Team from Flowing Forth Church to join mission trip to Mexico

On Sunday, May 19, the Rev. Derek Rogers, pastor at Flowing Forth United Methodist Church in Aurora, held a commissioning ceremony for a mission team of local college coeds. They are: Natalie Steffen, Aurora, Purdue University student; Lindsey Wegner, Batavia, West Virginia University; and Anna Bross, Aurora, Augustana College.

Led by Rev. Rogers, the team will volunteer with Faith Ministry, a nonprofit with facilities in McAllen, Tex. and Reynosa, Mexico. The team departs Sunday, May 26, and returns Saturday, June 1.

The commissioning included prayer and congregants laying hands on team members.

With college students from around the nation, the Aurora team will serve families in need on the border in Reynosa and Miguel Aleman, Mexico. The team will partner with Faith Ministry, a nonprofit founded in 1994 in McAllen, Texas, to address the needs of the poor in Mexico while providing ministry and service opportunities for groups in the U.S.

Projects include assignments in medical, nutrition, and spiritual areas, as well as small construction projects. While most teams build a house, there are other activities for team members who are unable or don't want to work in construction.

Some volunteers work at a clinic (dental or general practice), do activities with children or the nonprofit's church (vacation Bible school, crafts with locals, prayer walks, Bible distribution and special services).

Small construction projects can include building a bathroom for a family in need, painting at one of the churches or clinic, roofs or floors for families, rebar tower construction.

Aurora team members will use social media to report daily on their activities in Mexico. Church members held several fundraisers to defray expenses since the mission trip was announced in January.

For more information, contact Rev. Derek Rogers at (815) 955-2129, pastorderekrogers@gmail.com, or visit FaithMinistry.org.