Profound sadness over the heartache witnessed and the stories heard during the Border Pilgrimage in the spring of 2025 became the catalyst for Grace Gaines’ planning.
After returning from the pilgrimage, hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University’s Ministry with Mexico, Gaines, a second-year international studies major, organized a group of fellow participants to serve dinner at a local migrant shelter. While sitting and eating alongside families, Gaines began to recognize the importance of students engaging in consistent, day-to-day practices with their neighboring migrants.
That realization soon turned into action.
On Jan. 15, Border Engagement Ministries announced in an email to its members that it would be expanding its ministry to offer more local opportunities to serve on the San Diego side of the U.S.-Mexico border, with Gaines leading the initiative.
According to Gaines, following her experience at the migrant shelter, she shared her desire to serve locally with Jeffrey Jimenez, director of Border Engagement Ministries. Jimenez invited Gaines to join the Ministry with Mexico team.
“When I saw that kind of drive and passion that translates into actual work, I knew she was the one,” Jimenez said. “I’ve wanted to grow our San Diego outreach for a while now, so Grace was clearly sent by God.”
The two began planning while Gaines did some local relationship building of her own. She said she spent last semester with local organizations, churches and community leaders doing work along the border.
“The goal has been to learn from and come alongside ministry that is already happening and humbly asking where our students may best fit into existing efforts,” she said.
Although this marks Gaines’ first leadership role within the ministry, she brings prior experience organizing and leading events.
Alexandra Osborn, a first-year international studies major, attended a Border Pilgrimage and later participated in La Posada Sin Fronteras, an event hosted by Gaines. During the event, Osborn visited a church service on the San Diego side of the border, hosted by the same church she had visited in Tijuana months earlier.
“Not only does [Gaines] do a great job at actually planning events and making sure everyone feels welcomed and well-informed, but she’s incredibly passionate about what she does,” Osborn said. “She’s always checking in on people and willing to have the hard conversations.”
Despite her deep passion for the role and support from others, stepping into leadership has not been without its trials.
“I have found myself consistently walking the tension between noticing beauty and grappling with brokenness,” Gaines said.
Lauren Hemberry, a second-year theology, justice and peace major and Gaines’ roommate, witnessed the process from an idea to its final stages. According to Hemberry, the process was at times discouraging.
“I remember Grace called me in tears one Sunday because a migrant shelter we were volunteering with had to close due to increased [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ] activity,” Hemberry said. “We talked for a long time about what this meant and what to do about it. Looking back on those moments of defeat, I am overjoyed at the existence of Border Engagement Ministries.”
Hemberry added that the current treatment of immigrants in the U.S. emphasizes the importance of this work.
“In San Diego, in Minneapolis, in Chicago, all over America, we are living in a dark time,” Hemberry said. “Border Engagement [Ministries] offers students the chance to become aware of the very real cruelties occurring in our neighborhood and our country. More than that, it gives students the chance to do something meaningful and peace-building in response.”
With this expansion offering new opportunities for students without a passport or the ability to cross the border, Gaines hopes students who have hesitated to participate in the past will take the next step.
“Showing up can feel vulnerable or scary at first, but I promise that seeking understanding and listening to the stories that often go unheard is deeply valuable,” Gaines said. More information on future opportunities is available on the Ministry with Mexico page through the myPLNU app.
Kate Williams