The History of Border Missions

It all started when…

In the early 1950s, God led Evangelists Harold and Katherine Morgan south to the Rio Grande Valley, where they held open-air meetings on a cement slab about a mile from the Mexican border. Reflecting on those early times, Mrs. Morgan recalled, “The Lord put it upon our hearts to minister to the Mexicans in labor camps, and we witnessed a mighty revival. The superintendent of one camp said to Brother Morgan, ‘Please don’t leave. The people are different.’ We went to another camp, and God gave us such a revival. We were happy for all the souls who found Christ. When we returned north, we prayed about this, and the Lord gave us the scripture in Isaiah 58:6-7. Verse 7 says, ‘Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?’ My husband, Harold, pointed to this verse and said, ‘We can do this even if we don’t have the Spanish language.’ We were both past fifty years of age. We determined to do just what the Lord said to do.”

And they did just that. In 1955, the Morgans returned to the Valley to stay, preparing the way for Border Missions to become a reality. Brother Morgan secured land at Old Military Highway and 15th Street in Hidalgo through the generosity of the late Joe Pate, who donated the property for the missionary work. An army barrack was purchased from Moore Air Base and relocated to the present site. One end of the barrack was converted into a chapel, and kitchen and restroom facilities were installed. Early supporters such as Mrs. Letha Bourland, Mr. and Mrs. Dorse Adkins, and others played a vital role in getting the work started. It took a year to prepare for the opening of the mission.

With no sponsors, the Morgans placed their full faith in God, obeying His call. God honored their faith, and Border Missions officially opened with a dedication service on December 9, 1956. From that point forward, Border Missions began feeding and clothing all who came, with the ultimate goal of leading them to Christ. Each service was conducted in Spanish, ensuring that all could hear and respond to the Gospel message.

Reverend Harold Morgan faithfully served the ministry for seven years until his passing in 1963. Mrs. Morgan carried on the work, and in 1967, Lawney and Maxine Parmer, along with their daughter Connie, moved from Des Moines, Iowa, to Hidalgo to assist her full-time. Mrs. Morgan, an ordained minister, continued to direct Border Missions until the age of 94, when a broken hip necessitated her transition to a nursing facility. Brother Parmer then assumed leadership as director. Mrs. Morgan remained committed to the mission, holding it in prayer until her passing in May 2005 at the age of 102. Though she spent her last eight years in a nursing home, her heart remained at Border Missions.

Border Missions began with no sponsors or promised outside support—only faith in God. Since December 1956, it has faithfully served the needy on both sides of the border, operating solely on donations from those who share the same burden and desire to see lives transformed through Christ. Many volunteers devote their time to Border Missions, becoming God’s hands extended to those in need of His love. Just as in the beginning, the ministry continues to trust God for daily provision and for the opportunity to reach the hungry and hurting with the Gospel.

Over the years, Border Missions has grown and expanded, thanks to the answered call of its founders and the dedication of countless individuals, church groups, mission teams, ministries, and businesses. Generous donors provide fresh produce, food, clothing, and other essential resources, while faithful prayer warriors have upheld the mission in intercession. Mexican pastors and ministers also help by distributing food to those unable to visit the mission themselves. The collective effort of all these individuals has sustained and expanded the impact of Border Missions.

Strategically located in Hidalgo, approximately one mile from the border, Border Missions has grown alongside the city. Over the past 58 years, the mission has undergone eight expansions, including the construction of its current church building, which was dedicated in 1988. Today, third- and fourth-generation families continue to worship in the tabernacle, and many testimonies have emerged from individuals who first came as children with their parents, found salvation, and are now serving as pastors and ministers.

Border Missions continues to be a testament of God’s faithfulness in providing people with hope, provision and the gospel of Jesus Christ.