Christian Friends of New Americans

Prayer Partner Letter

June 2008

   We praise God for…

·         His patience!  “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance”.

2 Peter 3:9

·         St. John's, Arnold and their recently initiated ministries among immigrants and refugees through ESL and Citizenship classes, in partnership with CFNA.

·         Three congregations (Gethsemane, St. Johns, Morganford; and Faith, Oakville) that are giving serious consideration to the possibility of initiating ministry among immigrants and refugees through ESL and citizenship classes.

·         The approval of a grant by the Missouri District that will enable CFNA to enlist the services of a highly qualified missionary for work among immigrants and refugees.

·         The enrollment of approximately 20 immigrant and refugee students in Lutheran elementary schools, and six students in Lutheran High South via the Lutheran Foundation funded, and CFNA sponsored Scholarship Assistance Program for the coming academic year.

·         A fun night at the Talent Show, and especially for all the excellent musical performances.

·         We praise God for the baptism of an Afghani man on May 4th.  He was tortured by the Taliban and spent three and a half years in prison before coming to America with his family.  He told the congregation that they are very fortunate to be in America and asked them to pray for Afghanistan.

·         The miracle seen in the life of a Bosnian woman!  This woman had a sizable mass on her kidney, and a biopsy revealed that it was cancerous.  Her doctor even moved up her surgery to accommodate the schedule of a kidney specialist willing to assist.  Many prayers were offered on her behalf.  Post surgery, this woman was told that the mass was non-cancerous.  What a blessing from God!

·         The baptism of Salman, a young man from Kunama Eritrea, on April 20 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

·         Blessing several students with their citizenship:  Floyd from Jamaica, Anna from Slovakia, and Smail from Bosnia.

·         The well attended Health Education and Screening on May 3rd at the Peace Center for New Americans, and the many volunteers - drivers, doctors, nurses, dieticians, and others, that gave so generously of their time and talents.  The great leadership of many New Americans in this health program.

·         The partnership with the LCMS Center for Hispanic Studies, and with them, the opportunity to connect, through ESL Classes, three Latinos: a man and two women.

    We ask God for…

·         More volunteers to serve at the Peace Center as teachers for ESL, citizenship and computer classes. Recently more immigrants have stepped forward to request these services.

·         Favorable consideration as recently submitted grants enter the review and evaluation process by prospective donor agencies.

·         Help for a CFNA volunteer as he helps a newly baptized Afghan man walk in his faith.

·         Guidance for a small group at Faith, Oakville as they consider initiating citizenship classes.

·         Blessings as this newly baptized Afghani man begins his journey of faith, to bless his family, and to bless his fellow Afghani people here in America and in Afghanistan, most of all with the Gospel.

·         Continued support for Our Redeemer Lutheran congregation, and especially for His intervention in the outreach effort to the African communities. 

·         Continued support for an Afghan family (mother and 3 children) that after 7 years the father will be  allowed to come to the United States.

·         Intervention in the case of a family who desperately wants to find an individual or church willing to sponsor their adult daughter living as a refugee in a Middle Eastern country so she is able to come to the US.

·         The gift of understanding, acceptance and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word by many, many more “tribal” people in POBLO’s newest ministry in the Chattisgarh State in North Central India.

·         Guidance and wisdom in the ongoing planning and the operation of the Health Program, and for more volunteers for the follow-up work and to help with the assessments.

·         Guidance and wisdom for the ongoing grant writing process.

·         Guidance, wisdom, and unflagging zeal as we seek to plant gospel seeds.

·         Unity in the French speaking African community.  May the Holy Spirit guide them and show them that “Peace is the way”.

·         His blessing on the Vietnamese Ministry and Pastor Vo.

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Christian Friends of New Americans

Peace Center for New Americans:  4019 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63118

Business Office:  2900 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63118, 314-771-7716

E-mail: mail@cfna-stl.org     Website: www.cfna-stl.org

Serving LCMS congregations for purposes of cross-cultural ministry among immigrants and refugees in the greater St. Louis area.