EFWM Annual Appeal
“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”
(Leviticus 19:34, English Standard Version)
Dear Friend,
On a beautiful Sunday in October, my family and I had the honor of attending a church service at EFWM with the people of Iglesia de la Sagrada Familia, the parish that grew out of the EFWM community decades ago. Fr. Fred Clarkson invited me to assist with communion, so before I arrived, I practiced using the Spanish Book of Common Prayer. When I nervously stepped behind the altar, all my practice went out the window! Despite my awful Spanish, the worshipping community was exceedingly gracious and kind.
As the church service wrapped up, the property filled with people coming to celebrate the Hispanic Heritage Festival hosted by EFWM’s amazing staff and volunteers. My family and I spent the rest of the day soaking in good food, shopping, soccer, traditional dancing, and a lot of Spanish. As we drove home, I reflected with my children on our day. We talked about how beautiful everything was, but also how difficult it was to speak a different language and not fully understand the culture we had witnessed. We were strangers in the community that day, but thankfully, had been received with utmost love and welcome.
EFWM primarily serves agricultural workers and immigrants who are strangers to North Carolina because they come from another country, language, and culture. EFWM does a lot of things well—food distributions, school supply drives, health fairs, immigration assistance, visits to farming camps, sewing classes, mental health counseling, English classes, holiday parties for children, and so much more—but if you were to ask me what EFWM does best, I would say we live out the Gospel of Jesus by providing welcome to neighbor and stranger alike. EFWM is a place where strangers quickly become adopted into a loving community of trust and support.
In 2024, we hope you will partner with us to continue our mission by providing programs to assist, advocate, educate and empower the community we serve. You can partner with us in three ways: become a sustainer through a planned monthly gift, make a one-time donation, or volunteer at least one event this year. You scroll down to find more information on how.
With your help, we can budget and plan for next year’s programming, and we can realize our goal of welcoming a new Executive Director in 2024. Can you help us welcome the neighbor and stranger alike?
In God’s Peace,
Rev. Michelle Bullock
Chair of the Board of Directors, Episcopal Farmworker Ministry
“Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.
All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
(Matthew 22:36-40, Common English Bible)