Ready…Set…Serve!

Following Jesus’ Call to Welcome the Stranger

When Ross Lyman and his wife Kathy moved to Madison a few years ago, Good Shepherd impressed them with their community outreach. But they saw a need that wasn’t being met: helping refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan moving into the church’s Meadowood neighborhood. “I was surprised we weren’t doing more,” Lyman said. He learned all refugee resettlement in the Madison area was run by Jewish Social Services (JSS). Neither he nor Good Shepherd had ever worked with them before.

Yet he realized Good Shepherd and JSS shared a common goal – helping refugees integrate into the community. ‘We always want to come at things from an interfaith perspective,’ the Housing and Community Outreach Coordinator for Jewish Social Services Autumn Yael Fearing-Kabler said. “I think it’s been incredibly smooth so far.” Starting a program from scratch would require someone with a ton of organizational skills. That’s where Jennifer Herdina entered the picture. She and her family joined Good Shepherd last November because of the church’s openness and willingness to welcome all to God’s table.

However, the refugee resettlement program is where she’s making an initial impact. “There’s a part of me that feels a need to give back,” said Herdina. “And it’s filling my bucket more than I can ever say.” This program is just one example of Good Shepherd living into a pillar of its strategic plan and serving the community. Mike Naumann is one program volunteer who sees the importance of the refugee resettlement program at Good Shepherd.

“It really does fit within what Good Shepherd has listed as what our mission is and our values and the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus tells us to welcome the stranger. And as a global church, the ELCA and even right here at Good Shepherd, part of our mission is to be a welcoming congregation and a welcoming church.” Lyman says his program can show the way for others to create programs at Good Shepherd to welcome, forgive and serve. “If you see a need in our community or an opportunity to engage other people in the congregation, many of whom you may not even have met yet, then that’s a great way to initiate a brand-new ministry.”

Your generosity to Good Shepherd makes it possible to have sustained Outreach programs through the dedication of volunteers like Ross Lyman, Jennifer Herdina, and Mike Naumann, and staff like Director of Outreach Rick Thomas. As a faith community, we are transforming your good gifts into ways to invite all to fully participate in worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are helping people make connections to others and use their own spiritual gifts. Thank you for supporting Good Shepherd, which makes projects like the refugee resettlement program possible.