Summer is approaching and the Refugee Welcome Network (RWN) is seeking window air conditioners to place in apartments of refugees to keep them comfortable in the summer heat. RWN continues to grow as more refugees settle in our area, so we are also in need of volunteers for the following roles: Household & Furnishings, Workforce Development, Family Allies, Legal Team (no legal experience required), and Fundraising. Learn more HERE about these roles and the RWN. If interested, please contact RWN at refugeewelcome@harccoalition.org.
It’s a Boy (x2)!
- This Spring brought new life to two refugee families – both had the joy of welcoming home new baby boys!
Fawad and Nargis tried for 15 years to have a child, with no success, until now. Little Benjamin is truly a miracle for this couple, who are overjoyed with their new son. Fawad, a pediatrician in Afghanistan who worked for the government, is now able to care for his own child, and Nargis, a skilled seamstress will keep him well cared for and clothed beautifully as she works from home in her craft.
This family arrived in Hagerstown a little over a year ago with Special Immigrant Visas. After some help from the Refugee Welcome Network (RWN), they are now living independently, with Fawad working at Amazon while he works toward reestablishing a career in medicine.
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Aref and Friba arrived in Hagerstown with their two young children in January 2023 seeking asylum from the Taliban in Afghanistan. Aref was a journalist and government official in Afghanistan and Friba was a nurse in a hospital. Adjusting to life in the U.S. has been challenging for them as they had to wait many months for work permits, and their son has had several health issues.
- The couple persevered with a great strength and help from the RWN, and they are now living independently, though life is still not easy. Aref is working at Amazon and Friba was taking nursing classes until she had to go on bed rest with her pregnancy. The couple was thrilled to welcome a new son to the family in April!
RWN members are overjoyed at the two new blessings. As we have gotten to know these and other families, they have become a part of our family and our community. We thank God for them!
Learn more about the Refugee Welcome Network and how you can support this work.
Free Chairs
Interim Pastor Position Available
Located in Hagerstown, Maryland NLMCC is a church in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Church (UFMCC). We are seeking a part-time pastor to be the spiritual and administrative leader of the church and shall work in a spirit of cooperation with the Board of Directors and lay leaders. This position can begin as early as April of 2024. To apply, send a resume, cover letter, and sample sermon to newlightmcc@gmail.com with Pastor Search and your First and Last Name in the subject line. Please no phone calls.
Brook Lane CEO speaks at HARC meeting
Person-Centered Spiritual Visitation Training (2024)
The goal of Person-Centered Spiritual Visitation Training is the development of personal confidence in the visitation ministry. Specific objectives are:
- To become aware of oneself as a minister and of the ways one’s ministry affects people.
- To utilize proper infectious control measures to ensure the health and safety of patients and themselves.
- To become aware of the strengths and resources of one’s religious tradition and how that impacts another person.
- To understand and utilize the clinical method of learning.
- To learn to utilize support, confrontation, and clarification for the integration of personal attributes and pastoral functioning.
- To understand the theological issues arising from experience and to enhance the interface between theology and the behavioral sciences in understanding the human condition.
- To become aware of how one’s attitudes, values, and assumptions affect one’s ministry.
- To develop the ability to work as a pastoral member of an interdisciplinary team.
- To become aware of how social conditions and structures affect the lives of others and oneself.
Download a brochure with more details, a poster and/or a volunteer application