outreach
Bethlehem's Refugee Sponsorship ELCA World Hunger
For refugee families who resettle in Minnesota,
adjusting to life in a new place and culture
presents distinct challenges. Learning about
schools, mass transit systems, grocery stores,
banks and running new households can be
overwhelming – especially on top of all of the
other complex emotions that come with starting
life over in a new place. Did you know...
To help ease the transition and to demonstrate
Christ’s love for our neighbors, the Bethlehem
community will sponsor a refugee family or
families in the Twin Cities in 2017, in partnership with Lutheran Social Services
(LSS). We are in the process of organizing a sponsorship group and small mentor
team for one family. Our plan is to surround this family with care, help them
with basic survival skills and provide financial support to help cover their rent
for six months.
LSS will coach our church mentor team,
plus offer a range of services to the family–
connecting them with available benefits,
English as a second language class and
school enrollment.
We intend to learn as we go through this process and– we expect– scale to
support an additional family or families in coming months.
If you are interested in getting involved, we’d love to hear from you!
Opportunit ies to help include:
• Serve on a “nesting team” to help make new homes comfortable and
welcoming;
• Meet a family at the airport
• Lead conversation groups at Bethlehem
• Serve on a core mentor team
• Share meals and more
Financial support also is very helpful as we must raise funds in advance of each
family’s sponsorship in order to be matched with a family.
Please reach out to Stephanie Kraynick for more information:
[email protected].
• Nearly 800 million
people – that's 1 in 9
people in our world
today – are hungry.
• 795 million people
around the world –
that’s 1 in 10 – can't
access the food they
need to live active,
healthy lives.
• 1 billion people live in extreme
poverty on less than $1.25 per day.
That's 14.5% of the world's population.
• At some point in 2014, more than 48
million people in the US were unsure
where their next meal might come
from.
ELCA World Hunger, Bethlehem's May
Ministry in Mission partner, works
with congregations and organizations
both locally and globally to help meet
basic needs and provide immediate
relief to those who are hungry.
From health clinics to microloans, food
pantries to soup kitchens, advocacy to
community organizing, funds donated
by Bethlehem and other partner
congregations and organizations are
supporting meaningful solutions that
get at the root causes of hunger.
For more information about ELCA
World Hunger go to elca.org/hunger.
*Statistics taken from elca.org/hunger
HMCHA Trip Meeting Date Change!
Join us to learn more about the fall trip to Ethiopia with
HMCHA- tentative trip dates: 9/21-10/6.
MPLS Information Meeting- April 30, 10:30 am
MTKA Information Meeting- May 7, 10:45 am
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