Reflections on Immigrant/Refugee Ministry

rev. ron rall (r) with rev. bill wilson after a baptism service

During his 30 years of ministry as Senior Pastor at Timothy Lutheran Church, Rev. Ron Rall has witnessed many changes. Here he offers his reflections regarding Timothy’s growing ministry among immigrants and refugees.

Timothy Lutheran Church has been richly blessed through our ministry to the immigrant and refugee community here in St. Louis. Our partnership with CFNA has been a key part of this ministry and we have been working together for many years. Clearly God has orchestrated what has happened in this outreach so that today we have 16 African nations represented in our congregation, as well as a number of other countries. Incorporating these nations into fellowship has been a joy and a challenge. It is truly a joy to see this multitude of nations join their voices in praise to God in our worship on Sunday mornings.

These New Americans come to this country and to St. Louis with very little and have significant needs. It is a huge challenge for them to navigate through the various social systems they encounter to meet the needs they have. Housing, transportation, education, health care, employment, and the English language are all issues that need to be addressed. If a congregation desires to bring the Gospel to the immigrants, it undertakes the responsibility of assisting with these and other needs. We have been blessed with the assistance of CFNA in addressing these needs and in the participation of many congregational members who have been using their spiritual gifts to serve the Lord and others in this ministry.

We now have almost 40 immigrant children attending Word of Life Lutheran School and almost all of them need transportation to get to school. We have a “fleet” of vans that carry out this important service every school day and also on Sundays. Together with Trinity Lutheran Church we have established Caring Ministries, which is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing for our immigrant families by rehabbing homes that immigrants can purchase.

The New Americans enrich our congregation in many ways. They provide a diversity that gives us a glimpse of what heaven will be like. They also use their spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ so that together we can glorify our Creator and Redeemer. We pray that our partnership with CFNA will continue to prosper and enable us to reach those whom God brings into our community with the saving Gospel of Jesus.