Gisela* needed a better job. But for that she needed to know more English. But how do you find time to take English classes when you must work all day, sometimes every day?
This is the daunting scenario many of our English and computer literacy students face. For some, an added challenge is finding safe and affordable care for their children so they can take classes.
All of us at Roosevelt Park Ministries, our staff, board, interns, and volunteer instructors, partner with our students to break down the barriers that keep people from the literacy help they want and need. In Gisela’s case we opened an extra evening class she could attend after work along with 10 other adults in similar situations. After completing that semester of classes she came back for Level 2, and now she was ready to find a new job.
Gisela worked hard alongside our staff to create a resume and translate it into English. She faithfully pursued job possibilities and prepared for her interviews. Less than than two weeks later she excitedly told us she now had a full-time job that would allow her to help her family living in Latin America. She had broken the cycle.
Every year we serve hundreds of families, many with deep needs and serious financial challenges. Like Gisela, they bravely sacrifice, save, and work hard to survive and eventually thrive. They are grateful for the opportunities and the safety they and their families have here in the US that were simply unavailable or out of reach in their countries of origin. They gladly make positive contributions to our society, our culture, and our economy.
Unfortunately, we’re also encountering a new wave of negative sentiments toward those who have fled to the United States for safety, security, and a fresh start. It saddens us to hear the majority of courageous, hard-working immigrants and refugees lumped together with a relatively small minority whose actions do pose a potential threat.
Yet, while our hearts break over examples of mistreatment and injustice toward those in our community who are of a different skin color or ethnicity, we are more committed than ever to help and support them. We’ve redoubled our efforts to have RPM be a safe community, where they can learn, grow, and be pointed to Jesus.
We are grateful for the faith and resilience of students and clients, and we deeply appreciate the support of individuals, churches, and foundations who partner with us to break cycles of poverty, prejudice, and repression for people like Gisela who are deeply loved by Jesus.
We couldn’t do any of this without the financial support and volunteer service of people from Classis GR South. More than ever, we appreciate not just your financial gifts but your prayers for us and for the at-risk families we serve. Please pray for God’s peace, direction, and protection for them and us.
Would you like to join our team? Together, we will see God at work, transforming lives using literacy and the love of Jesus.
Joel B Groat
Executive Director
Office: 616.475-5881
Email: Joel@rpmins.org
Learn about volunteer opportunities here: https://rpmins.org/volunteer-opportunities/
Explore creative ways to donate your money, time, and other stuff. https://rpmins.org/donate/
