The South-Central Jurisdiction Mission Academy gathered at Laurel Heights UMC San Antonio, February 26 – 28, 2023. Bishop Robert Schnase was the featured speaker offering three border crossing story / conversation moments – The Baptism, The Airport, and The Wedding. The stories reflected experiences and insights garnered from Schnase’s active ministry along the border region of deep south Texas. His reflections provided all listening much to think about and consider.  

About 100 participants attended the academy, reflecting participation from about 15 annual conferences within the jurisdiction and beyond. The desire of the jurisdiction was to see this academy be held in the Rio Texas Conference to hear and learn about border realities. This was the first in person gathering for the academy since the pandemic.  

A panel presentation on migration provided participants insights on the ministry of welcoming arriving migrant asylum-seekers as they heard from the experiences leading border response ministries from Del Rio to Brownsville. The panelists were Tiffany Burrow of the Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition in Del Rio, Valeria Wheeler of Mission Border Hope in Eagle Pass, Rev. Mike Smith of the Holding Institute in Laredo, Susan Hellums of El Valle District Immigration Response Ministries, Deaconess Cindy Johnson of La Posada Providencia in San Benito, and Katie Myers of the Interfaith Welcome Coalition in San Antonio.  

There were various workshops offered on the topics of outreach, missions, and disaster response ministries. The gathering went well thanks to the wonderful hospitality and welcome provided by Laurel Heights UMC. Special thanks to Eugene Hileman - RTC Disaster Response Coordinator, Ed Hilliard – RTC VIM Coordinator, and Nicole Alabi – Office of Mission, Service, & Justice Ministries for their planning efforts as host planning team.  

The 2024 SCJ Mission Academy looks to be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico hosted by the New Mexico Conference.