Dear Central Church Friends,

Our church family has a history of noticing needs in the community and finding ways to fill them.
Because there were no free immigration legal services available north of Grand Rapids, Central
Church opened its doors in 2015 to a new ministry – Justice for Our Neighbors Michigan (JFON-MI).
In the past 8 years, JFON-MI has grown to become a full-time immigration legal
office. In 2022 we provided free immigration legal services to 170 new clients!

Our world is full of the stories of persons seeking asylum and safety in other lands. At Central
Church, we see hope being offered. I am inspired whenever I see JFON-MI staff around our
building and sometimes standing in the parking lot serving families and offering critical counsel
for those in our community seeking help with immigration legal needs. -Pastor Chris Lane

I’ve never been more proud of my hometown than I have been this year as churches come
together to welcome new neighbors from Ukraine and Afghanistan. We’ve helped with housing
and critical needs, and we’ve made sure newcomers know their immigration legal rights through
JFON-MI. What a ministry Central Church has built! I’m a proud supporter of JFON-MI and I
invite you to join me. -Pastor Linda Stephan

Please help us reach our goal of raising $10,000 this Lent as we expand our work in
Traverse City! Your gift will help increase our legal assistant’s hours so that we have the
capacity to assist more neighbors. Our services are in greater demand than ever. Since last
spring, JFON-MI has served about 100 Ukrainian clients who came to Traverse City after the
war began. As Afghan families seek new homes in west Michigan after fleeing violence in their
home country, JFON-MI is here to help them apply for asylum. We also continue to serve
clients from all over the world with a variety of immigration legal needs. You will hear some of
their stories in the coming weeks.

During Lent this year, Pastor Chris and Pastor Linda challenge us to wander the desert with
Moses, the Israelite refugee, in search of a place to call home. By supporting JFON-MI, we let
God’s love shine as a welcome to people finding home in northern Michigan. Courageous and
resilient, JFON-MI clients enhance Michigan with their cultures, skills, and hope for the future.
Thank you for your investment in justice,

Alline Beutler
Development and Communications Manager and Regional Liaison
abeutler@jfonmi.org | 231.357.0026