The train horn blasted as we stuck our fingers in our ears. The lady in front of me flinched, closing her eyes to endure the painful sound. A missionary played his guitar, continuing to sing praises through the noise. A young man kept playing Perro, a basketball game, with the students from Dawson, using gestures to figure out the score. Women and high school girls painted and laughed with the innocent children. Students shared the Gospel with homeless strangers, listened to their stories, joined them in spontaneous song, and prayed beautiful prayers. I looked around and saw both hope and tears in people’s eyes. This was the picture of a refugee center in the border city of Laredo, Texas.
In 2024, I had the opportunity to serve refugees in their first hours on American soil in Laredo. I joined multiple families from Dawson Family of Faith in Homewood, Alabama, and served as the trip’s interpreter. Of the 33 people on the trip, 14 were middle and high school students. It was a joy to work alongside these students as they served through a language barrier. It showed me that inter-generational, artistic service is not only beautiful but a true picture of the Church.
Sunday was filled with ministry in two churches. In the church I attended that morning, our worship was bilingual, held in a pink sanctuary, with Abbey Plant of the Samford CWA and her teenage daughter, Olivia, joining me to lead the music. This simple service was a beautiful representation of the body of Christ. It doesn’t matter what color skin we have or what language we speak. What matters is a true heart of worship for the Lord, and that was so evident that morning.
Later that evening, we went to another church where we hosted a sports camp. I was impressed watching the students take initiative, playing soccer, volleyball, and teaching kids how to jump rope. Afterward, we gathered for another worship service. It brought tears to my eyes as I watched people raise their hands and sing in two languages: “Praise forever to the King of Kings // Rey de Reyes nadie hay como Tú.”
During the week, we split into two sites in the mornings: the refugee center and the pink church. At the refugee center, our main goal was to help the refugees feel human. We provided them with necessities such as food and clothing, and we played games, sang, and painted with the children. Many of the male students played basketball for hours while the Dawson men and women connected with the adults, listening to their stories. It was a beautiful picture of the Church—the body of believers working together.
At the pink church, the pastor asked us to paint the sanctuary a more calming color. He and his daughter chose a soft, avocado green. Parents and students worked diligently all week to paint the church. It was inspiring to see how something as simple as paint could transform a congregation’s perspective on their place of worship.
In the afternoons, we hosted VBS at the pink (now green) church and at Pastor Pastor’s church. This is where my eyes were truly opened to the beauty of inter-generational service. Parents and students came together to teach lessons, sing songs, and minister to both believers and unbelievers. Parents and students swapped “traditional” roles: parents danced and did motions to songs, while students boldly shared the Gospel through scripture readings and bracelets. To me, this showed that we don’t always have to stick to the “norms.” We are all called to serve Christ in a variety of ways. Sometimes, God calls us to do uncomfortable things—and that’s okay. Whether it’s dancing or sharing verses across a language barrier, we should be obedient and do it. God will always equip us if we are faithful and willing.
I’m so grateful for my time at the border. It reminded me that the body of Christ is diverse in race, language, age, and personality. It also showed me the importance of obedience and how we can serve inter-generationally, even in the simplest of ways. ¡Dios es bueno!
Learn more about the intersection of Christian mission and artistic worship on Wednesday, March 5 at Samford’s Beeson Global Center. By registering, you’ll enjoy a FREE lunch and take part in a discussion with Dr. Byron Spradlin, founder and president of Artists in Christian Testimony, about the powerful role of artistic worship in advancing Christian mission.
For further reflections on Christian mission through artistic worship, check out: Evangelism, Imagination, and Artists – A Critical Mix for Modern Evangelism
Anna Johnston is a 2023 Samford graduate where she received a Bachelor’s of Spanish Secondary Education and a minor in Church & Culture. Anna feels called to work with native Spanish speakers and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language (ESL) from UAB. Anna has been leading worship for 11 years at Hunter Street Baptist Church, The Church at Liberty Park, and now in the Hispanic congregation at Dawson Family of Faith. Anna is passionate about serving students and those from other cultures. She is excited to keep using her gift of Spanish to serve both abroad and in the United States.
