So our children took Sue and me to IHOP last week for what I thought was just a nice breakfast and time to catch up. After ordering, they said “Happy belated Father’s Day,” gave me a wrapped package, and told me to open it (they actually said something like “Happy Father’s Day, Happy Birthday, and … Continue reading
Author Archives: Greg and Sue Smith
From Receiving to Giving: Coming Full Circle
I (Sue) will never forget visiting a Latino immigrant family, opening the refrigerator, and finding . . . but wait! Let me back up. In LUCHA Ministries and especially through our Cinco Panes food assistance program, we try to keep an eye on the more vulnerable families. It’s hard, no matter who you are or … Continue reading
“To the Dentist with Jesus”
Yes, that was indeed my calendar entry on a recent day. I did a double-take and couldn’t help but chuckle. But it was true! I was taking a Mexican man named Jesús to the dentist that day. Many times, we English-speakers disregard the importance of that little tilde, the “accent mark” that appears in Spanish … Continue reading
Servants among friends: “After all I’ve done for you”
“After all I’ve done for you ….” Many of us have used those words with our children – or heard them from our own parents! But those words came alive for our Latino youth group this summer as teens spent time interviewing their parents, hearing their stories, and sharing stories of their own. LUCHA Ministries’ … Continue reading
Servants among friends: Imagining today’s Hispanic leader
Picture in your mind today’s Hispanic (Latino/Latina) leader. What image comes to mind? Let me tell you what I’m seeing here in Virginia. I see, first of all, Latina leaders who look like Artemia Tamayo. Young, outgoing and energetic, Artemia – or Archie as her family and friends know her – has long been a … Continue reading
Servants among Friends: Reaffirming Dignity
DIGNITY – what do you hear when this word comes to mind? For us, it takes on renewed meaning each summer when LUCHA Ministries refocuses our efforts on Latino youth outreach through PROJECT 3-D. Latino youth, many from immigrant parents and/or who are immigrants themselves, hear repeatedly that they are “different from” (implying “not as … Continue reading
God’s Gift
Sue and I began LUCHA Ministries in 2004 with United Methodist colleagues Victor and Heather Gomez to address social, spiritual, family and community-development needs we observed in the Latino community in the greater Fredericksburg, Virginia area. In partnership with area agencies, churches and others, we’ve offered ministries of transportation, translation, food, spiritual outreach, summer youth activities, … Continue reading
CBFblog 