Special Guest Speaker

Mr. John Bulger, the Florida District Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has agreed to be the keynote speaker at our March 26 fundraising banquet.  He will update us concerning the initiatives, policies and procedures of the USCIS.  There are 33 Immigration District Offices in the United States. District Offices are responsible for enforcing immigration laws in their jurisdiction. 

Fox 4 News will also participate in our Banquet by providing a special video segment on one of our Amigos Center success stories.  Fox 4 News Reporter Vivian Vedel will do a special interview of Olga and Luis Jara, a Colombian family recently granted asylum in the United States.  Mrs. Vedel will serve as co-Master of Ceremony of our banquet along with Radio Ke’buena News Director, Nápolis Ventura. 

Other special features of the Banquet will be a silent auction, entertainment by the Club Colombia dance group, authentic Latin American cuisine and a special awards presentation to Rev. Jon Zehnder. 

Tickets are on sale for $25.  Entire tables seating eight are available.  Friday, March 26, 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Robert F. Anderson Athletic Center, St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Fort Myers.  Call Rev. Bob Selle (239) 437-6727 for information.

Thrivent Matching Gift

Good news!  Our Amigos Center is now enrolled in the GivingPlus matching gift program of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  Thrivent will match 50% of the total contributions that any member makes to the Amigos Center (up to $400) during the year.  You are a Thrivent Financial member if you either own a Thrivent financial product such as a life insurance policy, IRA, Mutual Fund, Money Market account or you paid the $10 annual fee to become an Associate member. You can either request a Thrivent Financial GivingPlus™ donor form from us or download it directly from the Thrivent website: click here. Simply include the completed form with your donation to the Amigos Center and we take care of the rest.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a faith-based membership organization called to improve the quality of life of its members, their families, and their communities by providing unparalleled solutions that focus on financial security, wellness and caring for others.

40 Day of Purpose

Our Hispanic Lutheran church communities at St. Michael’s, Fort Myers and at Hope Lutheran, Bonita Springs have recently begun a campaign called “40 Days of Purpose”.  During these 40 days we mean to grow in our commitment to Christ and to one another as members of His church.  Members and friends are challenged to participate in a four-fold effort to grow.  During these 40 days we will 1) spend 15 minutes daily reading Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life”; 2) participate in a small group study, 3) learn by memory six Bible verses and 4) pay attention to a special sermon each Sunday.  We already of six small groups organized.  The premise of all this is that we will be more faithful, on-fire and joyful disciples of Jesus Christ if we understand God’s purpose for us in this life.  After the first forty days is over, I pray to have additional leaders who will be able to lead this same six-week study in their own homes.  Pray for our spiritual and numerical growth.

Give thanks to God for . . . 

Ø                  Our enrollment in Thrivent GivingPlus;

Ø                  Our volunteers that make everything happen;

Pray for . . .

Ø                  A blessed First Annual Fundraising Banquet;

Ø                  Developing leadership in our ministry.