 Vacation Bible School for children has been a staple in American churches since the early 1900s. All local children are invited for games, songs, Bible stories and activities. Local international children are invited, too, of course! But sometimes they don’t attend because their parents don’t know what it is or maybe they don’t hear about it in the first place. But what if the parents are invited, too?
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 “God just knows how to do things exactly right!,” states Jani Whaley, Executive Director of KIN, describing how a new KIN Embrace group of young adults’ resources, experiences, and personalities came to perfectly match the particular needs of an international family newly integrating into Knoxville.
When McKenzie from Grace Baptist Church contacted KIN about her life group's interest in KIN’s Embrace program, she shared, “We were looking for a way we could serve as a group, since each of us is so very busy with our lives, and this was the perfect fit. Many hands make the work light, and everyone in our group had giftings and talents they could bring to the table.” KIN’s Embrace program provides an opportunity for a church small group, Sunday School class, or assembly of close friends to be trained, equipped, and supported to assist an international family as they integrate into Knoxville. Ahmed and Wardha* arrived in Knoxville from Syria in January 2024 with their 2 children, a 7-year-old son with severe health issues and a 6-year-old daughter. Wardha spoke very little English; Ahmed was a civil engineer/project coordinator in his home city and hoped for employment in his field, as his English was further along. But upon their arrival, their basic integration needs overwhelmed them, including regular trips to Nashville for medical attention for their son.  Two little Japanese girls came running from the playroom full of children for the one who could understand them. Consistently pulled from assisting in the adult English class, Tamiko Sakaguchi soon transitioned herself to caring for the children during the Maryville ELL (English Language Learning) program. Now she orchestrates childcare for the international children like a weekly VBS with Bible songs, a story about Jesus, and games to reinforce the concepts. Tamiko, also called Tami, is a wise Japanese woman who loves Jesus. Behind her quiet smile and bright eyes is a storehouse of scriptural wisdom, a prayer warrior, a creator of games, and the power to lead.
Tami arrived in Indiana from Japan at the tender age of 15 for a school exchange program. Learning for the first time about the gospel of Jesus, she also witnessed the freedom of praying Christians who did not hide their problems. As an honor\shame culture, in Japan, problems are not shared; people bear heavy burdens alone. But Tami saw a better way... The English Language Learning (ELL) classroom is the perfect place to personally connect with local internationals by teaching English, building relationships, instilling confidence and independence, and ultimately pointing them to Jesus. Two Knox County ELL programs have facilitated incredible friendships, impacting lives on a deeper level along the way. They began with different target groups, but have the same beautiful story of network collaboration!  by Bobbie McClain
Another program made stronger through collaboration has been Village Church ELL. It began in 2014 when Cindy Hood, with a heart for international families in the Norwood community, ran a summer English camp at Tillery Ridge apartments for Iraqis new to that area, and then her family personally moved into the neighborhood! Seeing a need that these mothers had for their preschool children, families involved with camp were invited to a “Kindergarten Readiness Program” held in Norwood Elementary cafeteria. Courageous volunteers separated children from their moms by coaxing the little ones to participate in blanket activities stationed around the room: books, toys, snacks, singing and forming water fountain lines. Meanwhile, the moms on the other side of the cafeteria were learning lessons of their own. One delighted teacher “watched the confidence of these moms blossom as they walked into school each week and even talked to school staff about issues with their older children.”  The English Language Learning (ELL) classroom is the perfect place to personally connect with local internationals by teaching English, building relationships, instilling confidence and independence, and ultimately pointing them to Jesus. Two Knox County ELL programs have facilitated incredible friendships, impacting lives on a deeper level along the way. They began with different target groups, but have the same beautiful story of network collaboration! by Bobbie McClain West Hills ELL started their program in West Hills Elementary School Cafeteria after Northstar Church asked KIN to help them carry out their faith journey in fall 2022. KIN provided a teacher and encourager (teacher assistant), while Northstar volunteers formed program teams and worked with school staff to share about the class with parents of ELL students. God also brought a new couple to Knoxville, and to Northstar, at just the right time, as they were seeking a church where they could carry out their calling to teach ELL.  Kevin and Lynne Quinn taught upper-level students the first year and are now the program co-directors. Kevin says, “If you can speak in English, you can help an international student navigate their new environment!” Lynne states, “Our lessons lead to conversations that help students talk about their experiences here and in their home country.” Last year, West Hills ELL had students representing 10 countries and 7 languages!
They all began doing things together outside class, and with their families, such as attending Northstar’s “Family Day at the Farm” in Lenoir City. The class bonded that night as they scaled ropes, wandered through corn mazes, rode potato sack slides, and went on hayrides. Another memorable event was the multicultural Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day. All who attended stated it was the first time they had been invited to a traditional Thanksgiving meal and they were honored and excited to receive such an invitation. Building trust is often difficult for some as they come to this new country, so the ELL classroom provides a safe place to encourage taking those steps. After one Afghan student’s house was hit by three downed trees during a recent storm, she and her husband hired someone to remove the trees, paying a 50% down payment - only to never hear from them again.  by Anna Garlington
When Sabrina, a native of Honduras, and her daughter, Luna, arrived in Knoxville, they moved from another state; so they were not new to the US. However, they felt unsure how they would fit in and how Luna would make new friends and adapt to a new school. For Sabrina, she wanted classes to improve her English and to also find some work.  In the spring, an article ran in KIN's e-newsletter explaining the "network" and how it functions. So, how is that going? Does the network work?....
Not only does it work, it works well: facilitating relationships to support acquisition of individual needs, sharing resources so each volunteer doesn't individually have to beat the bushes to find them, and sharing systems and processes information (healthcare, insurance, government assistance) so new volunteers learn from what others have already discovered. Check out these examples of the network at work:*  Sometimes it takes a village…or in this case, an Embrace group. When KIN was notified that a family from Afghanistan would arrive at the Knoxville airport within a week, a call for an Embrace group went out to our church partners. Immediately, the Mission Director at Shoreline Church responded enthusiastically, “We’re in!!”
Although there were steps to be completed such as applications, background checks, and training, the group of nearly 20 quickly and eagerly did what was needed to be paired with the family of eight. “I was initially apprehensive; but once we met the family, I realized they weren’t much different than us and simply needed friends to guide them on integrating into Knoxville,” stated one Embrace member.  by Blythe Thompson
Gone are the days of having to leave our homes, our country, and our culture. We can now step out our door to love and care for the nations without ever leaving what is familiar to us. 2nd Home, a program of KIN in association with the Knox County Association of Baptists, launched in the fall of 2022, connects a family in the Knoxville area with an international student at the University of Tennessee to provide a “family away from home”. As the program began, Clark and Alyson Cutrer, a young family in Knoxville, saw that KIN still had a need for sponsor families… but Alyson had just given birth 2 weeks earlier to their second child. Feeling very strongly the mandate of the Great Commission, the Cutrers signed up! There was excited anticipation in their home as they invited their student for dinner, hoping that their circus of a family would not scare him away. Quite the opposite… there have been great conversations, shared meals, and outings, including a recent visit to the Knoxville Zoo. And as the 2022-23 program winds down, with school ending soon, Alyson says it doesn't just meant a lot to the students, it has meant a lot to their family, as well - and has gone above and beyond their expectations. The Cutrers highly encourage others to participate in the program. As Alyson says, “Just do it! If you wait for the perfect time to, you’ll miss out.”  by Blythe Thompson
Growing up an American missionary kid in Ecuador, now residing in the US, Geri knows the challenges of feeling at home in a foreign land, which for her, is the US. So, since moving to the US as an adult, Geri has always found a way to connect with internationals in her community, wanting to help them feel more at home. Additionally, volunteering had always been part of her retirement plan, to give back to the community, and help people find Christ or grow in their faith.  by Charles Simerly, KIN Volunteer
It was a brisk and cold day the week of Christmas. My wife, two young boys, and I loaded into our car and headed to our destination. We parked on the street of a neighborhood I had many fond memories of, because growing up, I had a good friend that previously lived here. However, the house up the hill remained unfamiliar. I can’t say I'm never nervous about meeting new people, so I felt hesitant as we walked up the steep driveway toward the door. We had a gift for the international family that lived there that included some homemade desserts, pajamas, and toys.
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Nate* could have chosen any city when he immigrated to the USA, but he chose Knoxville. He had friends, he says, who were “giving me good words about Knoxville.” They said his children would have a good future if he moved here, and the cost of living was reasonable. Three years later, Nate is “giving good words” about Knoxville himself! He wants to buy a house and see his children grow into adulthood here. But getting to Knoxville wasn’t easy.
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IMPACTRead the stories of Knoxville's local internationals and the volunteers who have impacted their lives. Get a first-hand view of what it's like to move here and/or to serve those who've moved here from other countries. Discover how KIN has impacted life and culture in metro Knoxville. Archives
August 2024
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