Volunteers

Carving Pumpkins! by Fran Stevenson

bgreen@thefellowship.info — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:58:02 GMT

Lita and I lead an ESL class for Afghan immigrant/refugee women in Fremont. A few weeks ago, we carved pumpkins in class. (see photo) The class was so much fun! Most of the ladies have been here years and never carved a pumpkin. I gave a prize for the best carved pumpkin and the lady who won was so pleased. Doing the pumpkin thing was really big...the director of the center where we meet even allowed us to decorate the front office in a pumpkin display. Yesterday I had my first visit from an Afghan family who recently bought a car...They just showed up. They have three children so I decided, "Let's carve a pumpkin." It was a first for them. Most of my focus lately has been visiting and helping the young mothers (recent immigrants) with doctors' appointments and shopping. This has been a challenge because they have limited English skills.

Janee and Hary share words of life and peace with a new friend. By Janee Angel

bgreen@thefellowship.info — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:31:47 GMT

Janee weds fiancee Hary. Pray for them as they continue to share words of love and peace with those in their community.

We make connections with people from all over the world and just a few weeks ago I found myself sitting in my living room listening to the story of a man from the Middle East. His country is about 99.95% Muslim. According to our new friend, people there read their holy book and take their religion very seriously. He left his home in hopes of being a better provider for his wife and 4 children. On his journey to Europe, he met 2 men from Ethiopia…one a Christian and the other a Muslim. The Christian Ethiopian began to tell stories of Jesus and soon our friend began to listen with interest while the other Muslim man walked away.

Our friend ended up in a holding center for refugees where he remained for 2 years. Hary, my fiancée and a Christian friend made contact with our new friend multiple times and gave him a Bible. He began to read the Christian book and the Muslim book side by side. He compared; he contrasted. He said he saw the contrast of the Bible in its love and the Fatherhood of God. He knew that the Bible contained words of life…words of truth. Yet the fear of loss of community, loss of history, loss of family and most assuredly the loss of his life if he returned to the Middle East kept him from following Jesus.

I began to pray every day. Our friend said he knew if he just found peace his decision would be made. I prayed for the peace of God to be visible in his life. I felt that he was searching for a peace of this world…confirmation from others that he was walking right; but that confirmation was NOT going to come from his Muslim friends. I prayed he would receive wisdom from other Christians. One friend boldly said, “Your search is for something here on this earth when the only peace we need is the knowledge of His presence in our life from now and forever, why do you ask for more?” And like a light bulb going off in his head, our friend handed over his Koran and said, “I choose the Bible…I will not be afraid to read it when others can see…I will listen boldly to Christian sermons on the tv…I choose Jesus.”

Our new friend is a different man. His face is happier…a cloud has lifted. He found peace. He still struggles with the hurtful words of the Muslim men who live around him in the facility and he wants strength to endure and not return to the familiar ways of Islam. He asked if the 5 of us eating with him at my house would lay our hands on him and pray for him to be “glued to Jesus!” Without hesitation we gathered around our friend and prayed.

I am privileged this month to see a man find the peace, love and Fatherhood of our God. I am privileged to see people at different places in their journey and walk with the Savior. I am privileged because I get to wait in expectation for God to work in each of the areas I have given to Him each day. And I can see that when I spend my time in prayer asking for others to be “glued” to Jesus…the result doesn’t just show up in the life I have prayed for but I too am glued with each moment I spend in prayer. With all of those around us in such a state of need, we should never run short of the privilege or blessing that others offer for us to go to the Father on their behalf and see what He can do in each life.

Mahasin's story

bgreen@thefellowship.info — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:45:22 GMT

Born and raised in Baghdad, Mahasin pursued ballet in Russia. Her mother introduced her to ballet when she discovered Mahasin's talent at the age of nine. She won many awards and performed with her company in many different countries. She returned to Iraq to pursue her dream of building an opera house and began her first company. However, she was criticized as her art was considered an act against religion. Mahasin's brother was kidnapped and killed. She also lost a member of her dance team. She sustained injuries to her head and shoulder in a car accident. After reading of her tragedies, she was invited to the US to share her dance.

Mahasin has requested to stay in the US due to the continuing threats that she receives. Unfortunately here as well she has known pain. She was robbed and left without money to sustain herself. Mahasin called a friend who drove from Michigan to Kentucky to help her. Now Mahasin relies on the kindness of others to help her with translation, manage legal affairs, and share her story. Mahasin is but one of the many who come to the US seeking refuge. If Butterflies can dream, can Mahasin?

Ana Frey reflects on what it means to be a "Global Woman"

bgreen@thefellowship.info — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:45:56 GMT

Testimony given by Ana Frey at the 2008 Global Women Summit in San Antonio, Texas

Welcoming International Students by Casey Gainey

bgreen@thefellowship.info — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:07:07 GMT

On Tuesday, August 19th, Oakland Baptist Church had the opportunity to welcome international students to Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, and the United States. It all began with OBC members participating in airport pick-ups for the students. Then on Thursday, August 21st, they hosted a cook-out during the International Student Orienation. There were 40 international students and 10 OBC members in attendance. International students were offered a chance to talk with Americans as well as experience an American tradition--cook-out on a lake with boat rides. Laughter could be heard from all around. One student commented that he had read about cook-outs in comic books, but had never been to one. He said, "This is really cool!" A future cook-out is in planning, but OBC will invite international students to regular campus ministry, Cooperative Student Fellowship, events.

Ministry to Refugees: A Vignette

bgreen@thefellowship.info — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:44:07 GMT

Ministry to Refugees: A Vignette

David F. D’Amico

The tragedy of the fall of Saigon was featured poignantly on TV during the fall of 1975. We watched people fleeing Vietnam in boats, and others being rescued by US Marine helicopters. The flow of refugees to the US from Vietnam was considerable. Some experts in refugee relief have classified the Southeast Asia wave of refugees coming to the United States, including Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodians, as one of the most significant in the twentieth century.

When I started to serve as Minister to Internationals at the South Main Baptist Church (SMBC) in Houston in 1976 the church had resettled a family of Vietnamese refugees. Deacons Kenneth and Nelda Lawrence were responsible to assist the Diep family in matters pertaining to their adaptation to the American culture. Mr. Lawrence helped them to get their social security cards, their driver's license, and enlisted the help of church members to donate appliances for their home, and all other things that families need in settling in a city. They desired that the Diep family would attend Sunday school, learn English in the Smile program, and participate in the life of the church.

I was thrust into the ministry to refugees with some experience and much compassion. I had some experience after having worked with Cuban refugees in Fort Worth in the 1960s, and I took the opportunity as a natural extension of my ministry.

Ken and Nelda had a wonderful spirit of love, compassion, and common sense. They were very courteous to me and tried to guide me in our common efforts. I knew from past experiences that refugees tend to be kind to their sponsors and that church attendance is a social function that is required as a means of gratitude for what the church has done for the family.

When the largest wave of refugees from Vietnam began to arrive to Houston, there were potential ministry opportunities that churches and social agencies tried to seize. Some social agencies with expertise in refugee resettlement like Catholic Charities, Lutheran World Federation, and Church World Services had their strategy in place and worked smoothly to help resettle refugees.

I found a "bridge person" in the process of learning about Vietnamese people. He was Hong Van Lieu, a single man in his thirties who had learned English through the U.S. military training. He fled Vietnam with his nephew Tuan, a teenager. Hong became a trusted advisor to our efforts in Vietnamese ministry. He was of Christian and Missionary Alliance background. He helped us discern the needs of the Vietnamese community and we organized some orientation events for the community to guide them into American life.

Two of the many opportunities we organized at SMBC to help Vietnamese refugees are etched in my memory. They are stories of intercultural connection, of human love and compassion that comes from those who have suffered injustice, indignities, and have been dislocated from their native countries by force or by dictatorships. It just happened that it connected former Cuban refugees who had improved their condition after few years in the US with the new wave of refugees from Vietnam who had been traumatized by the experience.

Initially we offered medical help at Main World, a building of the church devoted to internationals where the Hispanic and Chinese churches met on Sundays. There was a Vietnamese physician among the group and I asked Dr. Eduardo Bellas to help. The families in need of free medical care came to Main World, to the office area. Bellas and Dr. Tinh Van Tran provided medical orientation. According to an article,

One member of the Hispanic congregation, a Cuban refugee, is trying to

help Vietnamese refugees in Houston with medical problems. Dr.

Eduardo Bellas, a pathologist for the Harris County Medical Examiner's

office, remembers his experiences as a Cuban refugee in trying to learn

English and adjusting to menial labor before successfully completing the

requirements to practice medicine in the United States. With the help of

Dr. Trin Van Tran, a Vietnamese physician with the U. S. Public Health

Clinic, he is providing medical orientation and referral for Vietnamese

refugees in Main World. [John Rutledge, “Koinonia' the Key to

Evangelism,” Baptist Standard, Dec. 15, 1976, p. 13].

On one occasion Bellas examined an elderly woman with the help of an interpreter. After the exam, the woman opened a handkerchief where she had stored some coins. She opened the handkerchief and handed the coins to Dr. Bellas as a payment for the consultation. He gently refused the payment. It was a symbol of gratitude, a sense of responsibility, and a gesture of grace that bridged cultures and languages.

On another occasion, we had an orientation session. It was during the evening. I had asked Gladys Bellas to speak to the families present. There were about 30-35 persons. The session dealt with orientation for the basic topics for acculturation in the lives of refugees. There were some social workers and others who provided basic information.

The part that I remember most vividly was the testimony of Gladys Bellas as a former refugee from Cuba. She told the story of coming from Cuba with three young children. Gladys testified of her faith in God, the help of the SMBC during those days through the SMILE (South Main Informal Learning Experience) program, and related topics. The interesting element in communications was that Gladys spoke in Spanish, I interpreted into English, and Hong interpreted into Vietnamese. We sincerely hoped that by the time the message got to the hearers, it was the same original message. Despite the language barriers the Vietnamese people immediately "connected" with Gladys as a fellow refugee!

Ministry of FBC Tallahassee

bgreen@thefellowship.info — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:37:02 GMT

H. prepares dinner for friends as they anticipate watching together the opening of the Beijing Olympics.

The International Department as First Baptist Church at Tallahassee, Florida, is where I got my first Bible in their English conversation class two months after I came to the United States, where my Sunday School teacher became my mentor and dear mom to whom I would cry and report the news, and where I was baptized and was continually nurtured and supported in every concrete way. Its warm climate thawed my frozen heart in the darkest times. It has warmed many other internationals’ hearts too. They would call and come back to visit even ten years after they went back to their country. It is a nurturing community. Internationals of different backgrounds and ages came to Christ each year. Another Chinese girl became a Christian, went to seminary and now serves a Chinese church. It is a “thinking” environment. Hearing many different voices on divorce, I was able to find my own. Along the way I was able to think by and for myself. It is an intergenerational gathering with various levels of faith also with diverse cultural, social and economic backgrounds. I was encouraged by the mature Christians as well as the young. I always remember the beginning of my relationship with my Sunday school teacher not long after I began to attend Sunday school. As an example, Janice talked about her visit to an African girl Lucy. During the break I talked with Lucy and said I would like to talk to Janice too. She surprised me that she turned around and told Janice who came to right after. That was a huge step for me. For the first time I poured out my heart to a stranger. I even had not done this to my own mom. It is definitely a place where a stranger is welcomed as a friend and received as a gift. And in turn the stranger contributes to the richness of the community. Recently I received a DVD of one worship service where a visiting Chinese professor sang a hymn in English. He did not go to church before he came to the United States, but now he is active in the church in China. Talking about assimilation, the act of entering a Christian community is not just leaving one world and set of values or crossing a cultural boundary, it is also bringing in, experiencing and enjoying the differences. I learned the story and language of this faith community contribute to it with my uniqueness. It was a great blessing to know them and part of that community. I not only found God but also found a kind of home I never had before.

University Heights Baptist Church in Springfield, MO

bgreen@thefellowship.info — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:56:50 GMT

The members of University Heights Baptist Church in Springfield, MO are enjoying working with the Internationals. By Lois McCullars

Unexpected Ministry

bgreen@thefellowship.info — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:49:04 GMT

Unexpected ministry

Mary Jo Seymon never intended to get involved with refugee ministry in Fremont, but people just wouldn’t stop asking her about it.

CBF field personnel Lita and Rick Sample asked if she would give driving lessons to Kira, an Afghan refugee who was new to the country. A short time later, Kira’s son and husband asked Mary Jo to do the same thing. Finally, Mary Jo felt she had to say yes, and now – years later – she’s so glad she did.

Since that first driving lesson, Mary Jo and Kira have become good friends. She’s helped Kira learn English, provided transportation when there was none, guided the family through complicated paperwork, and tried to find the family affordable housing.

“It’s really good being able to be part of something that God has called you to do,” Seymon said.

The Samples see connecting Christians like Seymon with Afghans as part of their ministry in Fremont. Not only does it mean more Afghans can be reached, but more churches have the opportunity to be part of God’s mission in the world.

“I think it’s important for us to be Christ’s presence in a very real way, something that not only changes the lives of refugees but changes our own lives,” Lita said.

Through her friendship with Kira, Seymon has gone from not wanting to be involved with the ministry to believing wholeheartedly that God has placed her there for a reason.

“The mission field is here,” she said. “God has opened this window of opportunity for us to minister to the world, and it’s our job as Christians to be the hands and feet of Christ and to minister to the world.”

By Carla Wynn Davis, CBF Communications http://www.thefellowship.info/Give/OGM/Northern-California

Online network for churches

bgreen@thefellowship.info — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:31:32 GMT

Perhaps you or your church has had a phone call from Vonda, or Carlton, or Amanda, or others who have been helping CBF Field Personnel Butch and Nell Green. Butch and Nell are currently involved in developing an online network for churches ministering to or who desire to have a ministry to Internationals. Many have visited our team as they learned of how churches are reaching out to Internationals in their area. The Internationals Cluster is committed to facilitating churches' endeavors as they share with those who have come to our country for one reason or another. Besides this website and the resources available online, the goal is to have in place by the end of July a plan built on received input for the development of this network. Thanks to Vonda and others, there are already well over 300 churches have registered and who desire to network together in order to better serve the International community.