1. RELIGIOUS: Organizing and teaching classes for children, youth and adults – Including refugees in church functions such as youth choir, Vacation Bible School, church dinners, and Bible study classes – Providing weekly transportation to church – Helping with baptisms – Buying and distributing Bibles in the Nepali language
 

2. BASIC NEEDS: Donating/delivering food, clothing, furniture – Organizing shoe drives – Diaper Drives, etc.

3. MEDICAL: Connecting/transporting to doctors or dentists – Setting up dental clinics

4. SOCIAL SERVICES: Connecting/transporting to social/governmental resources such as Social Security, WIC, tax services, Food Stamps, Marriage License office, etc.

5. SEWING CLASSES: Teaching sewing, producing items, selling items at local bazaars to profit sewers

6. YOUTH SERVICE GROUP: Providing sponsors, service opportunities and financial support for MERC, a community service organization comprised of refugee youth

7. SEASONAL PROJECTS: Organizing school supply drives, Christmas gifts drive, Thanksgiving dinner, Easter basket project, Youth Summer party

8. INTERNATIONAL GARDEN: Participating with three other churches to financially sponsor, provide leadership to organize, gather refugee participants, and provide volunteers for a community garden

9. Educational: Reading to children and handing out donated books to all participants.

10. CULTURAL AFFIRMATION: Helping facilitate and/or attending weddings, funerals, baby namings, school graduations, performances at the Asian Festival and World Refugee Day, etc.

11. COMMUNITY NETWORKING: Donating financial, transportation and volunteer support to Center for Refugee Services,
Food Bank distributions, World Refugee Day celebration, and UTHSC Medical Clinic – Attending Neighbors Helping Neighbors meetings – Helping Head Start Program with donations of children’s gloves, underwear, and socks.

Want to volunteer or get more information? Contact Nancy Hannaman the refugee ministry Lay Leader.

To view a testimony from Biori Frank please click HERE.

To see pictures of refugee minstry projects click HERE to be taken to the flickr pool.