Battleground Scenarios: A Firsthand Account
The lines are no longer drawn at the border. The battlefield has moved, right into our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and homes. Immigrants are no longer just a statistic, but our friends, family, and neighbors. The immigration debate is more personal than ever before.
As a Christian pastor in Brownsville, Texas, I find myself at the heart of the immigration wars. Locked in a constant struggle to do the right thing for those on the move. The rules have become murky, ever-changing, and the fear is palpable.
What once was legal, may no longer be so tomorrow. But I press on, organizing local "Know Your Rights" and "Preparedness" meetings for immigrants. Tomorrow, what I am doing could be considered treason. But I cannot stand by and watch as families are torn apart, lives destroyed, and hopes shattered.
The struggle is real, but so is the hope. I find solace in the timeless words of Robin Mark, "When it's all been said and done, when all my life is over and done, when I've run the race and I've fought the fight, when everything I’ve worked for sinks into the sight of God’s glory and His right."
Mark and Marilyn Redwine, a retired chiropractor and his wife, are missionaries in Brownsville, Texas, on the border with Mexico. They have been serving the marginalized in this community for the past 13 years, ministering the love of Jesus to both the generational poor and the asylum seekers who seek refuge in this land.
In the face of shifting policies and confusion, they continue their mission of love and compassion, living each day with hope, and trusting in the promise of God's glory and His right.
Related
- Economic Vitality: Despite the challenges of border politics, Brownsville's economy is thriving. With record-breaking cargo volumes at the Port of Brownsville[1][5], large-scale projects like Rio Grande LNG's facility providing jobs[5], and major infrastructure improvements like the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project underway[5], the city is an economic powerhouse in the Rio Grande Valley.
- Cross-Border Collaboration: Brownsville's mayor has led diplomatic missions to Mexico, focusing on trade, infrastructure, and regional economic development[3]. This diplomacy underscores a commitment to collaboration and partnership across the border.
- Border Resistance: Despite ongoing opposition to the construction of the border wall among Brownsville's leaders[2], the exact impact of recent immigration policy changes is not detailed in available sources. Despite this, Brownsville has been recognized as a top retirement destination in Texas for 2025[4]. This recognition highlights the city's appeal beyond the border and immigration context.
In Brownsville, Texas, the Redwine couple, who are missionaries and serve the marginalized, continue their mission amidst shifting politics and confusion, finding solace in the prospect of God's glory and His right. Despite the challenges of border politics, the city's economy thrives with thriving industries, large-scale projects, and major infrastructure improvements, positioning it as an economic powerhouse in the Rio Grande Valley.
