Where have you come from, and where are you going? (Genesis 16:8b, NIV)

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1 Friends of Friendship House Online 9540 Conant, Hamtramck, MI 48212; Phone: , Fax: Volume 8, No. 6, June 2013 Website: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: Board of Directors: Carole Curley, Chair Dave Brault Cynthia D. Cole Lucretia Holliday Kathleen Ninivaggi A word from Rev. Gloria: You know how apprehensive you can get when it comes to visiting other venues for your worship experiences? So if you are like me, there is a certainty of spirituality, emotion in worship and theological sound insights one can expect when worshipping in one s own church - you just do not want to mess up a good thing. Recently, I was challenged to worship away from home and report to two key affiliates of Detroit Friendship House. (I m shy, what can I say.) I was invited to speak at The American Baptist Women s Ministries of Michigan Retreat at The St. Francis Center in DeWitt, Michigan on June 8 th and to The First Baptist Church of Ypsilanti, Michigan on June 23 rd. Each worship experience delighted and inspired me. My apprehensiveness disappeared, and now I am ready to do more traveling, more worshipping and more fellowshipping. I look forward to future invitations! While reviewing the history of DFH, I discovered that, at some points in Hamtramck s history, Detroit Friendship House was the only Baptist presence in the community. The population has always been heavily comprised of immigrates from other countries with established, strong faiths. Originally, most residents were Catholic as they hailed from Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania. Today, most residents come from Bosnia, Bangladesh, and Yemen and thus the Islamic faith is dominating. DFH has always responded to the needs of the people, rather than the differences between them, and the message has been the same since inception. In 1979, Doris Fell, the 7th Executive Director outlined the following goals of DFH in a memo to American Baptist pastors: 1. To demonstrate the message of God s love and redemption through a ministry of love, acceptance and healing. 2. To respond to evident needs through the provision of appropriate program and services. 3. To provide skills and learning experiences enabling individuals to lead responsible, productive lives. 4. To promote enjoyment and togetherness in family living. 5. To provide opportunities for developing communication and understanding between groups of divergent cultures, beliefs, ages and social status. 6. To encourage, support and speak for those seeking justice and wholeness. 7. To challenge social structures to change policies and progress allowing all persons to participate fully in community life. 8. To provide a place of meaningful service to those seeking opportunities to live out their Christian commitment. 9. To serve as a model for churches seeking creative approaches to community ministry. DFH has served the poor of this community faithfully. Programs have changed over the years, but the message has been consistent and remains the same: Love, acceptance and healing to all. Hagar in Genesis 16 intrigues me for many reasons, and the related scripture stays with me like that favorite video game. (Mine is on my ipad, Sushi Swipe. I cannot get away from it and cannot get enough of it) Where have you come from, and where are you going? One reason for my intrigue with Hagar is that the Lord stopped her by a well one day as she was making a B-line away from a situation, in the pathway of a future of uncertainty. The angel of the Lord held a strategic planning session right there in the middle of the desert with this woman who was going someplace, fast, unsure of her destiny. Any place was better than where she had been before. Against the odds, a strategy to succeed was set in place. She had a chance to meet face-to-face with the God of Rev. Gloriane Hymon Wiley, Abraham and Sarah. She, like Doris and the others, had a chance to advance Interim Executive Director the Kingdom of God in creative ways to serve as a model for others. Where have you come from, and where are you going? (Genesis 16:8b, NIV)

2 New Building Update: Great News for the Hamtramck Welcome Center Project! Regular Enewsletter readers will notice that there has not been much written lately about the effort to create a community services building to house Friendship House and other nonprofits. To recap, the Detroit Baptist Union expressed willingness to purchase a former credit union and maintain ownership if Friendship House raised funds for renovation and ongoing operations. A purchase agreement for the building was signed, but then things got a little complicated. The initial environmental review discovered that a gas station once stood on the site. Fortunately, analyzed core soil samples found this to be non-problematic. Later, an old oil fuel tank was found. It will need to be removed because it had not been properly closed down. At last we are ready to raise the necessary funds to rehab the building, and we have incredibly good news to report! The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has just awarded a $35,000 planning grant for the project to cover pre-renovation costs like architect fees and building permits. Talk about a kick start! The Community Foundation receives hundreds of grant proposals several times a year, and it is a highly competitive process. We are beyond thrilled for this generous grant. To top off that great news, the American Baptist Women s Ministries of Ohio chose Friendship House s Welcome Center as one of their fundraising projects for They will attempt to raise $15,000 over the next two years and will, of course, have a room or two named for their organization once the build out is complete. Wilma Nicholson, Coordinator of Mission and Service for Ohio s ABWM, wrote: I am excited that we have chosen a place which is near enough that we can visit and follow your progress to better serve those with whom you work. A number of other naming opportunities to honor or memorialize someone special are available for gifts ranging from $5,000 to $75,000. For further information, please contact Linnea Berg at The Board of Directors is proud to announce the 8th Annual Golf Outing for Detroit Friendship House. The staff of Sow Good Pamper Lounge will be present for complimentary hand or chair massages for all Golfers on Saturday, August 24, 2013 from 8 am 2:30 pm. The Golf Outing will be held at the St. Clair Shores Golf Club located at Mason Blvd St. Clair Shores, MI. The donation is only $80 per person. Included in the deal is 18 holes of golf, the cart, lunch, a free chair or hand massage and a day of fun! We are delighted to have the Sow Good Pamper Lounge staff on site for this year s outing. Andria Robinson the owner of this day spa has graciously donated the services of her massage team for the day.

3 Date and Time: August 24, 2013, Saturday; 8:00 am Shotgun Start Location: St Clair Shores Golf Club, Masonic Blvd., St Clair Shores, MI Golf Registration: $80 per person, to be assigned to a team by the committee $160 per couple, couple to be assigned with another couple $240 per-3some, a 3-some in need of one more golfer to be assigned by the golf committee $320 per 4-some, teamed up by registration Sponsorship Opportunities: $5,500 Major Sponsor underwrites the event & Gets Naming Rights (includes 3 free foursomes) This sponsorship includes 2 banners and 2 signs $1,200 Meal Sponsor underwrites the buffet (includes 1 free four-some) $500 Beverage Sponsor underwrites the beverage cart $500 Golf Ball Sponsor underwrites a sleeve of golf balls for each player.\ $100 Sponsors one hole (sign can be your company name, a personal message like Happy Birthday Cindy, or the name of your church) or a Vendor Table, (BYOT). All sponsors will have their names and logos in the program, as well as publicized in the Enewsletters. Name Phone# Address Cell Phone Address Sponsor: $5,500 Major Underwriter $500 Sleeve of Golf Balls $1,200 Lunch Underwriter $100 Hole Sponsor $500 Beverage Cart Underwriter $100 Vendor Team Members $320 for 4-Some $240 for a 3-Some $160 for a 2-Some $80 for a 1-Some Sorry I can t make the Golf Outing but enclosed is my tax-exempt donation of $ To Be Matched with the First Baptist Church of Royal Oak Fund. Please make all checks payable to Detroit Friendship House and mail to 9540 Conant Street Hamtramck, MI All registrations are Due August 1st.

4 1031 persons or 488 families were served in the Harvest Food Pantry during May This is memorabilia of a Hamtramck campaign from many years ago for a widow who is a member of DFH. Please keep Edna Gruzenski, a regular 4th Sunday Supper Club Member and her family in your prayers. Edna (or Grandma, as she is affectionately known to us) has been admitted to St. Joseph s Nursing Home just down the street from FH for an indefinite period of time. The staff continues to visit her and were fortunate enough to give her, her attendants and her roommates flowers that came from a recent shipment from Forgotten Harvest. Thank You Bethel Baptist Church of Southgate (and Dennis Trezona) for serving up a favorite seasonal meal at the May 4th Sunday Supper Club. It was timely and delightful. MISSIONS CONTRIBITIONS ARE BACK UP! Please don t forget about Detroit Friendship House, IN YOUR PRAYERS & YOUR CHURCH GIVING A CONSISTENT Christian PRESENCE IN HAMTRAMCK for 84 YEARS OF FAITHFULLY SERVING THE POOR, IMMIGRANTS, WIDOWS & CHILDREN. See a former Friendship House Kid Reflect on the ministry: MESSAGE TO ALL EMPLOYEES OF BANK OF AMERICA Who are FH Supporters: FYI You can now select Detroit Friendship House for your corporate 2-1 matching program. Please consider Detroit Friendship House when its time to sign-up, its never too early to plan to serve at Detroit Friendship House.

5 August T/B/D Back to School Rally and School Supply Give Away hosted by Bishop Allyson Abrams Nelson of Zion Progressive Baptist and First Baptist Church of Tekonsha School Supply Give Away Team. August 24th, 8 am 2:30 pm, Annual Golf Outing at St Clair Shore Golf Club Now collecting admissions. Registration is enclosed. The deadline for registration & all payments is August 1st. October 4th, 10 am 1pm, Fall Baby Shower at Corinthian Baptist Church October 7th Appeal letters for the holidays will start to reach out for support of Holiday Meals, Adopt-A-Family for Christmas and Letters of Financial Support. A donation of only $30 provides a holiday meal for a family of four. Donations of fresh turkeys at Thanksgiving and fresh hams at Christmas are appropriate too. October-November is a great time of the year to have a food drive for DFH. Please contact the office if you or your co-workers or congregation would like to Adopt-A-Family for Christmas. November 28th, Thanksgiving Day Now is the time for God s people to come to the aid of the mission to serve the underserved. 100 Backpacks Portfolio Folders Makers Pencils Glue Sticks or Liquid Fiskars Paper Writing Paper Notebooks Red, Blue and Black Pens Crayons Erasers July 28th Youth Ministry of Renaissance Baptist Church (Min. Pamela Jenkins) August 25th Vernon Chapel AME Church (Linda Frazier) September 22, 2013-First Baptist of Ypsilanti (Joyette Ward) October 28th It s never too early to plan to serve. If you can bring and serve a light supper for about people between 4 and 6 p.m., call Kim at FYI We are unable to contact Ms. Linda Frazier of Vernon Chapel AME Church, so we may need a replacement church for August 25th Sunday Supper. Please call the office to apply for