shepherds who feed and give rest to the oppressed and hopeless at our border.

The city dump in Tijuana closed a decade ago, and a new dump was established near the city of Tecate. The people who live there pick through garbage to find things they can sell for recycling or use for building their homes.  For many who encounter the dump, it is the starkest experience of the degradation of humanity. Amid smoke from burning insulated wiring, people live under such trash as they can fashion into a dwelling. Dump workers have deep physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
La Roca Ministries has established a small church with a full-time pastor. Our teams meet with the pastor of this community to learn about the culture, challenges of ministry and what would happen in a person's life that would bring them to live in this place. In a place that seems spiritually forgotten, it soon becomes evident that God is working.  

La Arena is the informal name for the church we attend on Sundays in downtown Tijuana. It is the home church of many in the Gomez family. It is called The Arena because the church is housed in a former wrestling and boxing arena. Groups from Fellowship feel right at home because it is a Mexican version of Fellowship in many ways. Many of the worship songs are sung at Fellowship, and it is a feeling like no other to sing words you don't understand while your mind knows the exact words God is hearing.  Translation headsets are provided for the sermon.

Padre Chava was the founder of a ministry that bears his name and is part of Catholic Charities. In the heart of Tijuana, where many homeless live, Padre Chava prepares breakfast daily for 800 to 1,000 people. Each team member is given an assignment, such as setting tables, carrying trays of food, pouring coffee, dishing up the plates, carrying trays of plates, washing dishes, greeting people, and pouring drinks. This is an up-close and personal encounter with a huge homeless population. It is an opportunity to serve those who are lonely and outcast. One could ask, “Is there something like this at home?” Or maybe even ask, “Are there people like this at home?”

The Ranch or El Rancho is a remote, comprehensive, residential drug and alcohol rehab center near Tecate. This Christ-centered ministry of La Roca Ministries is a 9-12 month program. In a beautiful mountain desert setting, the men are put to work on projects, have daily Bible studies and worship times, and play volleyball at every opportunity. This encounter provides wonderful opportunities to have deep conversations with men. Many are deportees, so conversations in English are easy. They are eager to tell their stories, relate their struggles, and pray with teams for their recovery and reunions with their families. Teams can also prepare a meal and eat with the men in their dining hall.

Another drug and alcohol residential rehab is a ministry of a large church we attend in Tijuana, El Grupo Unidad. We have had encounters at the rehab for years. This rehab’s distinctive is that the men in the program care for older men, also residents, who can no longer care for themselves. This gives the men purpose and allows them to serve as they are being served. Teams have provided medical care and have prepared lunch. But the men always want to talk, tell their stories and share their struggles. These are always wonderful times of fellowship, prayer and sharing the gospel.