A few miles south of campus, a rust-colored fence divides two nations. For some Point Loma Nazarene University students, it marked the start of a weekend that challenged how they see faith and community. The trip, a part of PLNU’s Ministries with Mexico program, encourages students, faculty, staff and alumni to engage in service experiences that build relationships across cultures.
During this fall’s Border Pilgrimage from Sept. 27-28, students spent time on both sides of the border, hearing stories from migrants, visiting shelters and reflecting on how life and faith intersect in the borderlands.
Jeff Jimenez, director of border engagement ministries, has led the pilgrimage since fall 2023.
“Each time feels new and different,” he said in an email interview. “The context at the border is always changing, but even more, each group of students brings their own energy, questions and experiences.”
According to Jimenez, his connection to this ministry is deeply personal.
“I grew up in Nogales, Ariz., a small border town,” Jimenez said. “My parents are immigrants from Mexico, so the border has always been part of my story. I’ve seen both the beauty and the heartbreak that exist there. Coming to PLNU was a chance to bring together my personal background, my faith and my calling to help others experience the border as more than a political topic.”
He said he hopes students who go on the pilgrimage begin to see the border as “a place full of life, of stores, faith and hope.”
Madi Kerrigan, a third-year international studies major, attended the trip as a part of her work for the Center of Justice and Reconciliation (CJR), which partnered with Ministry with Mexico for the pilgrimage.
“I’ve been to Tijuana before, but I haven’t seen it from this perspective,” Kerrigan said. “It’s really surprising when you drive 25 minutes down the road and the next thing you know, you’re in a completely different city and place.”
She said the experience challenged her previous expectations, showing her the vulnerability of the people they met.
“When you’re confronted by other people’s vulnerability and alterity, of course, you’re going to be challenged and changed in ways that you just don’t expect,” Kerrigan said.
Kerrigan reflected on how divisive immigration can be in the United States, but said meeting people in person shifted her perspective on those conversations.
“To see people and be proximate to people really changed that conversation [on immigration] for me,” Kerrigan said. “It’s much harder to engage in that conversation after you’ve encountered people.”
Liberti Cornell, a fourth-year dietetics major and Ministry with Mexico leader for La Iglesia, said she was struck by the physical contrasts between the United States and Mexico sides of the border.
“I didn’t expect how desolate and barren the border would be on our side,” Cornell said. “On the Mexico side, it was very lively, with lots of people around, and there was a church service right on the border. Our side was just dirt. It was shocking to see how removed we are.”
Cornell said that playing games and eating with the migrants at the shelter was one of the most powerful parts of the trip.
“The people in the migrant shelter were just so joyful,” Cornell said. “Despite their circumstances of being thrown out of places they’ve lived their whole life, they were so sweet and kind.”
She added that seeing the border firsthand changed how she views immigration, noting that she hadn’t thought much about immigration before joining the Border Pilgrimage. She said she now views immigration through a perspective of faith, believing that Jesus saw no need for borders.
During the trip, both Kerrigan and Cornell mentioned hearing the story of Isaiah, an immigrant from South Sudan who shared his journey with the group.
“Hearing his words was so inspiring,” Cornell said. “He’s been through so much, but the way he carries himself and speaks about the Lord changed how I view immigration and the church’s role in it.”
Jimenez said this kind of transformation is one of the main goals of the pilgrimage.
“For our students, this is a chance to step out of the classroom and into a learning space that engages the mind, heart and soul,” Jimenez said. “They get to encounter real people with real stories, and that encounter changes them.”
Jimenez said the experience challenges students to see beyond policy and politics. He said he hopes their hearts become softer, their minds become more open and their spirits become more attentive to where God is at work in the world.
Cornell said her experience inspired her to continue pursuing ministry work after graduation. She said she hopes to keep learning, hearing people’s life stories and having conversations about all they have been through.
She also shared advice for students thinking about joining a trip like this.
“Go in with the mindset to just learn and experience everything around you,” Cornell said. “If it’s uncomfortable, sit with that. Ask questions. Don’t ignore the nudge or calling you feel. The Lord puts you in that situation for a reason.”
Sydney Brammer