A dozen Crescent Hill folks joined with folks from James Lees and Covenant Community churches Wednesday at James Lees to brainstorm about the joint English as a foreign language teaching ministry and other possible ministries with new immigrants. The group heard from folks who had partiicpated in a brainstorming discussion among Spanish speakers the previous Saturday about new ideas: networking for things like jobs, workshops on auto mechanics or cooking, connection with services (medical, dental, legal), establishing a cooperative small business (in catering or the arts, for example), establishing a center for immigrants. Also mentioned were a joint presbytery-seminary Spanish-language commissioned lay pastor training program (which will get started in September) and a presbytery-wide discussion on immigration earlier this summer led by PC(USA) immigration expert Julia Thorne, as well as a Spanish-language anti-violence discussion series for women that Crescent Hill’s Nora led this spring. Held simultaneously with this discussion – across the hall – was a discussion apparently with James Lees and Covenant Community folks about the small business idea.
The EFL group next plowed ahead with a discussion about EFL ministry possibilities. The group reviewed all types of possibilities before going back to the Monday and Wednesday night classes with some food possibilities. A food subgroup will consider different food possibilities: no food, food like last school year, only snacks, paying students to prepare food – with Kari at the lead. Dirk will serve as teacher coordinator, with some questions about curriculum to deal with. Two other groups formed, about publicity and about the possibility of a center for immigrants (also cooperative business?) (also with the possibility of some government money). Crescent Hill folks expressed interest in all of the groups, except the food group, including those who indicated interest in helping teach either Monday or Wednesday night. Still to be selected: site coordinator. Jen, last year’s site coordinator, will continue to help with the publicity, and the food coordinators from individual churches may be responsible for making sure the building gets opened. The group talked about hiring someone to serve as child care coordinator (possibly someone from Crescent Hill). In addition to coordinators for specific areas taking more responsibility, each night (Monday and Wednesday) may land a host/coordinator for that night only.
The group talked about running a fall term from Monday, September 20, to Monday, November 22 (the Monday before Thanksgiving). The group also agreed to meet next at 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, September 1 (the Wednesday before Labor Day weekend), when those interested would spend most of their times in smaller planning groups (child care, teachers, food, publicity, etc.).
After the meeting Joanne, who worked in the teaching corps last year, hung around James Lees and, as she was trying to leave, fell and broke her hip. With support of other Crescent Hill folks there, Joanne went to the hospital, where she underwent surgery Thursday. Please pray for healing for Joanne and support for her husband Lee.
-- Perry
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