Night with Neighbors
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Actively Participating
“Pastor Stanish, can you please pick up my family and friends tomorrow so that I can go to the Church?” This was the immediate reply when I called Bariam Osman, a New American child from Eritrea. Bariam, together with her brothers and sisters, have been accessing the services offered at the CFNA Peace Center during the past couple of years.
Bariam’s desire was to participate in the “Night with Neighbors” outreach program organized by Christ Memorial Lutheran Church’s urban St. Louis satellite congregation, Reliant Church. Members worship Sundays at the Crave Coffee House located immediately adjacent to the campus of St. Louis University. This special neighborhood outreach ministry was offered each of the four Tuesdays in June. Bariam, who along with her friends and siblings, attended all of the events, wanted to go yet again even though the “Night with Neighbors” program had ended.
Bariam’s joy in being at Reliant Church is precisely the kind of response for which the pastor and Reliant members were hoping. Reliant’s “Night with Neighbors” was their unique way of reaching out to their neighbors in urban St. Louis with the message of Christ’s love and blessing. To accomplish this, volunteer drivers picked up refugee kids from CFNA, took them to the Church for the event, and then returned them to their homes.
Through their generous gift of time and effort, the members of Reliant impacted the lives of 15-20 New American kid and others living in the city, making them feel welcome and blessed.
Aluda Dabi, together with the members of her family, arrived in St. Louis a few years ago as refugees from Eritrea. At the conclusion of “Nights for Neighbors” her comment was – “it was so much fun, and we learned about Jesus.”
Fully engaged
Through teaching of Christian songs, sharing Bible based messages of hope in engaging ways, and providing numerous crafts and games, Reliant Church made Christ come alive in the lives of these New American kids – and others as well.CFNA greatly appreciates all of this, and gives thanks to Rev. Bobby Walston and the Reliant members for including these
New American kids from CFNA in this act of Christian love, acceptance and kindness.
By Rev. Dr. Stanish Stanley Christ Memorial Lutheran Church
