This March, Eastern’s Campolo Fellows embarked on a life-changing journey for their second-annual Spring Break Pilgrimage, this time to the Mexico-Texas border. These immersive, service-learning experiences are largely funded by a generous grant from the Baugh Family Foundation. The group, which included current Campolo Fellows, several alumni, and Eastern University's Student Government Association (SGA) President, followed in the footsteps of the transformative educational experiences modeled by Dr. Tony Campolo ’56, BD ’60, ThM ’61, HD ’06, former professor and chair of the Sociology Department at Eastern University.
The Campolo Center for Ministry is a diverse, Christ-centered community of students who are growing in their faith and being used by God in the world. This fellowship provides discipleship and spiritual formation through relationships & shared experience.
A Tradition Rooted in “Praxis”
The trip was part of an ongoing commitment to "praxis" – the integration of theory and action central to Dr. Tony Campolo's pedagogy. Dr. Campolo regularly took students on trips to destinations like Haiti, the Dominican Republic, New York, and Philadelphia, believing that true learning happens when theory is applied in the world, not just in the classroom. This year's pilgrimage to the border was a continuation of this holistic approach to education.
As part of this mission, the group traveled to the borderlands between Texas and Mexico, an area deeply impacted by the ongoing immigration crisis. The group aimed not only to learn from local leaders but also to serve alongside those on the frontlines, providing aid to migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers and encouraging them to find comfort in God’s love during difficult times.
Service & Impact
The 2025 pilgrimage took the group to several locations along the U.S.-Mexico border, including Eagle Pass, Piedras Negras, Reynosa, and Brownsville. The group was fortunate to meet and engage with a range of local pastors, ministry leaders, civic officials, and immigration lawyers who are working tirelessly to support vulnerable populations on both sides of the Rio Grande River. These leaders embody God’s love in action, demonstrating that compassion and service to others are central to faith.
Throughout the week, the group heard powerful testimonies from individuals who have dedicated their lives to providing humanitarian aid, navigating the complexities of immigration law, and offering spiritual care in these difficult times. The group was able to participate in direct service projects, helping migrant families with food, medical supplies, and emotional support as they navigated the journey toward safety and stability.
A Week of Immersion
The week-long journey was packed with learning and service opportunities. After arriving in San Antonio, the group attended an orientation at the San Antonio Mennonite Church, where they learned about the region’s complex immigration issues. The following days were filled with visits to local organizations and churches, including meetings with Pastor Israel Rodriguez in Piedras Negras, where the group participated in migrant ministry activities.
On day two, the group attended church services at First Baptist Church of Piedras Negras before joining in volunteer efforts to minister to migrants. They spent the day engaging with families in creative, interactive ways to provide relief and support.
The pilgrimage continued with a drive to Harlingen and Brownsville, where the group met with field personnel from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to discuss immigration policies and their impact on local communities. They also volunteered at Iglesia Bautista West Brownsville, helping with local ministry efforts aimed at providing aid to migrant populations. After helping Caly Fernandez and her ministry House of Love and Justice distribute fresh produce to needy families in the colonias (poor border neighborhoods in Texas), the pilgrims toured the Rio Grande River and were taught the history and often lethal role of the natural boundary by Alma Ruth of Practice Mercy.
Toward the end of the trip, the group traveled to Reynosa, Mexico, to work with Mercy Without Borders and assist Haitian migrant children. There, they worshipped with migrant children and families who had experienced tremendous hardship.
“One of the most powerful moments during this pilgrimage was the church service we attended at the Casa Lulu shelter in Reynosa, Mexico,” shares undergraduate student Owen Streett ’28. “At this shelter, there were migrants from Guatemala, El Salvador, Haiti, Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico, and other South American countries. Despite everyone's different backgrounds, we all came together and worshiped our God together.”
He continues, “The feeling this service evoked from me is one that I have never experienced from a church service before. The pouring out of God’s love to all the people there, no matter their circumstances, as they bowed down to worship and repent, it felt like a taste of what heaven will feel like one day; everyone worshipping God together, no matter their differences.”
A Transformative Experience
For the students involved, the pilgrimage was transformative. Streett adds: “The personal testimonies that we listened to truly moved me, but also triggered some self-reflection on the strength of my own faith. They made me think, ‘How can I learn from these people’s journeys in order to have stronger faith in God when adversity arises in my life?’” Students saw how faith could be used to make a meaningful impact on the world, and how God’s love calls us to serve those in need.
Rev. Jane Filkin, a leader of the pilgrimage and Director of Leadership Development and Spiritual Formation for the Campolo Center for Ministry, shares: "The experiences we had on this trip were heart-wrenching and eye-opening. Our group was deeply moved by the courage of the individuals we met along the border. It’s an experience none of us will ever forget."
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Work
The global impact of the Campolo Fellows is far from complete. Last year, the team embarked on a Civil Rights Tour of Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Atlanta, with a special stop at Eastern Alumni Bryan Stevenson's ’81 Equal Justice Initiative's (EJI) Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Next year, they hope to return to the Southeast and EJI, taking the route of the Freedom Riders, including the latest EJI memorial, the Freedom Memorial Sculpture Park.
Until then, the lessons learned during this year’s journey will continue to shape the way the Fellows engage with the world around them, applying the knowledge and perspectives gained in service to others.
As Dr. Campolo taught his students, real-world experiences are essential for deepening our understanding of justice and mercy. This pilgrimage, like those before it, was a powerful reminder that the true work of justice begins when we step out of the classroom and into the world.
Graduate student Maddie Ridgeway ’17, MDiv ’27 shares: “There is still much to process, feel, and grieve, including complex emotions that cannot or should not be ignored. It is my hope that I continue to find ways to experience glimpses of hope, of heaven, to be able to listen and advocate well here on earth.”
Cathleen Saunders ’28, a first year Campolo Fellow majoring in Social Work, echoing the words of Apostle Paul, expresses her key takeaway from the trip: “People are important. Words and actions matter. Knowledge is key. To summarize the trip in one single word that follows and demonstrates the law is this: love.”