Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 5, May 2004

Copyright 2004 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.

SOUL FOOD:

A new circle to link to

By TERRY VOGEL

How does a church steeped in Scandinavian culture put a different face on their outreach to the community? How does an African Lutheran pastor create a new ministry without a church to do it in?

Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, at 14514 NE 20th St., and Pastor Yoseph Petros have come together to put a different spin on an old story.

In the old story, immigrants came to the U.S. and built both spiritually and physically, a community asset.

In the new story, land and construction prices are so expensive that the thought of committing to a new physical ministry would be very difficult and the cultural demand for immigrants from all walks of life is so great that assimilating linguistically is even harder. So how does it work?

Pastor Pam Russell, pastor of Prince of Peace and Pastor Yoseph Petros are now doing a new kind of outreach that reaches and supports recent African and other immigrant communities. The outreach is titled "Shalom International Ministry."

The program that inspired "Shalom" is called "T.E.E.M" (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries).

Not only is the pastor working out of and in the church but he is also encouraging 'home' ministries; where the initial comfort of home environment, language and the emotional support and prayer build lasting and nurturing relationships to people who have a host of other challenges in their new life in this country. Beacon Hill and Lynnwood are two of the initial home ministry sites.

Support for this outreach also comes from surrounding church bodies that also support the notion of 1st class facilities and outreach for third world immigrants who are looking for community support that works in small groups and that is relatable. Having just started this new ministry in September 2003, Pastor Yoseph is also receiving advanced pastoral training while also attending to his regular full-time ministries and helping to raise three boys with his wife, Rahel Lemu.

While it is common for new immigrants to congregate and support one another exclusively; it is excitingly uncommon for cross cultural ministries to team up and support within what was once a monocultural denominational outreach.

Best wishes and prayers to a partnership built on supporting and improving community.

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Terry Vogel is community outreach director at Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in Meadowbrook. He can be reached at:ml.outreach@comcast.net