Thrive: A Refugee Support Program

Congratulations to Justine, who became a U.S. Citizen this past week!!

The Kaufman Interfaith Institute is excited to host an international interfaith concert with musical guests from Afghanistan and Israel. We hope you will join us while we engage with the rich musical heritage of both groups, hearing stories of their cultural and religious identities as expressed through their music.



The Heart of Afghanistan project consists of four Afghan musicians - Ahmad Fanoos on Vocals & Harmonium, and his two sons Elham on piano and Mehran on violin, with Hamid Habibzada on tabla. Together, they tell the story of Afghanistan from its pre-Islamic Buddhist heritage through traditional Ghazals based on the Sufi inspired poetry of Rumi and the ‘Afghan Elvis’, pop icon Ahmad Zahir, of the ‘60s and ‘70s who took the music of Elvis Presley and translated it into Dari and performed it with a traditional instrument ensemble. The idea is to give a 360-degree view of Afghan culture through music, poetry, art, and cultural heritage.



Heart of Afghanistan, performing “Bekhan ba Herat”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUY5bSd-jSw


The Israeli ensemble, Yamma, brings the cultural mosaic that is Israel alive. Their sounds—drawn from Eastern European, Balkan, Gypsy, Sephardic and Yemenite melodies—are at times rollicking and joyous, at others moving and mournful. But they are always vibrant, passionate, and performed from the heart. The group members stay true to the character of the Middle East, the region where they were born and raised, with their soulful, exotic music accompanied by ancient musical instruments (kopuz, duduk, hand drums). In addition to crafting original pieces, Yamma also performs the traditional music and material of the various Jewish diasporas.



Yamma, performing Psalm 125 as a tribute to Jerusalem and its artisans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXe_Ajxqr50


Each group represents their country and musical heritage as cultural ambassadors. Through that lens, we will open a conversation regarding the faith traditions inherent in each nation’s culture.



This concert will take place on Tuesday, September 20 at 7pm at the Loosemore Auditorium on GVSU’s downtown campus. This event is free and open to all, though registration is required. For additional information, or with any questions, please contact Liz English at [email protected].

Yamma & Heart of Afghanistan: An International Interfaith Concert INT 100/201 APPROVED! - Events Calendar - Grand Valley State University Tuesday, September 20, 2022 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus Alumni, Community, Faculty, Staff, Students

Interested in a career in healthcare? Check out this class provided by the Literacy Center of West Michigan, aimed at improving the English of learners interested in the healthcare field! (Click the individual pictures for full info)

**UMC Kids' Summer Camp - How You Can Help**

Many of our local refugee children are getting the amazing opportunity to attend camp this summer with United Methodist Church Camps, but need help with funding. Read the letter below from one of our directors to find out how you can help!

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Refugee Kid’s Camping Fund Drive

In 2019 22 refugee children from the Congolese church, Restoration Community Church (RCC), attended United Methodist Church camps and the lives of these young people were changed. Their faith in Jesus grew, their eyes were opened to the beauty of God’s creation, new relationships were formed with other students and they had a blast! All of this happened because of the amazing generosity of the UMC camping scholarship fund. Of course, the children’s appetites for camping have been wetted and they are already asking about camping this summer.

2020 was a disappointing year because the kids could not go to camp…and you know that was because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Well, we are once again working to raise funds for camping! And excitement and anticipation is growing among the RCC kids…there is room for 30 elementary and middle school students!

We are reaching out to you, to other UMC congregations, to local businesses and to individuals to ask you for your financial support. Here are the specifics. The cost per child for attending a week at the Lake Michigan Camp is $420. The camping ministry will reduce that by $150 through scholarship funds. The families of the children will be asked to pay $50 per child, and more if they are able, to help their son or daughter attend camp. That leaves $220 per child will have to be raised.

Although I was never so fortunate as to have attended a church camp myself, I know that future leaders of the church of Jesus Christ are formed and made through the camping experience. Will you please go to your congregation and seek funds to make this so?

We have spoken to Judy Hazle, Registrar for the Lake Michigan Pentwater Camp, and she suggests that the best way to process funds for this cause would be to run them through Thrive which is a 501 C(3) non-profit. Thrive will track contributions and send them along to the camping ministry. If you have a heart for seeing refugee kids get to camp this summer, please send a check to Thrive: A Refugee Support Program at the address listed below. If you would like to hear the testimony of a camping child later this summer, that can be arranged by a Thrive volunteer! And remember, $220 covers the fee for one child.

Thank you for your consideration!

Rev. Marcia Elders
Retired UMC clergy, Thrive Office Manager
616 292 6712

Thrive: A Refugee Support Program,
c/o St. Paul’s UMC,
3334 Breton Road SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49512