#79 - August 2004
A Ministry of the Southwest Florida Outreach Council: LCMS

Collier County Foundation

We are pleased to announce that the Community Foundation of Collier County has awarded our Amigos Center $2,000.  The gift helps support our English Classes, job placement services, immigration assistance and other social services we provide.  This is the first time we have received support from the Community Foundation of Collier County.   The mission of the foundation is: "To serve the unique needs of donors; grow human and financial resources; and develop community leadership to meet the changing needs of Collier County in perpetuity."  The CFCC also offers our staff and volunteers special training seminars so that we can do our ministry effectively.  www.cfcollier.org

Lutheran Dominican Mission

Good news!  Thanks to generous support from Bethesda Lutheran Homes, the LCMS Board for Mission Services, and a host of others churches and individuals our Lutheran Dominican Mission Society will be able to place a team of three full time missionaries in Santiago, Dominican Republic.  Our mission is: “To spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Dominican Republic supporting missionaries and mission work to establish independent Lutheran congregations.”  This is the result of five years of work in Santiago, DR and many hours of prayer, dreaming and conversations.  We will help support a team of three full-time missionaries.  Mission work will initially concentrate on developmentally and/or economically challenged children and families.  Our participation in this ministry will offer us a channel to better serve and learn about the Hispanic Immigrants of Southwest Florida.  Many have come from situations very similar to what we see in Santiago.  If you would like information about work in the DR call Pastor Bob at 437-6727.

Project Jesus CDs

Everything you wanted to know about our Amigos en Cristo ministry, and more.  We have finished our first bilingual CD.  It contains our website plus several video clips that focus on different aspects of our ministry.  It can be accessed on a PC computer or listened to on a CD player.   Please call or email for your copy: BobSelle@aol.com

Website

Visit our new and improved bilingual website:  www.amigoscenter.org.  You will find up-to-date information about both our church planting activities and our social service agency “Amigos Center”. 

Mission Idea

Add Spanish-language tracts and literature to your display racks.  Material is readily available from local bookstores.  Concordia Publishing House has a whole series in Spanish called “Experiences of an Immigrant”, also “The Lutheran Church Welcomes You”  (Call 1-800-325-3040).   Amigos en Cristo has Spanish language literature that explains our ministry.   Just call to ask for them (239-437-6727).  Display them with a sign stating "Tome Uno - Son Gratis" which means "Take One - They are Free/No Cost." Regular users of the material will include students from the congregation's English as a Second Language classes, housekeeping staff and other Hispanic visitors to the building for various activities.

Give thanks to God for . . . 

Ø                  Community Foundation of Collier County;

Ø                  Our missionary team to the DR.

Pray for . . .

Ø                  Dominican Republic mission team;