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This week, the Executive Team continued our work of cleaning out and organizing the files in the Church Office.  One of the drawers we worked on included a history of Grace Lutheran Church.  This paragraph about our founding stood out:  

Back in 1897, the Rev. C.B. Ghodes was the pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church.  Immanuel was 16 years old at the time and was holding most of its services in German.  There was a large influx of German immigrants into New Orleans during the last half of the 1800's.  Immanuel was benefiting from a growing population due to this immigration.  With the new members came new and varying opinions.  Disagreements arose as to whether or not the services should be held in English or remain entirely in German.  Rev. Ghodes held a special service in a friend's home on North Pierce Street on Septuagesima Sunday in 1897.  This was the start of the mission that would later become Grace Evangelical Lutheran Congregation.  

Nearly 130 years ago the mission that would become Grace Lutheran Church started because of the increasing immigrant population in New Orleans!  Our church began to give a faith home to immigrants in our city!  

As the immigration crisis continues across our country we are all encouraged to do whatever we can to care for our immigrants neighbors.  Here are some ideas:  

  • Purchase groceries for the immigrants that you know.  
  • Be in conversation with your neighbors to check in on how they are feeling.  
  • Give financial aid to help with legal fees.  Our immigrant neighbors are facing huge financial costs to pay for lawyers for themselves and loved ones.  
  • Support immigrant owned businesses.  If you need cleaning in your home, Mary can refer you to one of her immigrant neighbors who is looking for more opportunities to work.  
  • Pray for families to stay together and be reunited and that all people be treated with dignity and respect.  

Caring for immigrants is biblical.  It is something God tells us to do over and over again!   And it is a part of our personal identity as a church!  Love our immigrant neighbors!