Tag: staff profile

What’s your main role as staff at IAFR Jonathan House?

I’m the live-in staff member for Jonathan House’s home for women and children. I have the honor of spending most of my day in the company of these women. My hope is to form deep relational connections, with a focus on prayerful discernment and walking with them in friendship and love. I also get to support their independence in navigating transportation, English language, and life in the US, among other household-related tasks.

How did you first learn about the plight of asylum-seeking individuals in America?

I first heard about forcibly displaced people while working with people seeking refuge in Germany.  This international focus on forced displacement then turned to my home country when I had the opportunity to be an English partner with World Relief. The honor I felt while we worked on English together caused me to look for internships where I could learn more. So I worked with Jubilee Partners in Georgia. I realized there that most organizations work with refugees, but for people seeking asylum, it’s a different process with fewer resources. It has been a journey of learning bits and pieces from opportunities God has put in front of me. 

How did you first get involved in Jonathan House?

Through the work of God. I started working with IAFR and had a long discernment period when I wasn’t sure which ministry site I would go to. Minnesota wasn’t on my radar, but I became increasingly interested in their focus on shelter, hope, and healing for asylum-seeking individuals. Then I had a chance to visit Jonathan House. Through that visit and prayer, I saw God bringing me this opportunity to be live-in staff and to invest in relationships with my housemates. 

What’s something that everyone can do to help the cause of asylum-seeking individuals in the US?

One of the biggest barriers is misperception of who people seeking asylum are and why they are seeking asylum. A lot of assumptions are made. A great way to change that is through relationships and finding ways to be in relationship with our asylum-seeking neighbors. It’s really helpful to look at resources to learn more about our immigration policies, too. For example, what are the different definitions for refugee, asylum-seeker, migrant, internally displaced person, forcibly displaced person, etc? 

Is there a statistic or fact that has surprised you concerning asylum-seeking individuals?

It has continued to surprise and frustrate me understanding how long and slow the process for asylum is. At first, I also did not realize how important housing was for people seeking asylum. I can go on about relationships with people, but at the end of the day, do we have places and spaces for people who need shelter in this long asylum process? It can seem practical and boring to talk about housing, but I’ve been more surprised at the lack of accessible housing for people.

What is something asylum-seeking individuals have taught you?

Strength. I can often let the small things get in my way or turn them into larger worries. However, whether in learning English or through the conversation and laughter of our communal kitchen, asylum-seeking women in particular show me their persistence and strength to not give up despite multiple barriers. These women show me what joy and celebration looks like in the waiting.

Any other line of work you’re in?

Not currently, but I just came from working in Eldercare. I found it so rewarding and a truly needed line of work. My family would say that kids and older adults have always gravitated toward me. I really, really hope that it is true. 

What languages do you speak?

English is my native language, and I learned German for four years in college. I can get around well enough in German, but wouldn’t say that I am fluent. It’s my hope to become fluent in another language, whether that be German or something else. 

What are your hobbies?

I am a big fan of coffee. Whether meeting people for coffee or finding a new coffee shop, you’ll usually see me with my hands wrapped around a warm mug. In warmer months, I love taking walks and watching things grow. I am very excited for the gardening season here at Jonathan House! I also love making small watercolor cards for people to get in the mail. I’m no artist, but a simple card, usually with a good pun, is a fun thing in my in-between time that I hope makes people smile. Newer hobbies of mine include bread-making and sewing.

What’s your main role as staff at IAFR Jonathan House?

As the Jonathan House Church Engagement & Development Lead, my role involves connecting with congregations and larger church bodies.

The International Association for Refugees, of which Jonathan House is a part, sees itself as a tool in the belt of the church for doing ministry with forcefully-displaced people; in that respect I consider my role to be about sharing how congregations might utilize that tool, particularly with respect to congregations in the Twin Cities partnering with Jonathan House.

The other half of my position is focused on development and donor relations. In my experience, there are a lot of people whose hearts ache over the plight of those seeking asylum, but they just don’t know how they can make a difference. It’s never a hard sell raising support for Jonathan House; it’s simply about inviting people to connect that heartache with a tangible opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of asylum-seeking individuals in the Twin Cities.

How did you first learn about the plight of asylum-seeking individuals in America?

It’s hard for me to pin down one moment per se; it was more of a gradual awakening. I can say that I first resonated with the plight of refugees as an adult because of the Syrian refugee crisis and had a particular awakening to the United States’ responsibility (and lack of compassionate response to this humanitarian crisis) when I spent a number of weeks in Germany in May of 2017 for the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the reformation. The pastor’s congregation who hosted me while I was staying in Leipzig had opened their doors and arms to Syrian refugees and I was incredibly moved by the faithfulness of their actions to provide hospitality to our global neighbors in need, particularly at a time when the United States was actively closing doors to Syrian refugees.

Sometime later, I learned that as the US federal government was radically decreasing the numbers of individuals and families admitted into the refugee resettlement program, the numbers of those seeking asylum in America had been radically increasing (because these are simply two different legal categories of forcefully displaced people, but often they can be the very same people). From that point on, I became dedicated to figuring out how I could make a positive difference in the lives of asylum-seeking individuals in the US.

How did you first get involved in Jonathan House?

In September of 2019, Bethany Ringdal and I began exploring the possibility of starting a new Lutheran ministry rooted in a mission to share God’s radical hospitality among global neighbors. One aspect of that ministry model was to support a housing ministry for asylum-seeking individuals. I heard about Jonathan House through the MN Asylum Network, and seeing as providing supportive housing for asylum-seeking individuals was a primary aspect of our exploration, we had a strong interest in learning more about Jonathan House. I attended one of IAFR’s “Foundations of Refugee Ministry” trainings, and later sought out a volunteer opportunity to be a resident advocate with Jonathan House.

The more we got to know IAFR and Jonathan House, however, the more it became clear that rather than starting a new ministry, we both felt called and encouraged to join IAFR to support and help expand the incredible ministry of Jonathan House. I feel truly honored to be part of this team.

What’s something that everyone can do to help the cause of asylum-seeking individuals in the US?

Get to know an asylum-seeking individual or family in your area. It may seem like a hard prospect to even find, let alone get to know, an asylum-seeking individual, but there are lots of organizations around the US that are working to support asylum seekers and refugees. A quick web search and anyone can find a starting point for meeting and supporting asylum-seeking individuals in your area. Specific needs can vary significantly from one person to another, but the human need for friendship is universal.

Is there a statistic or fact that has surprised you concerning asylum-seeking individuals?

I was pretty surprised when I discovered that there are estimated to be ~3,000 asylum-seeking individuals in Minnesota and South Dakota (with the majority concentrated in the Twin Cities metro area). I guess I had falsely assumed that the vast majority of asylum-seeking individuals were clustered near the southern border of the US. I found the concept of the refugee highway to be very illuminating, and helpful in understanding how and why we have such a concentration of asylum-seeking individuals in the Twin Cities and other large pockets all around the United States.

What is something asylum-seeking individuals have taught you?

Asylum-seeking individuals have taught me a lot about resilience and the important role of faith in remaining resilient in the face of such tremendous loss and trauma. When I started out serving as a Resident Advocate with Jonathan House I was really moved by the strength of faith and hope I heard from the resident with whom I was paired. 

Any other line of work you’re in?

I am a Lutheran pastor ordained in the ELCA in 2011, though I started out as a youth minister in 2004. I served as a pastor in two congregations in WA and MN before joining IAFR, and I continue to serve on the board of a Christian outdoor high-adventure camping ministry called Amnicon, located WI on the Southern shore of Lake Superior. I also have an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and have a tendency engage in a lot of techie side-projects.

What languages do you speak?

Much to my regret, I only speak English at any kind of conversational level. I am trying to improve on my very elementary Spanish skills, but that’s been slow-going and far too regularly back-burnered. I do write some Biblical Greek and a variety of programming languages though ;^)

Do you have any hobbies?

I love playing guitar, singing, and writing music—particularly for use in the context of Christian worship. I love downhill skiing, bike-riding, and canoeing. I have a long-lived passion for inter-religious dialogue, systematic theology, and learning about other faiths. I have recently been dabbling in music recording, video editing, 3D printing, laser engraving, and mobile app development.

What’s your main role as staff at IAFR Jonathan House?

My title is “Ministry Networker.” I think of myself as a physical therapist, strengthening the connective tissue among the people and organizations that support the survival and recovery of displaced people in the Twin Cities and beyond. So far I’ve been able to do things like connecting with organizations that support our residents’ career goals and using networks to help asylum seekers find safe shelter even when our rooms at Jonathan House are full. 

How did you first learn about the plight of asylum-seeking individuals in America?

Like many Americans, I started hearing really upsetting stories on the news a few years ago about families being separated at the border, the inhumane practice of detaining people seeking asylum, and the shrinking number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S. Like many people, I heard these stories with grief and a sense of helplessness. I couldn’t listen for long, or too closely. I didn’t know what I could possibly do to help. The situation seemed far away and impossibly big. I suppose that it is the hope of those benefiting from this harm: that people of goodwill will respond as I first did, by becoming overwhelmed and looking away. 

How did you first get involved in Jonathan House?

In spring 2019, my longtime friend Jason Lukis (also now on the Jonathan House team) called me with an invitation to join him in exploring a new ministry among asylum seekers. We were both beginners to this work, but the Holy Spirit planted a vision and we began seeking connections. We knew that there was a housing crisis among asylum seekers, and thought we might be called to start a new ministry to address this, but soon learned about Jonathan House and began getting to know the team. In the summer of 2020, we decided to join the International Association for Refugees and become members of the Jonathan House team.

What’s something that everyone can do to help the cause of asylum-seeking individuals in the US?

Firstly, you can push back against harmful narratives in your community and in your own mind. The fact that asylum seekers are so often imprisoned seems normal so long as we believe that they are criminals. In fact, seeking asylum is a human right, and detention and other administrative barriers to asylum are not only unnecessary – they are hurting people. 

The most important thing you can offer to an asylum seeker is your friendship. Start from a place of human connection, and allow other support that you offer to flow from that place. 

Is there a statistic or fact that has surprised you concerning asylum-seeking individuals?

Based on national news stories, I expected most asylum seekers in the Twin Cities to be Spanish-speaking individuals from Central America. In fact, the asylum-seeking community here is very diverse, with people coming from all over the world, including Africa, Asia and Europe. One need not speak Spanish to get involved in relationships with asylum seekers! 

What is something asylum seeking individuals have taught you?

I’ve witnessed the power of faith on a new level. I’ve been a follower of Jesus my whole life, but I am blown away by the way that a relationship with God has sustained some of my asylum-seeking friends through unspeakable difficulties. I feel like they are re-evangelizing me, teaching me how good the Good News really is. 

Any other line of work you’re in?

Along with our work at Jonathan House, Jason and I continue to explore ways that our training/experience as pastors and innovators can contribute to a Jesus-shaped movement of hospitality and solidarity among global neighbors. I’m also pursuing training as a spiritual director, based on the conviction that the justice movements of our day require spiritual vigor and a keen ear for the voice of God. 

What languages do you speak?

English and a tiny bit of French. 

Do you have any hobbies?

Camping, gardening, foraging for wild food, and cooking what I find and grow.