By Audrey Meredith
Send Relief Journeyman, Denver Ministry Center
Refugee ministry in Denver is unique. The biggest need among refugees is friendships, and that is our goal here: to make lasting friendships among the refugee population.
One program we started this past summer to cultivate friendships among our refugee population is English Chat clubs. The goal of the chat clubs is to provide a space where our refugee friends can practice conversational English with volunteers and our team while cultivating cross-cultural friendships.
My chat club is working with a friend of mine from Afghanistan. She is a mom of four kids and since I first met her, she told me about her desire to practice her English. When we started this program, I knew she would love it. Since she is a stay-at-home mom, we meet at her house for the chat clubs. At our first meeting, we went through the workbook and picked out what she wanted to practice. Her oldest daughter even wanted to practice English and worked with her mom through the practice lessons! She served tea and snacks while we worked, which is usual. When we spend time together, it almost always involves tea or a meal.
Chat clubs is a beautiful way to build friendships and for cross-cultural exchange. While we were working on practicing English, my friend was teaching me her native language (Dari) while telling me stories of back home.
Pray that friendships continue to grow as a result of these English chat clubs and that over time, gospel conversations begin to happen and that our friends come to know Jesus as their savior.