Pennridge Lutherans Refugee Resettlement Sponsorship Homepage

4/13/2006

Pennridge Lutherans for Refugee
Resettlement Sponsorship Homepage
"I was a stranger and you welcomed me." Matthew 25:35

Pennridge Area Lutherans

Participating Lutheran Church Contact Persons

Jerusalem
Sellersville
Pastor Jerry

Peace-Tohickon Perkasie
Dick Burkett

St. Andrew's Perkasie
Lynne Wescott

St. James
Chalfont
Suzanne Fisher

St. John's Sellersville
Leah Woehr Grande

St. Luke's Dublin
Steve Gratias

St. Matthew's Kellerschurch
Marilynne Bagosy

St. Michael's Sellersville
Bruce Markley

St. Peter's
Line Lexington

Trinity Perkasie
Jim Garcia

This Week: April 13, 2006
Jobs Needed, Click here for more info...

Latest News!
Congratulations to the Nabiyev Family.

Dear Friends,
It is with great pleasure to announce the graduation ceremony held on Sunday, March 26, 2006 at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church for the Nabiyev family. The ceremony was attended by our committee members, volunteers, and representatives from the Lutheran Children and Family Service. More...

Greetings Friends in Christ!

Welcome to the homepage of the Pennridge Lutherans for Refugee Resettlement Sponsorship of a refugee family.

Representatives from Lutheran churches in the Pennridge, Chalfont, and Kellers Church communities have agreed to join together and consolidate their resources to sponsor a refuge family in the near future. The family under consideration is of Meskhetian Turkish background. Please keep us in your prayers as we embark on this important ministry.

Your Servants in Christ

Steve Gratias, Member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church
Dublin, PA
Co-Chair

Jim Garcia, Member of Trinity Lutheran Church
Perkasie, PA
Co-Chair

A Thank You Message to Our Volunteers and Congregations
Click here to view message.

Pennridge Lutheran Refugee Resettlement
Committee Organization
Several members from various churches have agreed to chair or work on a planning committee. Click here to view committees and committee members.

Sponsorship Support Needed for 120 Days
The ten sponsoring churches will need to support the refugee family for at least 120 days. The churches will need to provide housing, employment, household items, furnishings, shepherding, childcare/education, and transportation during this time.
Click here for more information.

How You Can Help
Many resources will be needed to perform this ministry. Volunteers are needed for the employment, transportation, childcare/education, and shepherding committees. Donation of money, materials, food, and clothing are needed for the housing, furnishings, household committees.
Click here to learn how to send donations of money, materials or to volunteer.

How to Contact Us
Members of participating churches should contact their church representative listed in the column to left or send an email to Jim Garcia, Co-chair. He will forward the email to the appropriate committee chair. Click here to send an email.

Refugee Resettlement Sponsorship Program
The refuge resettlement sponsorship program is one of Lutheran Children and Family Service (LCFS) programs. More information about the LCFS resettlement program.

Meskhetian Turk Background
The Meskhetian Turks originate from Meskhetia, located in the southwest of Georgia, a region that borders Adjaria to the west and Turkey to the south (see map). In November 1944, upon the orders of Josef Stalin, upwards of 100,000 Meskhetians were deported to the Ferghana Valley in Uzbekistan. Unlike other ethnicities deported by Stalin, the Meskhetians were never accused of a specific treachery, nor were they “rehabilitated” once Stalin died. More info... (PDF Version)