Hope In Action
/How Your Support Helped a Family in Distress
In February, CFNA reached out to its ministry supporters with an urgent appeal to help refugees resettling in St. Louis. New arrivals within the last 3 to 6 months were seeking safety and stability. The burden of rent and utility bills, and healthcare payments led to many resettled families becoming hard pressed as they struggled to make ends meet.
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When CFNA reached out to seek support from our fellow believers, the response from our churches and supporters was overwhelming. Through your generosity, we raised around $10,000 and received grocery gift cards from various compassionate donors. Churches like Christ Memorial Lutheran and others ran in-kind donation collections of essential household items and hygiene supplies in their churches to support refugee families. This act of kindness reminds us of the scriptural reminder to act – “If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" (James 2:16).
One family who directly benefited from the funds was Faliala and his family of 9, who resettled in St. Louis 4 months ago. On top of struggling to find a job, Faliala was given a disconnection notice for his electric connection. With cold conditions persisting in St. Louis, and with almost no English speaking ability, Faliala did not know what to do. Advised by one of his friends to go to CFNA, he soon enrolled into the ESL and Driver’s Ed. classes and began working to improve his skills to apply for jobs. Even as Faliala took steps to address his long-term problem, his immediate need to pay the disconnection bill remained. Thankfully, through the emergency fund, CFNA was able to cover the bill, keeping Faliala’s family warm and safe during February and March. “Thank you so much….My family safe now…” he told us.
Other friends like Faliala have also been approaching CFNA for help. Currently, we have helped, or are in the process of supporting, around 10 families with emergency assistance requests. A similar number of families have also been blessed with in-kind house-use items assistance as well. Thanks to your generosity, families who were faced with uncertainty have found stability. Furthermore, this financial giving encompasses a larger message of acting in compassion, a reflection of Christ’s love in action - "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).
To those who gave, thank you. Your kindness has touched lives in deep and impactful ways. As we continue to walk alongside our refugee neighbors, we invite you to keep partnering with us—through prayer, service, and ongoing support. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of the “least among us!”
by Pastor Stanish Stanley
CFNA Executive Director
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If you’d like to support families in need, please consider making a financial contribution at https://www.cfna-stl.org/donate.
