Karen Gleason
Helping people is how Del Rioan Shon Young serves his God.
Young, associate pastor at City Church Del Rio, 603 E. 17th St., is president of the Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition, an inter-faith group of volunteers helping asylum-seeking immigrants passing through Del Rio.
He also runs another non-profit organization, Young Living Stones.
“Right now in that organization, we’re doing a lot of online-type work via Zoom with churches and an orphanage, teaching people job skills and English as a second language,” Young said.
“We teach computer classes, videography and English as a second language to students in Mexico. We also have some students in Colombia, some students in Spain and in the Dominican Republic,” he added.
Young has been involved in the ebb and flow of Del Rio’s migrant crises from the moment they began in the spring of 2019.
“I was there when all the pastors met about this on day one. I was just there, and, I don’t know, I guess I got involved because I just have a passion for sharing what God has given me with somebody else,” Young said.
He also agreed the Bible itself calls on human beings to treat kindly strangers who come to their countries.
“We can’t do everything, but we can certainly do something, and if everybody did something small, all this would be a lot easier,” he said.
He admits sometimes he gets tired and disheartened by the extent of the problem.
“At the end of 2019, I was wiped out, after that summer when all the immigrants came through,” he said.
Young said when he becomes discouraged, he turns to God for help and strength.
“Pretty much daily,” he said.
“My faith keeps me going. During the day, if I find myself getting riled or frustrated, I try to focus on one person or a child, and just try to connect with that person or child, and that helps me re-find myself and remind myself why I’m doing what I’m doing,” Young added.
He is quick to point out, too, that he is only one part of the organization of volunteers and donors working to help the immigrants who find themselves in Del Rio.
“I really want to thank the community for the support they’ve given by donating meals, items and money. I also want to thank all of the volunteers that spend hundreds of hours to make it all come together, especially Tiffany Burrow, who leads the organization in its day-to-day operations,” Young said.
He singled out Burrow for further praise, saying she “stepped up bigger than ever” when the lead pastor at Young’s church left in November 2019 and he had to step into the lead pastor role for a year.
“I really just am thankful for all the people who have the same heart and want them to be recognized for all of the hard work they’ve poured into this,” he said.
