Beginning with a small class of volunteers and refugee students, starting in May, we will be holding classes to train women in how to make jewelry to give them skills that allow them to make some income from home. More importantly, we want to pair up a refugee woman with a new friend who will learn alongside them, [...]
Director Dave's view from the van! Our recent “Walk and Talk” program was a great success. Over 20 volunteers from local churches joined us to share some exercise, conversation, and much-needed friendship with our refugee friends from Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Somalia. As I watched these women smile and laugh together, [...]
What's Worse than Dentists and Anthills? My heart was racing. My hands were cold. I, who most people consider fearless, was terrified. You’re going to laugh at what had me so petrified. It’s not the only thing that scares me. I’m afraid of going to the dentist; I’m afraid of ant hills. But because I [...]
1996-2000 Adapting to Change In the years 1996-2000, Servant Group staff and volunteers learned to adapt, a great quality to possess in any cross-cultural service. In Nashville, that meant a new approach to interfacing with the existing Kurdish community and a new platform for welcoming thousands of those newly arrived. Internationally, that meant responding to [...]
Beginning The beginning is always filled with hope and fraught with hazard. Whether it’s a new baby or a new business, this unlikely pair always comes along for the ride. The early years of Servant Group (1992-1995) are a great example of this. As mentioned before, the ministry began as a way to address the [...]
I am so very thankful. Shukraan (that means thank you in Arabic). I am still trying to put into words my thoughts and feelings about last week in Athens. The best summary I have is that it was a beautiful week, for in beauty there can be both joy and sorrow. The stories I heard [...]
I am a teacher; it’s what I do. For the past several years I have been involved with teaching those who speak English as a learned language. Some of those teaching experiences have been frustrating, some fruitful, but always interesting and many times entertaining! Recently, in Nashville, I was working with two Middle Eastern ladies. The [...]
[Gen 21:16 ] Then Hagar went and sat down opposite Ishmael a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, "Let me not look on the death of the child." And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. This is the story I was pondering early [...]
For a few days this year Nashville was a winter wonderland. Snow fell for one whole day and it was glorious! Nashville isn't famous for having snow, but my daughters, born and raised in Nashville, love snow! Last January we were living in Iraqi Kurdistan. Every winter in Iraq we missed having snow. It snows plenty in Iraq, just [...]
Helping Christians Prepare to Meet and Love Our Refugee Neighbors When: March 14th, 7-9pm Learn how to meet and make friends with a refugee Practice basic greetings and customs Discover more about their faith Learn how to talk about Jesus with people from other cultures Discover how pray and study the Bible together And much more! Space [...]
