First Annual Amigos Banquet

Your support made our recent Amigos Center Banquet fundraising effort more successful than we expected.  With the support of 30 corporate sponsors, over 200 in attendance and the special donations of many generous people we raised more than $17,000 with expenses of $1,700.  Thank you!

Bull’s Eye

“Bull’s eye!” “On target!” “Just right!”  Fox4News reporter Vivian Vedel brought a video news segment to our Banquet that featured Olga, a success story of our Amigos Center.  The story illustrates how God blesses our ministry of Gospel love in action.  Olga and her husband found asylum in the United States after she was threatened by “criminal” elements for her work with a nurses’ union in Colombia.  A friend introduced her and her husband to our Amigos ministry shortly after arriving in Southwest Florida.  Our Amigos Center staff was able to help obtain work permits, resolve issues with an auto insurance company that wouldn’t pay as well, obtain mattresses and other services.  Olga and her family have become faithful participants in our Spanish Word and sacrament ministry at St. Michael’s Lutheran in Fort Myers.  Olga speaks warmly that she has found a new family here in this foreign land. This is how it is suppose to work.  Thank God that sometimes it really works out the way we pray it would. 

The Widow's Mite

Among all the expressions of support and goodwill our Amigos Center received during the recent fundraising banquet the support of one family in particular was notable.  Our immigration office helped the husband apply for legal residency through his wife who is a U.S. citizen.  They also have participated in our Spanish worship community.  In spite of their poverty, never mind that they and their young grandchildren live in a squalid rented house, this family was among several that pledged to donate $1,000 to the Amigos Center during the next three years.  This is the kind of loving sacrifice that Jesus witnessed in the temple as he praised a widow who gave all she had in support of the Lord’s work.

Thrivent Matching Gift

Several of you have already taken advantage of this program to have your gift matched.  Thank you.  To have Thrivent Financial for Lutherans match your gift to the Amigos Center check out their website: www.thrivent.com/fraternal/churchcommunity/givingplus.html.   

A Bilingual Easter

 “Christ has risen!” “¡En verdad, ha resucitado!”  Easter morning rang out with this traditional Easter greeting during a special bilingual service at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church.  While Pastor Zehnder preached in English, Pastor Selle projected a “closed caption” Spanish version of the sermon on the big screen.  It was a great opportunity to bring both groups together to celebrate the resurrection victory of Jesus, the one who brings all his children together into one eternal Kingdom.

Give thanks to God for . . . 

Ø                  Our enrollment in Thrivent GivingPlus;

Ø                  The widows mite;

Ø                  The hope of eternal life through our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.

Pray for . . .

Ø                  Olga and her family;

Ø                  Growth of our Word and sacrament ministry;

Ø                  Developing leadership in our ministry.