Welcome Amelia!

Editor’s Note: Amelia Oesch has joined CFNA to serve as coordinator for our Friend-a-Family ministry. Here, by way of introduction, she tells us a little about herself. So please help us welcome her. 

Amelia

My name is Amelia Oesch, and I will be stepping in here at CFNA as the Friend-a-Family program coordinator! I graduated from Concordia University Irvine in 2021 with my bachelor's degree in behavioral science with a double concentration in anthropology and psychology. I'm here in St. Louis with my husband now for the next year as he studies at Concordia Seminary to earn his Master of Divinity. He is currently finishing up his first year (out of 4)! In addition to my position at CFNA, I also serve as Reliant Church's college ministry and communications coordinator part-time. Ministry is a passion of mine, and I am blessed to be able to serve in multiple facets for this season of life.   

Growing up in Orange County, California, I took interest in cross-cultural ministry from a young age. From having neighbors who spoke different languages than I did, to hearing stories from missionary family members of mine, to meeting others from different countries, I've always been keen to learn more about life outside of what I know. Some of my cross-cultural experiences include a 3-week cultural observation/ministry trip to Togo and Burkina Faso in West Africa — where my team and I spent time with pastors and people in the village simply learning about the growth of the church happening in this part of the world — as well as a study abroad semester in Quito, Ecuador in 2018, where I lived with an Ecuadorian family for a month, volunteered once a week at a local non-profit for sexually exploited women, and took classes on intercultural communication, Spanish, and spiritual formation, to name a few.  

The Friend-a-Family program here at CFNA is a wonderful opportunity to gain cross-cultural experience in addition to helping those in need. I couldn't be more excited to partner not only with the Afghan families who have struggled to obtain refuge, but also with the big-hearted volunteers this program generates. Already, I have learned a great deal about the wonderful work that is being done right here in St. Louis.