New Dimensions

Today the United States is the third largest mission field in the world. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (November 23, 2015), “Since 2002, nearly 800,000 refugees have resettled in the United States. More than 14,000 have come to Missouri… according to data from the U.S. /Department of States Refugee Processing Center. In that period, refugees have traveled to Missouri from 48 different countries; most have resettled in the city of St. Louis.” The growth of New Americans into St. Louis continues. CFNA, along with its partner organization, POBLO, play a major role in serving their new neighbors. In 2015 alone, CFNA had contacts with more than 150 New Americans.

The dedicated men and women who volunteer their time and talents to CFNA do an outstanding job of providing with the help of translators monthly medical screenings that include testing for issues having to do with vision, diabetes, hearing, blood pressure, nutrition, and more. There are follow up appointments and education.

On Saturday morning, March 12, Rita Nickel and her team will provide an exciting and practical approach to medical education. There will be no shortage of laughter as Rita shares her real life experiences! These are simple health lessons, to be facilitated by non-health care professionals containing culturally appropriate information about a specific health issues prevalent and troubling among those coming to CFNA’s screenings. The lessons are shared in such a way that the New Americans and the St Louis Americans participating in the classes can take what they learned back into the refugee families and communities, sharing and teaching friends and neighbors how to make much needed life style changes.

The four-hour workshop will explain and demonstrate the LePSAS Teaching Approach, designed for both health care workers as well as those with NO medical training. The goal is to positively impact the lives of those attending and those whom they in turn teach and mentor. The partnership of volunteers and New Americans, reaching outside of themselves and learning side by side, is a transformational experience that will alter everyone’s world view. More info at http://blogs.lcms.org/2015/webinar-missionaries-without-passports

Space is limited. Call early and pray much.