On this episode of HomeTown, we speak with members of Neighbor to Neighbor’s own St. John’s Norwood Sponsor Circle team, doing the critical work of welcome with individuals arriving in their communities.
We speak with the Rev. Anne Derse, Deacon and St. John’s Minister for Community Engagement, as well as St. John’s parishioners Melanie Folstad and Rick McCumber, husband and wife team-leads for the St. John’s Norwood Neighbor to Neighbor Sponsor Circle team.
Our Neighbor to Neighbor program trains community groups to welcome newcomers into their communities. You can play a critical role. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, stitcher, Google play, or SoundCloud.
To support the ministry of welcome, make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999.
Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com
About our Guests
The Rev. Anne Derse serves as Deacon and Minister for Community Engagement at St. John’s Norwood Episcopal Church in Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Maryland. She assumed this position after serving over thirty years as a U.S. diplomat. She considers the ministry of hospitality and welcome to refugees crucial to all people of faith.
Melanie Folstad & Rick McCumber are both parishioners of St. John’s Norwood and serve as team leads for the Neighbor to Neighbor Sponsor Circle Team. Rick and Melanie have three adult children spread throughout the globe. They are active outreach members of St. John’s Norwood and are in awe of the resilience and determination of refugees who have lost everything.
Melanie Folstad & Rick McCumber are both parishioners of St. John’s Norwood and serve as team leads for of the Neighbor to Neighbor Sponsor Circle Team. Rick and Melanie have three adult children spread throughout the globe. They are active outreach members of St. John’s Norwood and are in awe of the resilience and determination of refugees who have lost everything.
EMM’s Neighbor to Neighbor Program
Our Neighbor to Neighbor program is an official Sponsor Circle Umbrella under the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans! **We are in urgent need of sponsor circles to support the move of Afghan newcomers into welcoming communities. You can play a critical role. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or SoundCloud.
To support the ministry of welcome, you can make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999.
Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com
