Perry Highway Joins New Cooperative Parish Ministry For Refugees

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, now marks a significant historical milestone for Perry Highway Lutheran and our Synod in Southwest Pennsylvania. Members of three Lutheran congregations met at Trinity Wexford to kickstart the Refugee Ministry Collaborative of the North Hills. The participating churches include St. John’s of Highland, Trinity Wexford, and our congregation’s members who feel called to refugee ministry. This meeting represents “a first” among Lutheran congregations in our area as all three churches agreed to co-sponsor a refugee family coming to Pittsburgh next year.

Special thanks go to Pr. Beth Clementson of St. John’s, Pr. Ryan Pusch of Perry Highway Lutheran, and Pr. Larry Kemp of Trinity, who have all signed on to shepherd this ministry! Thanks also go to Brianna Mensch and Linda Cragg, who dedicated their time to nursery service. We are grateful that our sign-up list from all three congregations exceeds 30 members.

Dedicated new members of the Collaborative are now in the process of obtaining the required background checks and mandatory training before the sponsorship of a new refugee family. Anyone is welcome to join us at any time, and there are many diverse tasks to meet your interests and time limitations. Our next meeting will be held in January (TBA).

There are ways for all three congregations’s members to participate:

  • VOLUNTEER: Join our collaborative effort by contacting Pr. Pusch or Fred Geiger. If you do not wish to join another committee, you can volunteer to help set up a living space, collect and transport small or large household items, or assist in some administrative or technical tasks.
  • DONATE ITEMS: We ALWAYS need food, clothing, and household furnishings. Please respond when you see these needs advertised in our Sunday bulletin.
  • DONATE FUNDS: it is costly to help a new family put down roots in this country. Your financial donation OF ANY AMOUNT will help sustain our efforts and purchase needed items such as initial rent costs, food, diapers and baby formula, bus passes, and emergency transportation. If you have ever looked to God’s mercy in a time of need, you can be part of God’s merciful activity by giving to PHLC, c/o Refugee Collaborative.