The Border Church / La Iglesia Fronteriza is an interdenominational community that gathers every Sunday for a weekly celebration of binational communion at Friendship Park, the historic meeting place on the US-Mexico border. Our mission is to follow Jesus and seek the reign of God by breaking bread along and across the border.

As the Border Church prepares for the next leg of its journey, we are switching things up, with a new pair of boots taking over.

After 11 years of Sunday hikes to the border wall, Rev. Dr. John Fanestil is handing off pastoral responsibility to Rev. Dr. Seth David Clark.

In this season of re-booting, we seek to honor Pastor John for his years of service and set up Pastor Seth as he takes over the leadership of this unique binational community.

The Border Church is seeking to raise $50,000 to launch this next phase of our work.

Sustaining the work of the Border Church is no small feat.

The U.S. side of Friendship Park, where we’ve met since the ministry’s humble beginnings in 2011, has been closed since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic (something we hope will be remedied soon). Nevertheless, a faithful few arrive each Sunday on the U.S. side to proclaim truth and love to power, to offer spiritual hope to displaced persons, to accompany divided families, and to stand in solidarity with the congregation in Mexico, which welcomes people from around the world, like this boy Steven, who arrived in Tijuana from Honduras in 2016.

On the Mexican side of Friendship Park, some 40 or 50 people receive communion each Sunday and between 80 and 100 receive a nutritious and delicious meal, thanks to our partnership with Via International, where John will continue to serve as Executive Director, and with Casa de Luz, an LGBTQ-inclusive shelter located nearby in Playas de Tijuana. All this is made possible by an ecumenical network of support, and by generous friends like you.

Your gifts will directly support the gatherings on both sides of the wall as we proclaim unity over division and break bread across the border.

Thank you!

All gifts are tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor, Via International (EIN: 95-2961670).

John Fanestil leads a celebration of binational communion with friends in Mexico (2015).

Seth Clark hikes to Friendship Park with the Border Church's faithful photographer, Maria Teresa Fernandez. (2022)

Guillermo Navarrete, John Fanestil, Robert Vivar, Dan Watman and Seth Clark - a rare gathering of Border Church leaders on just one side of the border. (2022)

Border Church Re-Boot

By Via International

Border Church Re-Boot

Honoring John Fanestil, Thanking Seth Clark

Team Members