United States

Unity in our Ministry

by Dave Moore

Beth-El Farmworker Ministry is a 32-year-old union ministry to farmworker communities. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church and PC(USA) work together in assisting the farmworkers in the three Florida communities of Wimauma, Immokalee and Arcadia.

Because of the tithes and offerings of the farm worker community and the direct support from two PC(USA) presbyteries, Tampa Bay and Peace River, as well as Grace Presbytery and the Board of Missions of Cumberland Presbyterian Church, more than 180 members of the farm worker community are able to worship our Lord together in Sunday worship, Tuesday prayer meetings, active women’s and men’s groups and a growing youth group. The Rev. Ramiro Ros has been on staff since 1991 and continues to be a beacon of light in the marginalized community of Wimauma.                         

In addition to the monthly direct support of the presbyteries, many local churches provide financial support through their mission budgets and send volunteers to do a myriad of tasks on campus. On our 27-acre campus are three important partners:

• Bay Area Legal Services — providing pro bono legal assistance in civil issues;
• The School District of Hillsborough County — instructing a variety of Adult Education and Technical classes in both English and Spanish during day and evening sessions, and;
• Redlands Christian Migrant Association — operating both a K-5 Charter School for 200 students of the migrant community and also a Migrant Head Start for 50 children during the migratory season.

Unity in partnerships enables Beth-El to provide a tremendous number of programs and services that would not be possible otherwise.

In August 2006, we purchased a motorhome to begin our ministry in Immokalee. Each week we journey the 130 miles from Wimauma to set up a temporary respite for the farmworkers both before they leave for their labors in the fields and after they return each Friday. Each week members of congregations within Peace River Presbytery come to assist on Friday afternoons. Our staff involvement was never more than two people, yet for most weeks we have had between four and 12 volunteers from the churches. We could not have begun our ministry in Immokalee without them!

Every Friday and Saturday morning at 4 a.m. we set up with coffee and sweet bread to offer some physical nourishment to the workers as they gather at the pick up plaza to begin the search for a job that day. On Friday afternoons, the volunteers assist with distribution of some form of outreach, either men’s clothes for the farmworkers or toiletries.  Additionally on Friday afternoon we have a hot meal prepared and serve between 175 and 300 workers.

Beth-El Farmworker Ministry is also a site for mission groups. This summer we have had groups from Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and many Florida churches. They each came to serve and volunteer their gifts to the local community. Some came to conduct Vacation Bible School, some to paint, some to assist with maintenance on our 27-acre campus, some to sort school supplies, some to help renovate homes of community members … and all came to share in God’s ministry.

We could not, with our limited staff, begin to accomplish the many blessings to the local and worshipping community without the assistance of volunteers. Founded by Presbyterians, we are an ecumenical ministry that is focused on the poor, oppressed and marginalized members of local communities.  While most of our outreach is received by the Hispanic farmworkers, other ethnicities are also within our scope. In Wimauma, we assist rural whites and African Americans. In Immokalee, Haitians and Seminole Indians are welcomed to our ministry. 

None of this could have been started or continued without the partnerships that have been established over the past three decades. We are very blessed to have an important ministry to the farmworkers with individuals, churches and organizations that are interested in assisting with humanitarian and social justice aspects of the local communities.

In November of 2006, we were awarded by the National Council of Churches of Christ an Award of Excellence at their General Assembly. The NCCC represents 34 denominations in communion and more than forty five million Christians.   We are tremendously humbled by this recognition.