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1 THE LUTHERAN LAYMAN July - August 2015 Your Partner in HIS Mission! Photos courtesy of CFNA & Dr. Gerald Perschbacher By Allan Buckman, with Stanish Stanley and Judith Meyer ST. LOUIS, Mo. It s not easy coming to a country and culture that is unfamiliar, but thanks to Christians the acclimation can move more smoothly. see page 3 In Depth: Hour & Bott were Active U fits with You Digital Media in Kazakhstan Sponsor Automatically Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID St. Louis, MO. Permit No. 619 Lutheran Hour Ministries 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive St. Louis, Missouri Luther: Priceless Contribution... 17

2 Photographs on the cover and in this article show interaction between students and instructors at After School Tutoring classes. from page 1 Agencies and congregations in areas refugees now call home can share Christ despite cultural barriers and weak language skills of immigrants. Case in point: Saraswoti Gurung. She was age six when she and family members came to North America from a refugee camp in Nepal. That was half a dozen years ago and while life in the refugee camp had been challenging, life in the Midwest quickly became bewildering. Apart from family members, she had few friends. By her own admission she did not know good English. Saraswoti needed help getting started. She found it at the Peace Center, the ministry center of Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) here. She regularly attended After School Tutoring classes twice a week and met volunteer teachers who helped her learn English. They helped me finish hard homework, she adds. As a result, Saraswoti says she made many new friends from different ethnic backgrounds. She also found singing in the chapel, learning God s Word, and being with people that are Christian brought a very formative and satisfying experience. As a result, Saraswoti, together with the members of her family as well as a growing number of recent Nepali arrivals, are attending Ascension Lutheran Church in St. Louis and its Nepali language satellite named New Life Fellowship. Refugees from Ethiopia Saba Dabi was seven years old when she arrived with her parents and nine siblings. They had been in a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Now 14, she has become a regular participant in the After School Tutoring program. She quickly affirms that tutoring at the Peace Center has shaped my character; it has given me an opportunity to freely interact with American people. She also points out that tutoring received there has improved my English speaking skills. The center is a place where I have learned a lot of new teachings from the pastors who lead the devotions offered each evening. Because of these benefits, Saraswoti and Saba along with the more than 100 students who are currently participating in the tutoring program love to experience the Peace Center. Their parents see Their parents see the center as a safe Christian place where their children can be with friends and learn good Christian values with good people that are willing to help. the center as a safe Christian place where their children can be with friends and learn good Christian values with good people that are willing to help. Historically, education has always been important in outreach efforts of the Church. Today is no different as education still serves as a significant contributor to sharing Christian love, especially to children in need. Accordingly, with the Christian mandate to serve (Mark 10: 45), Christian Friends of New Americans is actively seeking to engage and serve the most needy refugees and immigrants among us. Who are they? New Americans settling in St. Louis come from various nations and with diverse religious backgrounds such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and African traditional religions. Almost all face difficulty in settling into an American culture that operates with an unfamiliar language. The problem is exacerbated when new Americans must deal with the American system and way of life. Daily challenges for families include conversing in English, arriving at appointments on time, properly answering questions raised by health providers, and very little or no contact with American families, to cite a few examples. see next page The Lutheran Layman July-August

3 Students from various cultures can learn in a Christ-centered setting. A New Strategy to Raise Serving Leaders in Urban Settings or decades Lutheran churches and schools have raised Christcentered serving leaders in St. Louis. At one time there were F over 20 Lutheran schools providing an affordable Christian education to children in the city. This is no longer the case. Currently only three Lutheran schools operate in the restrictive confines of St. Louis city limits. Yet, along with these three schools, Lutherans continue to look for new strategies to raise up Christ-centered serving leaders. So reports Rev. Dr. Matt Hoehner, regional executive director of Educational Enterprises, Inc., (EEI), St. Louis. Through a partnership with congregations, we are seeing vacant school buildings resurrected and communities restored. In 2013, St. John s Lutheran Church worked with EEI to renovate their school that had closed and opened EAGLE College Prep, a free public charter school that prepares children for college and intentionally teaches character development. Along with EAGLE, EEI operates Compass Educational Programs, a Christ-centered preschool and before and after school program for those who choose to attend from EAGLE. Together St. John s Lutheran Church, EAGLE, and Compass collaborate to provide their community a loving worldclass education with the opportunity to grow in Christ. EAGLE currently serves 185 students (kindergarten to fourth grade) with plans to expand to a K-8 school and eventually a high school, explains Hoehner. Compass Christian Programs is providing Christ-centered education and mentoring before and after school care for over 80 of the children attending EAGLE. In addition, Compass provides a high quality Christ-centered preschool for 22 children. In all, more than 200 children once again have access to a free high quality education and affordable Christian education. The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, the Missouri District of the LCMS, Lutheran Family and Children s Services, Concordia Publishing House, and Lutheran Church Extension Fund are a few of the serving leaders that have joined together to successfully meet this urban need. The success of the first EAGLE school and Compass Program in St. Louis has led to the opportunity to serve more children. In 2015, a second EAGLE school will open in Emmaus Lutheran s school building; and in 2016 a third EAGLE school will open at Messiah Lutheran s school. Hoehner concludes: As a parent, I m thankful that my children have a loving, safe environment to grow within their diverse community and receive additional Christ-centered support from Compass and Rev. Mike Tanney of St. John s. As we build the foundation of our future by raising up serving leaders, we are excited to see holistic renewal rising up around our educational communities in the form of affordable housing projects for new Americans. Furthermore, we rejoice with thanksgiving to God that Nepali and African congregations are worshipping our Lord in these new spaces. n To learn more about EEI, visit 4 The Lutheran Layman July-August 2015 from page 3 Add to this the issues faced by immigrant and refugee children who struggle to integrate with peers at school. They also should engage in meaningful academic learning and development. Noteworthy is the fact that most of the students who participate in the program are enrolled in public schools. In this context CFNA, a Registered Service Organization of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), facilitates educational support for the immigrant and refugee New Americans in our midst through its After School Tutoring Program. The tutoring outreach ministry operates with the objective of seeking to share and inculcate Biblical values in refugee children along with providing help for homework and enhancing academic performance. Along with tutoring, regular chapel devotions conducted by LCMS pastors have enabled New American kids to celebrate the love of Jesus Christ. Children from countries such as Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and Bhutan have availed themselves of this learning opportunity. Importantly, this Christian outreach venture of CFNA would not be possible without the participation of approximately 25 volunteers from various walks of life who have responded to the call to serve. Friends from LCMS congregations and students from local educational institutions including Concordia Seminary have freely shared their time, expertise, and commitment to interact with New American children. Many volunteers have developed close relationships with the children not only through tutoring, but also through personal interaction including driving the students from and to their homes. Such an opportunity has been a special occasion for New American kids to engage and make friends with an American. Through the After School education outreach, and by the grace of God, there is an established Lutheran presence in the hearts and minds of a growing segment of the New American population in the Midwest. As it moves forward in this mission of our Lord, CFNA invites and welcomes anybody and everybody to seriously engage Scripture s call: Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright (Prov. 20:11). Through Scholarship Assistance New American families clearly value Lutheran education. During each of the past eight years, the parents of nearly 30 New American students have enrolled their children in Lutheran schools (made possible by the CFNA scholarship assistance program). Mustapha Passawe (originally from Sierra Leone), whose daughters have attended Word of Life Lutheran School for the past three semesters, said that the girls have really learned English and use it at home now. Every day they

4 learn about God and get me up early on Sunday to go to church. He chose Word of Life for his daughters on the recommendation of a family member. Since its inception, New American students have been enrolled in nine Lutheran schools. Presently they attend Christ Community, Grace Chapel, Green Park, Salem, Lutheran High South, and Lutheran High North. Almost all of the students are members of Lutheran congregations, and many of their families have also joined St. Louis area congregations including Messiah, Timothy, Hope, Ascension, Resurrection, Webster Gardens, and Immanuel Chapel. One Nepalese child was baptized at Hope, and Timothy s and Messiah s confirmation classes during the past several years have included several New American youth. Betty Mulat (from Ethiopia), a sophomore at Lutheran South who has been in the scholarship program for four years, said the program provided the opportunity to learn more about God and share our faith with others. It also helps us learn how to behave and become a leader. From the beginning, facilitators from within key ethnic communities have played a key role in the implementation of this ministry. Their primary responsibilities have been to provide for the enrollment of New American students into Lutheran schools, as well as to maintain the relationship between the school and the family thereafter. Their effectiveness may be measured by the reality that since its beginning eight years ago, the student attrition rate has been almost zero. Out of an aggregate of almost 50 students, only one has dropped out of the program. Which brings up another question. How do you measure the success of this effort? First, it must be noted that these students have all been successful academically, progressing from grade to grade, and then continuing to college-preparatory Lutheran high schools. The Lutheran Foundation has contributed substantially to this effort from day one, and has even provided funds required for an After School Tutoring program at Word of Life Lutheran school, where the majority of the elementary New American students have attended. The seven students who have graduated from Lutheran South are all attending college, and the current Lutheran high school students are all planning on college as well. see page 10 Mentoring Right Where You Are By Gerald Perschbacher Mentoring comes in many ways, from many types of people, with many different approaches and materials. Regardless, it s very much a one-on-one principle. And you can do it just about anywhere. Parents can read to younger people. That includes children with learning disabilities, children from other cultures, and those who have little (if any) example of Christian faith in their families. Three booklets come to mind small booklets for small children: Learning to Pray, The Bully, and Sharing Your Faith. Each provides easy-tofollow poetry aimed at children learning the fundamentals of reading or who enjoy the fun of catchy poetry with a Christ-centered aim. Several booklets can help parents and mentors assist in the raising of children and can be adapted to young folks of various cultural backgrounds. Parenting with Purpose covers boundaries, rules, guidelines, time together, communication, and appreciating the uniqueness of children. Other booklets can instill the mentoring process in adults and big brothers or big sisters. Talking Openly with Kids is one of these booklets. Two more are good resources: Parenting Families Practical Strategies for the Blended Family and also Parenting Families Practical Strategies for Family life. In this fast-paced age, there can be cultural gaps even in the same family, with age being a barrier. Grandparents may not understand how to communicate with their grandchildren. Parents may have a hard time keeping up with the trends among children. Add to this the cultural aspect of New Americans and the learning curve may need to be adjusted for young and not-so-young in order to share the Love of Christ effectively. Seek reputable sources for suggestions. Consult pastors and teachers for their advice, too. Congregations and groups can make the acclimation of children their prime target. By God s grace, when we bridge the gaps in culture, language, and age, all participants can advance toward a keener understanding of the Lord and a deeper appreciation for each other along with the personal gifts they employ. To bridge the Spanish-English gap, consider obtaining copies of the Jesus Loves Me! coloring book. Copies may be obtained in both languages. Christ-centered drawing and captions allow for a Spanishspeaking adult or child to compare their booklet with the English version, aiding both types of readers in the experience. More than that, it directs each one to Christ! More information about the availability of items mentioned in this article is available. Calling Lutheran Hour Ministries at or check SHOPLHM.ORG. n Dr. Perschbacher is editor of The Lutheran Layman. The Lutheran Layman July-August

5 from page 5 Another key evidence of impact is shown in the way the older recipients of these scholarships are helping others. All of them are involved in the youth groups in their congregations, and have participated in mission service trips with their groups. One young woman leads nursery groups at her church, two others serve at a summer camp for intellectually challenged youth, and several others are members of the Key Club, a service club associated with the Kiwanis. The two young men who attend Lutheran North are now mentoring international exchange students who are attending Lutheran South and Lutheran North (see sidebar), helping those students adjust to life in the United States. One of the recent Lutheran South graduates is a leader in a service organization at her university. They also volunteer at CFNA fundraising events. Over the last eight years, the Lutheran Foundation has matched CFNA contributions received from individuals and congregations, thus providing up to 30 scholarships each year for New American children to attend Lutheran elementary and secondary schools. The goal of the program is to provide access to high quality Christian education, thereby helping the children, primarily from numerous African and Asian countries, to acclimate to life as Americans and to connect their families to Lutheran congregations. CFNA deeply values relationships with supporting individuals, congregations, ministries, and organizations. n Dr. Allan Buckman chairs CFNA, which holds RSO status in the LCMS; he also is a former LCMS mission executive. Rev. Stanish Stanley is an expert on the subject of After School Tutoring. Dr. Judith Meyer specializes in Scholarship Assistance. LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES God is sending His followers all over the world for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. Make an impact in another country when you and your team serve on an International Volunteer Trip! lhm.org/teams Mentors Lead to SucCess Christian Friends of New Americans does many wonderful things for people, but the name suggests something bigger than acts of service. The F in CFNA is about friendships. The relationships that start and grow through this ministry are making an impact in the lives of New Americans. This is evident in the lives of many New American teens. Noteworthy are James Gayeyou, Marchello Kaka and Henry Manu, who were involved in CFNA and benefited from mentoring and tutoring relationships with Tim Schrader and Tim Anas. This helped them make a big step in education by being accepted into one of the St. Louis Lutheran High Schools this year. Tim Schrader is a CFNA volunteer who has brought many teens to the church through sports and fellowship. He arranges soccer and basketball events which consistently result in new relationships to CFNA and the church. Tim s involvement is a clear example of how mentoring a young life allows us to bring people to Jesus. Working for CFNA is the best job I ve ever had. The refugees are not my clients, they re my friends. I enjoy taking care of them and they are very appreciative. I have so much fun visiting with them and joking around with them, especially my soccer players. They bless me just as much as I bless them, and it s all to the glory of God. - Tim Schrader, CFNA volunteer Tim Anas is a seminary student who has also spent countless hours mentoring teens and bringing them to church. Tim is committed to spending quality time with youth, which includes making meals with them and tutoring them every Saturday morning. A true mentoring relationship provides organic, meaningful conversation, crossing the barriers of age and background in a way no other partnership could. - Tim Anas, seminary student/volunteer mentor The fitting final step for these three New Americans to be able to attend Lutheran high school was their willingness to become mentors themselves. Henry, James and Marchello are dorm mentors in the Kitebridge program, serving international students attending school far from home. Mentors live in the dormitory during the school week, providing acculturation, English language growth, and day to day support. In return James, Marchello, and Henry benefit from the tuition assistance that allows them to attend their Lutheran high school. n - Mark Thompson, DCE, Timothy Lutheran Church - dce@timothystl.org 10 The Lutheran Layman July-August 2015