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Twenty-Three Congregations, Volunteers Honored for Outstanding Hospitality to Refugees
Shirley Jeffers of Richmond, Va., recognized for her hospitality to refugees.
Photo: Carol Fouke-Mpoyo
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Twenty-three congregations and individuals have received national recognition for their work to extend a warm welcome and practical assistance to refugees -- newcomers seeking safety from war and persecution and starting new lives in our community.
The awardees, from across the United States, were honored by the Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program (CWS/IRP) and Episcopal Migration Ministries, meeting jointly for their annual National Conference Feb. 1-4 in Arlington, Va. Nearly 200 persons involved in refugee resettlement participated in the conference.
Honorees were nominated by CWS and EMM affiliates. They are:
Hixon United Methodist Church, Hixon, Tenn; New World United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas; Grace United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas; First Christian Church, Rowlett, Texas; United Methodist Church of Montbello, Denver, Colo.; Chalice Christian Church, Gilbert, Ariz.; Congregational Church of Brookfield, Conn.; Roswell Presbyterian Church, Roswell, Ga.; Saint Thaddeus Episcopal Church, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Winter Park Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, N.C.; Cathedral of St. Paul Episcopal Youth Group, Syracuse, N.Y.
Also, Ludmila "Sunny" Gafford, Indianapolis, Ind.; Shirley Jeffers and Barbara Moore, Richmond, Va.; Stephen Rosenbloom, Houston, Tex.; Burton Faldet, Chicago, Ill.; Cleo Stinson Manning (honored posthumously), Boise, Colo.; Amanda Masterson and David Ingold, Austin, Texas; Diana Swansen and Glen David, Denver, Colo., and Halima Nur Liban and Debbie McDowell, Columbia, S.C.
Read more about each awardee.
Communities and people of faith play a vital role in resettling refugees in the United States. In response to their faith’s mandate to “welcome the stranger” and America’s heritage as a nation of immigrants, thousands over the years have made the challenging decision to assist and befriend refugees starting over in the United States.
These volunteers help provide safe and comfortable housing for the refugees’ arrival and assist these new neighbors with learning English, finding employment, enrolling children in school and acclimating to their new community. Their friendship and aid give refugees a head start to life in the United States, supporting their efforts to stand on their own feet as quickly as possible.
Last year (FY2004), the United States government approved nearly 58,000 refugees for resettlement in the United States, of whom 4,612 were resettled through Church World Service, the international humanitarian agency. Candidates for resettlement must pass rigorous screening before being cleared for admission to the United States, then are assigned to CWS or another non-governmental agency for resettlement assistance.
Forty-one CWS affiliates across the United States help recruit congregations to sponsor refugees, and their staff and volunteers work hand in hand with those congregations to ensure the new arrivals’ successful adjustment.
 Representatives of CWS and EMM refugee resettlement affiliates attend a banquet during their Feb. 1-4 national conference to honor 23 congregations and individuals for their friendship and practical service to refugees. Photo: Carol Fouke-Mpoyo
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Refugee resettlement is part of a broader CWS program of assistance to the world’s 13 million refugees and 22 million internally displaced persons. Two-thirds of the world’s uprooted are children. CWS supports emergency response, hunger relief and social and economic development work in more than 80 countries, and works to address the root causes of suffering and displacement.
Honored by CWS/IRP and EMM with “Certificates of Recognition” were:
Hixon United Methodist Church
Hixon, Tennessee
CITATION: When a Liberian single mother and her three children arrived in town, a local doctor and member of Hixon United Methodist Church reached out to them. The doctor, it turns out, is a Liberian single mother with three children! Dr. Winnie Dunbar-Davies reached out to her fellow church members and before long, friends in the parish were writing checks to cover six months of the refugees’ rent and were tutoring the children. The Vacation Bible School children raised $900 for the family. An adult Sunday School adopted the family for Christmas and others provided the tree. When Bridge Refugee Services makes a request of the church, it gets publicized and met by someone at Hixon UMC!
Saint Thaddeus Episcopal Church
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Principally, numerous members of St. Thaddeus Church, under the leadership of Mr. Chuck Carpenter, provide transportation to refugees in Chattanooga. Over the past year, they have been transporting newcomers to and from work, evening classes, and church as needed. The parish has also opened its doors to the local Bridge Refugee Services Advisory Committee for meetings. In general, the members of St. Thaddeus say “Yes!” whenever they are called upon – and for all the generosity they extend to refugees in Chattanooga they deserve our acknowledgement and gratitude!
Congregational Church of Brookfield
Brookfield, Connecticut
CITATION: A task force at the Congregational Church of Brookfield decided to use a landmark cottage it owns and, spearheaded by chairperson Ms. Laurie Matson, initiated a two-year renovation of the property. In the meantime, 50 members of the congregation received sponsor orientation. A Liberian refugee couple arrived in Brookfield in April 2004 and has found employment at a grocery store bakery that requires transportation from church members in the wee hours of the morning. The Congregational Church of Brookfield has created a “covenant savings account” for the refugees so that rent they pay now will be paid to them to apply to their housing after they move from their cottage in one year.
United Church of Montbello
Denver, Colorado
CITATION: United Church is an African-American congregation that resettled a Somali Bantu family of seven in September 2004. The congregation mobilized to meet every need of this family in its initial resettlement by providing housing, clothing, food, money and transportation and tutorials in appliance use, clothes washing, cooking and orientation to Denver. With a resettlement committee led by Ms. Denise Wanzo, United Church also co-sponsored four Sudanese youth in 2001. These young men are often seen helping in the church’s community garden. More significantly, United Church has become a favorite place of many of the other Sudanese young men in Denver to go to church on Sunday!
Chalice Christian Church
Gilbert, Arizona
Here is a short list of what makes this congregation worthy of a special honor: Chalice Christian Church co-sponsored three cases before they even had a building of their own; they worked on particularly difficult cases; they recruited the assistance of other churches; and they have made a long-term commitment to refugee ministry and folded it into their identity as a community of faith. We extend our sincerest gratitude to this extraordinary congregation.
Roswell Presbyterian Church
Roswell, Georgia
Roswell Presbyterian Church has co-sponsored each year over the past six years and it has a 25-year tradition of providing warm welcome and support to newly arriving refugees. They have never turned away a case that might be difficult to resettle. They know that their ministry is to welcome the stranger, no matter who the refugee is.
Cathedral of St. Paul (Episcopal) Youth Group
Syracuse, New York
The Youth Group of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Syracuse has been engaged with refugees for years. In the last year alone, they have: assisted in the World Refugee Day picnic, served as counselors for a one-week camp program for refugee children, held a family Halloween evening for refugee families, assisted the Interreligious Council Refugee Resettlement Program of Syracuse with holiday events and toy distribution. These acts of faith represent a big and exemplary commitment by high school age young people. Adult youth group leaders, Jean Avery and the Rev. Canon Cary Broadbent Schofield, continue to do their part to assist the refugees too!
Grace United Methodist Church
Dallas, Texas
Grace United Methodist Church has been the landlord of Refugee Serviced of Texas for many, many years at a reduced rental rate. Being a great support for all this time, the icing of the cake was Grace UMC’s recent offer of a 99-year lease to RST! When the RST office was renovated recently through a City of Dallas block grant in 2004, the church raised the money to resurface the parking lot. And, of course, Grace has also co-sponsored a number of refugees and recently signed on to assist in resettling a Burmese family.
First Christian Church
Rowlett, Texas
First Christian Church is a new congregation working with Refugee Services of Texas and yet somehow congregants have managed to co-sponsor two cases in the last 10 months! They have also prepared welcome kits for to present to all refugees who arriving to the area. They are supportive, active and deeply committed.
New World United Methodist Church
Arlington, Texas
After initially agreeing to a limited co-sponsorship of a Liberian single mother and her four children, this church “fell in love” with the children in the family and increased the time and energy they committed to them. Soon New World United Methodist Church was working with every Liberian family that came into their area! The congregants now provide transportation to church to every one of their new Liberian neighbors who wish to go.
Winter Park Presbyterian Church
Wilmington, North Carolina
The pastor and community of Winter Park Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, North Carolina agreed to sponsor a Burmese family of four even in which the primary applicant is blind. They have made an apartment available to the refugees and set aside the rent for future needs of the tenants. The highlight of the story of Winter Park and their most recent guests is that the PA’s blindness was temporary and he has now recovered his sight. He is working, learning English and hoping to take driving lessons soon! And West Park Presbyterian plans to see him through to accomplish his dreams.
Halima Nur Liban
Columbia, South Carolina
CITATION: Halima, who is from Somalia, has lived in Columbia, South Carolina for 18 years. Halima has been a vital part of the Somali Bantu resettlement through Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, having spent countless hours translating for refugees during training, interviews and appointments. She is a kind woman with a wonderful heart from which great compassion to refugees has flowed!
Debbie McDowell
Columbia, South Carolina
CITATION: Debbie has also demonstrated exceeding support for the Somali Bantu Resettlement project in Columbia, South Carolina through Lutheran Family Services. She spearheaded her church’s co-sponsorship of a Bantu family and has committed countless hours to their adjustment to life in their new community. She has gone above and beyond the responsibilities to the refugees by showing them love, respect and care for them and by encouraging self-sufficiency. Not surprisingly, the refugees have embraced her just as enthusiastically and consider her a member of their extended family.
Burton Faldet
Chicago, Illinois
Burt is a retired psychologist and professor at the University of Chicago. He is an Episcopal layperson who is a member of the Cathedral of St. James in Chicago. Until October 2004, Mr. Faldet served on the board of Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Ministries and he remains a strong supporter of the resettlement program. He was influential in keeping the Senior Services Initiative financially afloat last year by recruiting the financial support of others, including an heir to the Hoover family (of vacuum cleaner fame!). Even in their retirement, Burt and his wife are tireless in extending time, financial resources – and hospitality – to refugees!
Stephen Rosenbloom
Houston, Texas
CITATION: Stephen Rosenbloom’s extraordinary volunteer service at Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston has inspired the agency staff to meet and exceed their resettlement goals. In addition to airport runs, food and furniture donations and orientation for newly arrived refugees, he has contacted employers and escorted refugees to job interviews. He has also been a keen marketing advisor for the resettlement program. In summary, he has brought skill, energy and a big heart to his work with newly arrived refugees and deserves special recognition for his many, invaluable efforts.
Ludmila “Sunny” Gafford
Indianapolis, Indiana
CITATION: Sunny Gafford was born in Russia and fled with her family to China in 1917. Several years later, her family emigrated to the U.S. where Sunny completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work. Sunny retired from a long and successful career as a social worker, author and professor in 2002 and moved to Indianapolis to be near her children and grandchildren. She soon started volunteering with Exodus Refugee Ministry by overseeing social work interns and taking on difficult cases. Though her service to the refugees have been invaluable, she has refused any compensation for them and hopes only that what she has done has benefited the field of Social Work and, most importantly, the clients of Exodus.
Glen David
Denver, Colorado
CITATION: Glen David has been a volunteer of Ecumenical Refugee Services in Denver for almost a decade. He has provided material and financial support and employment support for many refugees. One of his special contributions has been in supporting long resettled refugees to purchase homes. It helps that he is realtor! He has also been a driving instructor and has helped refugees purchase cars as they were able. Glen formed a special bond with an Iranian family resettled in Denver six years ago and he is now part of their family. For the last two years, Glen’s piano students collected money and toys for Somali Bantu families during the holidays.
Diana Swansen
Denver, Colorado
CITATION: Diana Swansen has been a volunteer at Ecumenical Refugee Services in Denver for over ten years. Quite extraordinarily, she runs a clothing bank for refugees from the basement of her own home! Equally impressive are her efforts to produce an international cookbook with recipes from many of the ethnic groups that have been resettled through ERS. When it is printed, the proceeds of the sale will be used to support refugees in Denver. Diana’s commitment of heart and taste make her worthy of this honor.
Cleo Stinson Manning (Posthumous)
Boise, Idaho
Cleo Stinson Manning provided outstanding service to refugees “in 100 different ways!” Through Agency for New Americans in Boise, Ms. Manning set up apartments, provided transportation, coordinated and delivered donations, offered tutoring for countless refugees – and became a friend to them too. Struggling with cancer did not stop her from extending hospitality to refugees who came to Boise. She was exceptional, always a bright spot to those in her midst, and though she is not longer with us she is deeply worthy of this acknowledgement.
Shirley Jeffers
Richmond, Virginia
Shirley is a member of the Second Baptist Church in Richmond – one of only two African American congregations that have co-sponsored refugees in the history of the Virginia Council of Churches Resettlement program. Shirley with members of Second Baptist sponsored four Sudanese young men and recently a large Somali Bantu family. Shirley works for the Department of Motor Vehicles and has assisted many refugees through the rigors of applying for driver’s licenses. She is a member of the VCC Advisory Board and an all-around exemplary volunteer.
Barbara Moore
Richmond, Virginia
Barbara Moore has been a volunteer of over three years for the Virginia Council of Churches office and she is an active member of the resettlement committee of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Richmond. She gives her all to refugees, transporting them as needed and as an ESL tutor. Presently she teaches a class three evenings a week for Somali Bantu refugees. Her is tireless and dedicated in her commitment to the resettlement program and more than worthy of our heartfelt gratitude.
Amanda Masterson
Austin, Texas
Amanda Masterson is a member of St. Luke’s on the Lake Episcopal Church and a seminarian at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin. Since 2003, she has actively worked to interest fellow parishioners in the refugee ministry and she has succeeded! Thanks to Amanda, members of St. Luke’s have become volunteers of the local Refugee Services of Texas office and have contributed many material goods. Among those Amanda has brought on board is her husband, David, who with her is a recipient of special recognition tonight.
David Ingold
Austin, Texas
David Ingold is married to the dynamic Amanda Masterson and, at the instigation of his wife, has become a twice a week volunteer for the Refugee Services of Texas office in Austin. He assists refugees with furniture, social security card applications, grocery shopping, clinic appointment and obtaining public services. David is also a volunteer teacher of ESL once a week and, in general, available for just about anything RST needs!
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