Serve Sacramento
partner - serve - change
Responding to crisis in the refugee community
Many of your heard the heart sinking news a few weeks ago: a local Afghan refugee father was killed in a bicycling accident, and his son critically wounded, just 10 days after immigrating to the Sacramento region [read the news story here]. This tragedy has left the wife and four children of immigrant Mustafa Rafi in a foreign land to grieve. One update from this story is that the son Omar has been slowly recovering as doctors are reducing sedation and his facial swelling is decreasing. Another update is the overwhelming response of the Sacramento community. A Go Fund Me Account has been set up for the Rafi family to raise money for a family trust fund. In just 13 days the account has raised $84,726 by 1,277 individuals who care. God has been connecting Christians to enter into the life of Mrs. Rafi in ways only He can orchestrate. In the midst of unimaginable pain and tragedy for a vulnerable family, we are seeing evidence of the tender love of God.
Megan McCleary
Serve Sacramento Director
Stories of Service: Refugee Simulation
This experience is meant to provide an educational opportunity as well as space for empathy to grow for the refugees in our community. The feedback given so far has encouraged World Relief Sacramento to fine tune the experience and allow the simulation to become a helpful resource in the Sacramento community. If you would like more information about an upcoming simulation or about how to set up a simulation at your church, please contact Joy Justus at JJustus@wr.org
Upcoming Event: Back to School night for Refugee Families
The Arab American Learning Center in partnership with the San Juan Unified School District is inviting hundreds of Arabic Students to attend a Back to School Night on August 8th at 7:00pm at Arcade Church. The ministry team will share a clear message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and every Student will receive Backpack and school supplies according to their Grades, New Testament for Youth or Children, the Movie DVD Jesus and Clear message about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
You can get involved by committing to pray for the August 8th outreach, sponsor a student by purchasing a backpack with school supplies (Pencils, color pencils, highlighters, composition notebooks, Rulers, erasers,Pencil sharpener, Pens, Crayons, Spiral Notebooks, Scissors, Storage Bags, Glue Sticks, Binder dividers, Pocket folders, Folders that fit in binders, printer paper), or volunteer your time by joining the team at the Arab-American Learning Center August 4th - 8th to help prepare backpacks, and help with set-up, tear-down or transportation.
If you are interested in engaging with this outreach in any way, please contact Pastor Raed Awabdeh at rawabdeh@msn.com