Heading South: A Journey to the Heart of Ministry

Rev. Bobby Musengwa

Transitional General Presbyter

On Saturday, September 6, 2025, I will be breaking bread with the Rio Grande Valley pastors and other Presbyterian leaders who have been faithfully serving our Lord Jesus Christ in one of our most vibrant, and perhaps underappreciated, regions.

You know that feeling when you're about to meet people you've only heard stories about? That's exactly where I am right now. These are the pastors and leaders who lead congregations under very challenging circumstances. They are leaders who've created food pantries, immigration ministries, and youth programs which minister to the needs of many people in the community. They are ministers who preach in two languages and pastor with hearts bigger than Texas itself.

While I've been sitting in committee meetings and denominational gatherings, these faithful servants, like many of you, have been living out the Gospel in places where it matters most, where families struggle to make ends meet, where young people need hope, where the love of God isn't just preached but lived out in countless acts of service.

This is an opportunity to sit at tables where Spanish and English flow together like music, where every meal is communion, and where I suspect I'll learn more about ministry in one afternoon than I have in months of reports and statistics.

I'm bringing my appetite, not just for the incredible food I know awaits (because Valley hospitality is legendary), but for the stories these leaders will share. Stories of transformation, of communities being healed, of young people discovering their calling, of congregations that give sacrificially because they understand what grace really means.

The Rio Grande Valley isn't on the margins of our presbytery, it's the beating heart. And I can't wait to feel that pulse for myself. If you are in the Valley, would you join us on Saturday at San Pablo Presbyterian Church in Weslaco? That would be awesome! Please check with Sheri Dittman for more details.

See you soon, Valley familia. The journey begins now.

Joyfully,

Rev. Bobby Musengwa

Transitional General Presbyter