“America and CFNA are special to me and my family.  They have given me an education and new friends, and have provided us with a new home,” says Rhoda Mapenzi, a high school student who came to the USA from Uganda with her family when she was 6 years old.

During the past several months a stream of refugees has arrived in St. Louis from countries where there are few if any Christians.  Many of these people, who know little about Christ’s love for them, are living in the shadows of the steeples of our own churches. Christian Friends of New Americans seeks to bridge this gap through a ministry of Community Engagement.

CFNA’s Adopt a Student program has always been a partnership between CFNA and other organizations and individuals. The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis was the first partner, along with the initial schools that scholars attended, and Concordia Kirkwood. Since 2007, we have added a substantial number of individual donors who contribute annually. In addition, other churches and, occasionally, Lutheran schools in the metropolitan area have made a commitment. 

Empowering young Christian leaders of tomorrow is a mission goal for CFNA. Providing a platform of real-life experience for the engagement of American and New American youths for the purpose of service, witness and the development of leadership skills highlights the value of its Summer Internship program as CFNA was blessed with the service of three young men; Joel Hoehner, Charles Nshimiyimana and Micheal Shukuru.

Mission Possible! What started as indifference gave way to curiosity and then to increasing interest as the importance of these lessons became apparent. By the time a return trip home was being readied, numerous invitations to return and teach more classes were received!

Bike Path: After attending a two-hour session every Saturday morning continuously for six weeks. students were able to earn their own bikes, having learned how to operate, ride and maintain them. The students’ parents were entirely supportive of this, as the bikes would be a welcome addition to each refugee family’s meager resources.

Phoibe Nyrumbe writes, “Education literally came knocking at my door, through a man who has become a friend, Pastor Stanish. He introduced my family to CFNA. This opened doors which enabled me to meet people who are in the same circumstances as me and gave my family hope and relief knowing that we are not alone.”

The sending of Vicar Nabin Samal to Nepal to serve as a missionary among the Nepalese-speaking people of Nepal and northern India marks a special event showing how the Lord is using the movement of people groups for the establishment of His Kingdom. 

“If you are looking for a way to serve the Lord in your spare time, I would highly recommend CFNA. It is an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus for refugee families in the St. Louis area. I have made a lot of new friends and have enjoyed learning more about what their lives were like before they arrived in the United States. I pray for them daily, asking that the Holy Spirit open their hearts to know more about Jesus.” —Norma Schroll

“My favorite memory since coming to America is my freedom!” Learn how during the past year, CFNA and volunteers from Christ Memorial stepped alongside one family in their resettlement journey from Afghanistan to America. Volunteers offered ESL lessons to family members, showed up time and time again to support them with transportation, welcomed them into their own homes to share a meal, and helped them understand what it is to be an American — the wonderful, and the challenging.

Three young people (two from Siena Leone and one from Mexico) graduated from Lutheran South and North in late May and are headed to college in the fall. Three eighth-grade graduates are all heading to Lutheran High Schools. We thank the many donors who have faithfully supported this program and individual students over the years and more students are on the way! Discover the wonderful stories of what the Lord has continued to do!

Every Tuesday and Thursday for the past nine months, approximately 65 children from 10 birth countries were served weekly by more than 35 volunteer tutors representing numerous Lutheran, as well as some non-Lutheran, congregations. CFNA is grateful for the many hands and hearts that came together to support this mission activity!

For such a time as this, for the ladies to learn conversational English, to socialize, to learn job skills, to choose the donated cloth to make clothes for their families, and earn some money. We have the privilege of sharing our faith walk in Word and deed with these beautiful, strong women, our sisters who are also the daughters of Abraham!

“I have never done a service event like this. We don’t do this in my country. It is so good to see American people working like this, and I am happy to help them.”  SHINE 2023 included picking up trash outside the Peace Center, vacuuming, dusting, sweeping floors, cleaning windows, disinfecting surfaces, setting up tables for a clothing giveaway, and emptying trash containers.

CFNA welcomed 200 trivia players to Webster Gardens Lutheran Church on April 1 for the 16th annual Trivia Night and Silent Auction.  It’s the first time the event has been held in person since 2019 and with 25 tables the atmosphere was energetic and joyful.  Sue Madden said, “It was a full house and lots of fun being had!” Trivia is as much a “friend-raiser” as it is a fund-raiser, and this proved to be true as CFNA connected with 75 new friends through this event.