Puentes de Cristo was founded in 1981 by a group of pastors from the Rio Grande River Valley, on both the US and Mexican sides of the border. These pastors wanted to develop closer ties with fellow Presbyterians on the other side of the border. This bi-national character has continued to remain integral to Puentes de Cristo’s mission; we continue to have a bi-national board that oversees the work of our ministry. Over the years, Puentes de Cristo reached out to churches throughout the denomination in helping them connect with our partners in Mexico while participating in service projects. Hosting short-term mission teams has continued to be a major part of Puentes de Cristo’s ministry.

In the late 1980’s Puentes de Cristo founded a number of social ministries to the community, such as medical clinics, after school care, nutrition programs, and self-development programs. These ministries have served thousands of children and adults over the years. In 2006 these programs were suspended as our board of directors considered how to secure long-term funding for the projects and to ensure that the ministry was addressing the concerns of the Mexican Presbyterian Church, while making use of the gifts that they have to offer. In 2007 the after school tutoring program and nutrition program were reinstated, with the board of directors and local church leaders working to ensure that the gifts of both churches are affirmed and utilized.

In 2006, the Presbytery of Tamaulipas invited Puentes de Cristo mission teams to consider serving churches in the interior of Mexico. While Tamaulipas Presbytery remains grateful for the continued ministry here at the border, there are many churches throughout the Presbytery that are eager to work together with Presbyterians from the United States. We have led several trips to the interior with mission teams, and we are looking forward to continuing this ministry on a greater scale.