Vern Gunderman - Volunteer Of The Month

Volunteer of the Month

REV. VERN GUNDERMANN

rev. vern gundermann (left) with dr. john lautenschlager at the cfna walk-a-thon.

As a pastor of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, Reverend Vern Gundermann has served parishes in Arcadia, IA, Madison, WI, Plymouth, MN and Kirkwood, MO. Presently he serves as the administrator of Pastoral Care for Lutheran Senior Services.

His more than 50 years of service include nearly 10 years as a CFNA Associate. Here he shares his experience as a volunteer reaching out to New Americans.

“My paternal grandparents arrived in America in 1886, and were welcomed by Christian friends and relatives. We descendants are committed to be as welcoming as they were welcomed.

“Those grandparents would also welcome 13 children into this new land from the farm they settled in Fulda, Minnesota. I was born in that farm house as well. My brother still farms that land, and they are now welcoming new Americans from many places into this rural area.

“How much more significant is it that we welcome new Americans into our great city. It is a joy for me to serve on the steering committee, provide some of the devotions and Bible Studies at the Peace Center and to be in support of activities like the golf tournament to help fund our efforts serving as Christian Friends of New Americans!“

Thanks Vern, for your commitment and your service! 

An Ascension Celebration

By Pastor Matt Clark

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.” Acts 1:8-9

The action in this reading from Acts 1 takes place at Jesus’ ascension. Sadly, Ascension Day has been called the “forgotten festival” by some. Jesus’ ascension up into His Father’s presence forty days after Easter is often overlooked, and few congregations hold worship services to celebrate this event.

But there was recently much celebrating on Ascension Day at Ascension Lutheran Church in St. Louis! There, a special Ascension service was held, sponsored by three St. Louis congregations: Ascension, St. Johns, and Timothy. The service was held outdoors, under the same sky into which Jesus ascended.

What made this service truly special was the baptisms of twelve Nepalese new Americans and the confirmations of 14 Nepalese new Americans. The baptisms and confirmations were administered by Pastor Matt Clark with Pastors Michael Tanney, Bill Wilson, and Chris Agne assisting. Nepali Evangelist Gagan Gurung translated the rites of Baptism and Confirmation into Nepali. In partnership with CFNA, these new Americans have found a home at Ascension and a home in the family of God as baptized brothers and sisters in Christ.

On Ascension Day 2015, it was moving to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ being spread “to the ends of the earth,” right here in St. Louis!

Special thanks for photos provided by Sarah Gibbs!  Click HERE for more wonderful photos!

Rev. Allan buckman standing to the left of gagan gurung, who serves as the nepali ministry facilitator. with them are some of those who were baptized and/or confirmed on ascension day. the others were baptized and/or confirmed previously, and all have been recipients of services provided by CFNA.

Ethiopian/Eritrean Bible Fellowship

Some of the members of the Bible fellowship. Rev. Workeneh is in the back row, second from the right.

We are an Ethiopian and Eritrean Evangelical Church of Mekane Yesus (The Lutheran Body in Africa) first generation American immigrant fellowship body. At the heart of our Mekane Yesus Church is the foundation of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ that cannot be earned, bought, or produced; it is given to us freely and without any strings attached. We celebrate this love that surrounds and fills us individually every day, and through our fellowship program each Saturday from 5:00- 6:30 pm at the CFNA Peace Center. These weekly gatherings provide the opportunity for earnest Bible study, prayer, mutual encouragement and service.

Our Purpose is to connect Ethiopian and Eritrean members of the Mekane Yesus Church now living in St. Louis for purposes of spiritual nurture, Bible study, encouragement and service.

Our Vision

1. Reach Ethiopian and Eritrean people in and around St. Louis with the Word of God, readying them for the fulfillment of their great commission and for the expansion of the His Kingdom.

2. Plant at least one Ethiopian and Eritrean congregation in St. Louis.

3. Nurture the children of God through preaching, teaching, and training.

4. Serve the people of God according to their ages, spiritual level, and spiritual gifts.

5. To serve the greater community through holistic ministry, especially as regards the betterment of children and disadvantaged people, for purposes of deepening their identity in Christ.

For more information please contact Pastor Theodros Workeneh 571-340-5047 tedypsycho@yahoo.com

After School Tutoring 2014-2015

tutors and students. our thanks to thrivent for their support of this event

The 2014-15 tutoring year came to a close on Tuesday, May 19, with more than 70 New American students and tutors participating in a closing devotion at the Peace Center. This was followed by a five block walk to Ted Drews where delicious frozen custard was enjoyed by all. After returning to the Peace Center, special awards of encouragement and affirmation were presented to the students.

students enjoy some great ted drews frozen custard!

Sixty four tutoring sessions were offered this academic year, with an average of 30 New American students in attendance per session. They represent numerous birth nations including Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Yemen and more. More than 100 New American students participated, of whom 70 percent identify themselves as Christians. Of that number 38, together with their families, now regularly attend Lutheran congregations in the vicinity; primarily Ascension and Timothy Lutheran Churches. In addition, students from the Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist communities were also regular participants.

Many thanks and much appreciation go to the approximately 25 volunteer tutors, including several Concordia Seminary students, who offered their services throughout the year. Several of these are now multiple year participants, which has brought much needed stability to this ministry. Our thanks also to the 25 Pastors from numerous area Lutheran congregations who provided thoughtful, interesting and Bible based devotions throughout the year.

Rev. Stanish Stanley, CFNA Executive Director, served as the coordinator for this ministry for a second year in a row. His outstanding servant leadership assured the continuing high quality of this program. We extend our sincere thanks to him, and to the members of his very fine family.

(from information provided by Sandy Gerber)

Samuel Neal

On Sunday, April 19, Samuel was baptized into the Christian faith at Timothy Lutheran Church, St. Louis, MO, where he is now a member.

Samuel was born on May 5, 1998 in Monrovia, Liberia. He grew up there with his parents, attended school faithfully and played soccer – his favorite sport. Earlier this year he came to America, arriving in St. Louis on February 10.

He came to get a better education and attends Roosevelt High School in St. Louis city. Of course, he plays soccer and that is how he became part of the CFNA network, having joined the team organized by CFNA Associate, Tim Schrader.

Tim invited Samuel to worship at Timothy Lutheran Church, an invitation Samuel accepted. It should be noted that Samuel is only one of many New Americans to have received an invitation from Tim. Indeed, there are now several young New Americans attending Timothy who have travelled the same route.

Tim describes Samuel as, “always smiling and friendly. He lets his light shine wherever he goes.” Samuel’s plans include completion of high school and after becoming a US citizen, joining the Marines. Please join CFNA in welcoming Samuel to Timothy, St. Louis and the Lutheran community.

From information provided by Tim Schrader.

After School Tutoring Workshop

Tutoring workshops, capably led by Rev. Stanish Stanley, have done much to strengthen the growing After School Tutoring (AST) program at the Peace Center located in South St. Louis city. Even though CFNA has been blessed with a sizeable number of capable volunteer tutors, it is always in the process of recruiting more as student participation continues to grow.

Approximately 100 New American elementary and secondary school students from eight different birth nations (Nepal, Bhutan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Yemen) participate in the AST program. They are tutored and mentored by volunteers from LCMS congregations, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis University, Vianney High School and elsewhere. All of the tutors recognize this as an excellent opportunity to share their academic knowledge as well as their faith. All of them also appreciate these opportunities to personally get to know and befriend these New American students.

These workshops have been offered on a regular basis, most recently on February 15th and March 22nd. They serve as excellent venues to meet, greet, share tutoring experiences and provide critical insight for the improvement of this ministry. Encouragement and fellowship are definitely a part of these gatherings, all of it very much enhanced by pot luck suppers complete with ethnic specialties.

Skill giving, capacity building and new ideas are always a part of the workshops. For example, the “parachute game” recently suggested by Marge Schrieber quickly caught on with the students (see video below!).

No workshop would be complete without expressions of appreciation for the work of these committed servants. To be sure, CFNA remains deeply grateful for the services of these gifted and generous people.

From information provided by Rev. Stanish Stanley

Timothy & Immanuel Servant Event

Thank You Timothy & Immanuel!

Helping sort and catalog documents

On Sunday April 19th, confirmation age youth from Timothy Lutheran Church in St. Louis and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Festus joined forces to provide some service for Christian Friends of New Americans. It is a great time of year to do a little spring cleaning, and that is exactly what these youth did.

Youth from both churches blended together to get to know each other, and fulfill the tasks at hand. They swept and mopped floors, cleaned banisters and bathrooms, organized files, and did an amazing job sprucing up the art room. In just two hours the youth made a remarkable difference. Moreover, three of the students were themselves New Americans who had been beneficiaries of programs offered at the Peace Center. They had come to add their contribution and “payback”.

It was also a great opportunity to learn about the Lord’s mission at Christian Friends of New Americans. As the groups arrived, they were taught about the role of CFNA in the community, and they were able to greet some of the people who were assembled for an afternoon worship service. The experience was certainly one that allowed the youth to see the Lord at work through them, and in the life of immigrant families. Thank you, Lord, for what you do at CFNA. Thank you, youth, for serving in the Lord’s name.

By: Rev. Kyle Castens

Richard Leigh - Associate Of The Month

CFNA ASSOCIATE OF THE MONTHI was born in 1947 in Pasadena, California to unchurched parents, though my mother was a closet Christian having answered an altar call less than a decade earlier. With no objections from my father, she followed her parents’ practice by sending me to the nearest Sunday school in the neighborhood. This, however, did not last beyond my ninth year. Shortly thereafter I decided for atheism, while a small urge for Christ still remained somewhere in my heart.

I was as yet unbaptized and having been encouraged by one of my cousins, I began to read the Bible. I was finally to come to faith when at the age of eleven my mother took me and my two sisters to the nearest church, St. Paul’s Lutheran in Monrovia, California. There I heard the call to baptism, which I heeded. After marriage and the start of our family, we transferred our membership to a neighboring LCMS congregation.

My college education began at a community college, followed by a B.A. degree in behavioral science from California Polytechnic University. Later I received an M.A. in historical theology from the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago (LSTC). Throughout my college career I enjoyed working with foreign students, and assisted several with English as a Second Language instruction, so that they might better prepare their class lessons.

While working as a case manager for Preferred Family in St. Louis I formed an instant relationship with Rev. Eddie Mekasha, who introduced me to CFNA. After my retirement in 2013 I began working with this mission agency on a steady part time basis. Because CFNA serves many nationalities, this has been an excellent place to further utilize my case management skills – primarily by assisting New Americans with medical assistance and government paperwork issues. I also help them resolve problems with utility companies and landlords, and from time to time I help provide transportation.

I find most fulfilling however, opportunities to help teach home Bible studies, and anything else having to do with the growing relationship between many New Americans and Jesus Christ.

Andy Lonigro

IN MEMORIAM

Andy was born November 6, 1957 in Saint Louis, Missouri, and was raised on “The Hill” by his parents Rose Marie and Sam Lonigro. He attended St. Louis Public Schools and graduated from Southwest High School in 1975.

For several years, Andy worked for his father as an insurance agent. He loved sports of all kinds, but especially hockey. A patient person committed to helping others, he was always there to listen and love without judgment.

Andy became a confirmed member of Ascension Lutheran Church on Sunday, July 14, 2013; an event he regarded as a highlight of his life. He came to feel truly accepted there and often remarked that when he was feeling down, the three things that always made him feel better were prayer, going to church and volunteer service.

Andy was a regular at the Peace Center where he served on Tuesday evenings as a volunteer tutor for the After School Tutoring program. There and at Ascension he became acquainted with several of the New Americans from Nepal, and he always enjoyed their company. Indeed, their "We Love You" card remained predominantly displayed on the wall of his apartment, along with his Ascension confirmation certificate and his CFNA certificate of appreciation.

Having battled cancer and other health issues for an extended period, on Sunday, March 8, Andy passed safely into the arms of Jesus. He will be missed.

Jestina Brewah - Student Of The Month

Student of the Month

Jestina Brewah came to St. Louis in July 2014 with her mother to visit her uncle Gerald Brewah and his family. While Ebola was already affecting some of the provinces in her home country of Sierra Leone, it was not perceived as a major threat. Unfortunately during their visit, the Ebola virus began spreading rapidly with devastating effects in Sierra Leone. All schools and colleges in the country were closed and Jestina and her mother were granted temporary protected status in the United States. Returning to Sierra Leone during the height of the epidemic would have been dangerous.

Jestina had been attending an all-girls school and studying English in Sierra Leone. She started school as a junior at University City High School in the Fall Semester and then transferred to Lutheran South with a CFNA scholarship for the Spring Semester. She found the Lutheran South students and teachers to be both warm and welcoming, and she's grateful that her education in Sierra Leone prepared her to be successful at academically rigorous Lutheran South.

Jestina and her Mom will remain in the United States, staying with Gerald Brewah until she finishes her senior year at Lutheran South. She is also considering the possibility of attending an American college when she graduates.

By: Judith Meyer

Kitebridge

Engaging New Americans in Service

New American Teens Succeed in Lutheran High Schools After Committing to Serve

James Gayeyou, Marchello Kaka and Henry Manu have upgraded the value of their education by making a commitment to serve. Their willingness to serve has opened up new opportunities as they are now making progress in their new Christian Lutheran college-prep high school.

All three of these hard working guys were attending public high schools when we found out about the Kitebridge program. The students and their families were not happy with the education, opportunities and environment at their high school. Unfortunately they could not afford a private school even with support from church and CFNA. That changed when they agreed to serve other newcomers to the United States and St. Louis. The program, called Kitebridge, recruits international students who live in St. Louis during the school year to attend Lutheran High School North (LHSN) & South (LHSS). They benefit from domestic students helping acculturate them and support their English language growth. Dorm Mentors like James, Marchello and Henry benefit from the tuition assistance that allows them to attend LHSN or LHSS.

Henry is a sophomore at LHSS and plays on the basketball team. He is a great athlete who will be helping the Lancers for the next two seasons! James is a sophomore at LHSN where he has been so impressive in wrestling that he was selected for the state qualifying tournament. Marchello, former Word of Life Lutheran School athlete, is a sophomore at LHSN and has been playing soccer and basketball. All three students benefit not only from our great Lutheran High Schools, but they also receive tutoring assistance and college planning services from Kitebridge.

It’s not just James, Henry and Marchello who are excited to have this opportunity. Their families are also thrilled. I went with James’ mother, Elizabeth, to see James wrestle and check out his new school. She was so proud after seeing his school and meeting the teachers and coaches who spoke highly of James. She also toured the new apartment complex that serves as their dorms and school support facility. There she met the on-site Kitebridge staff, as well as his Chinese roommate. Elizabeth was overwhelmed with these new opportunities for her son.

As CFNA, with its partners, continues to strengthen the Kitebridge link, it is anticipated additional New American students will become the beneficiaries of this effort.

Mark Thompson, DCE Timothy Lutheran Church - dce@timothystl.org

Katuwal Family

Tal and Maya Katuwal Family

Maya, govin, trenika, and tal with gagan gurung

Among some of the most recent newcomers to St. Louis are the Tal and Maya Katuwal family, having arrived January 27.

Both had been expelled from Bhutan while they were children, along with thousands of others. For more than 20 years they have lived in a refugee camp in Nepal. That is where they met, where they were married, and that is where daughter Trenika and son Govin were born.

Though they have been St. Louis residents for less than a month, Tal has already stepped up to assist the CFNA Home Furnishings Team with moving furniture, and Trenika and Govin have begun attending the After School Tutoring program at the Peace Center. The family is also considering the possibility of participating in the New Life Fellowship which meets regularly Sunday mornings at the Peace Center for worship.

Pictured in the photo is Nepali Ministry Facilitator, Gagan Gurung (right), delivering a welcome package to the Katuwal family. Included are blankets (large package – compliments of Lutherans in the St. Louis area), as well as personal items, cookies and candy in the smaller package.

Please join us in welcoming the Tal and Maya Katuwal family.

From information provided by Gagan Gurung

What Does This Mean?

By Pastor Matt Clark

Pastor clark and evangelist gurung with the class. note the nepali copies of luther’s small catechism.

What does this mean? Perhaps many of us became familiar with this question during our confirmation instruction. In Luther’s Small Catechism, this question is asked again and again as Martin Luther unpacks the meaning of the chief teachings of the Christian faith; such as the Ten Commandments, The Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, Confession and Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper. Since 1529, this book, and its Bible-based answers to “What does this mean?” has helped make, and strengthen, disciples of Jesus Christ.

What does this mean? This question is currently being asked, and answered, on a weekly basis at the Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) Peace Center. Every Saturday afternoon, a group of about ten Nepali youth and adults eagerly gather to learn the key teachings of the faith in both English and Nepali. An extension of Ascension Lutheran Church in St. Louis, this bi-lingual class is taught by Pastor Matt Clark and translated into Nepali by Ascension’s Nepali Evangelist, Gagan Gurung.

Would Luther have ever imagined that his Small Catechism would be translated into Nepali and be used to instruct refugees who now call St. Louis home? Probably not, and yet, the Lord is working through CFNA and area Lutheran congregations to do just that. This Saturday afternoon confirmation class is just one of many examples of God working through perhaps formerly unimaginable partnerships. Partnerships that help new Americans answer a simple, yet vital, question when it comes to their relationship with their Savior, specifically, “What does this mean?”

New CFNA Secretary

A New CFNA Secretary

Rev. Michael Okine

Christian Friends of New Americans is pleased to introduce Rev. Michael Okine as its new Secretary, a position filled for several years by Dr. Al Senske. Presently, Rev. Okine serves as Pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in urban St. Louis.

Born on June 5, 1959 in Accra, Ghana (West Africa) to Mr. Jacob and Mrs. Comfort Okine, Mike is one of nine children; five sons and four daughters. Rev. Okine’s father was a high school teacher, who later became the Principal of the school in which he had taught. With nine children, his mother was a busy housewife.

Having attended primary and secondary schools in Accra, Rev. Okine received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Ghana in 1982, and subsequently taught high school level math in Accra for three years. In 1985 he was recruited by the highly respected West African Examinations Council to serve as its Registrar. In 1994 he left that position to work as Audience Relations Secretary for The Lutheran Media Ministry; the Ghana branch of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Three years later Rev. Okine enrolled at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, to begin work on an M.Div. degree, and after graduating was accepted at the University of Houston where he began work on a Masters degree in Communications. He completed this degree in 2003 and in 2006 accepted the call to serve as the Pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church.

Rev. Okine married his beautiful wife, Joan, in Accra on December 19, 1992. Their marriage has been blessed with three children: Eve, a Lutheran High School South graduate and now a student (psychology major) at the University of Missouri; John, a junior at LHSS; and Jude, presently an elementary school student in St. Louis.

Please join us in welcoming Rev. Okine as the Secretary for CFNA.

From information received from Rev. Okine

Caring Ministries - Partner Of The Month

PARTNER OF THE MONTH

Caring Ministries, Inc.

Cyril Loum hands CFNA chairman, Allan buckman a donation from caring ministries

For Caring Ministries, providing for the care of God’s people – especially New Americans – is a top priority. They therefore partner with like minded ministries to make this become a reality, and among these is Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA). Both entities are committed to cross cultural ministry among New Americans and for both, this partnership has served as a “mission multiplier”.

The joint effort strongly features two primary services; employment assistance for New American adults and scholarship assistance for their children. CFNA now links with well over 200 New Americans per year, many of whom are seeking jobs. For these New Americans, Caring Ministries provides much needed employment training with a focus on enhancing job search and job interview skills.While CFNA has provided scholarship assistance for the annual enrollment of between 25 - 30 New American students in Lutheran schools during the past several years, Caring Ministries has been pleased to provide some of the donor funds required to secure matching funds from the Lutheran Foundation.

The Lord has truly blessed this joint effort in that a growing number of New Americans have been assisted in their job search. Additionally, there have been no school drop outs among the scholarship students, and over 70% of the New American families with children in Lutheran schools have become members of Lutheran congregations.

Please join Caring Ministries and CFNA in praising our Lord for His many blessings on this effort.

From information provided by Cyril Loum

Building Community

What happens when hundreds of volunteers from 26 St. Louis-area Lutheran congregations come together to serve immigrants and refugees new to the community? Friendships are formed. Lives are transformed. Community is built.

Project "Winter Warm Up for Refugees"

Thrivent Action Team and CFNA

In addition to Thrivent’s support, CFNA asked for donations of blankets and heaters from Concordia, Kirkwood and the Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens. About 50 blankets and 2 heaters were generously donated, plus money to buy blankets. A $250 Visa card provided by Thrivent was used to buy heaters from Amazon.com and 6 blankets at Walmart, Kirkwood.

To left, Adult English as a Second Language teacher, Jane Hewitt explains to the class how to use the heater safely. Blankets and quilts were given at our Health & Wellness screening, worship services, and home visits.

To right, Happy refugees and immigrants at the Peace Center headquarters of Christian Friends of New Americans are carrying out their much needed “Winter Warm Up” supplies. Prayerfully consider volunteering to share Christ’s love with refugees from Iran, Jordan, Sudan, Nepal, Afghanistan and around the world. Questions: Call Carol (314) 517-8513.

Nepali Christmas Service

On Christmas Day, New Life Fellowship, a satellite of Ascension Lutheran Church, celebrated a great Christmas worship event at the Peace Center. The special service included many unique features, such as a multitude of decorations (two lighted Christmas trees in the altar area, plus balloons, banners, and ribbons inside the building and out), special songs, Christian dances and of course, a sermon provided by the Evangelist and Nepali Ministry Facilitator, Gagan Gurung.

The entire worship event was conducted in the Nepali language, and with more than 75 people in attendance, it was the largest service of New Life Fellowship’s eight-month existence. Interestingly, most of the participants were recent St. Louis arrivals, many from within the past six to eight months, and some from within just the past few weeks.

In addition to prayers and hymns, the service also featured multiple dances - a common worship feature in Nepal, as well as in many Lutheran congregations in India. Commitment to this part of the service can be gauged from the fact that many of the dancers practiced for two months in advance of the service!

The fellowship time immediately following the worship event featured cake and punch.

May our Lord continue to richly bless the good efforts of Evangelist Gurung and the members of New Life Fellowship.

From information and photos provided by Gagan Gurung.

More Recent Arrivals

BUDDHI & CHAMPA MONGAR & FAMILY

gagan, buddhi, yuba, abinash and champa

Please join us in welcoming Buddhi and Champa Mongar and family. Thursday, December 11, 2014 was their St. Louis arrival date, and the CFNA welcome package shown in the photo was delivered to them shortly thereafter.

Parents Buddhi and Champa were born in Bhutan and along with thousands of others, fled that country during the time of the forced Nepali exodus approximately 20 years ago. Children Yuba and Abinash were born while the family lived in a Nepali refugee camp.

The Mongars are a Christian family, and since their arrival have been attending an evangelical church in the St. Louis area, along with other members of their extended family. Pictured with them is Gagan Gurung, the CFNA Nepali Ministry Facilitator.

Recent Arrivals

TIL & MON GURUNG & FAMILY

gagan, til, mon, gurab, bhumika and surab

Among recent arrivals in St. Louis from the refugee camps in Nepal are Til and Mon Gurung, together with their three children Gurab, Bhumika and Surab. Within two weeks of their arrival CFNA was pleased to offer them a warm welcome. In addition to the collection of personal items shown in the photo, they were provided with warm blankets.

Shown in the photo with the family is Gagan Gurung, who serves with CFNA as the Nepali Ministry Facilitator. Til and Mon, together with their children, are baptized Christians and now attend New Life Fellowship which is led by Gagan. The Fellowship meets regularly at the Peace Center.

Please join us in welcoming this Gurung family to St. Louis and to the Lutheran community. We ask that you keep them in your prayers - especially Mon who struggles with hearing and speech disabilities.