Lay missioners from Mexico spread the faith in North Carolina

Published: 2004-09-21

KINSTON, N.C. (CNS) -- For three lay missioners from Mexico, the road to ministry leads past the Unity Free Will Baptist Church and used-car lots reminding them that Jesus saves and credit is no problem. Not one of them expected to end up in North Carolina, driving past bright-leafed tobacco fields. Least of all did they expect to minister in the United States to Mexicans who have come north for work. Margarita Espinoza Ferrer wanted to minister to Muslims in Africa. Andrea Torres Barragan left her job in agricultural sciences and asked God to send her to "the place where nobody wants to work," not thinking that place could possibly be the United States. Coming to America never even occurred to Guadalupe Ramos Marin, who rounds out the trio recruited from a lay missionary school in Mexico by Jesuit Father Paul Brant. Four years ago, God's call sent them to Kinston. They work with three parishes: Holy Spirit in Kinston, St. Mary in Goldsboro and St. Catherine of Siena in Wake Forest.

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