Dallas teen works to make a difference in community: A Texas Baptist Hunger Offering Story

Mu was born in Southeast Asia and came to the United States with her family as refugees in 2007. As they settled in the Dallas area, her family found help and support from a Texas Baptist Hunger Offering ministry known as H4R. The ministry provided her family with help filling out government paperwork, ESL classes, assistance with homework and much more.

While she was in junior high, Mu attended a camp for refugee students hosted by H4R and accepted Christ as her Savior. Although her family background was Buddhist, several of her siblings made professions of faith as well. She began to grow in her faith and found encouragement through the testimony of H4R volunteers and staff members.

One day, during her sophomore year, Mu was at her apartment complex and was introduced to her local councilman, Mark Clayton. He was delivering school supplies to refugee students for their upcoming school year. Mu shared with Councilman Clayton about the persecution she saw in her home country and why she wanted to work to make a difference with her life. The councilman was very impressed by Mu and soon recommended her to serve on the Youth Commission for the City of Dallas.

This opportunity has opened the door for Mu in a variety of ways to share her testimony and empower her friends and family to make a difference in the new country which has become their home.

H4R began serving refugees in the Metroplex in 2009. Through Hunger Offering gifts, H4R is able to help families with food insufficiency, host a community garden where families can plant and harvest their own vegetation and provide help navigating paperwork for them to receive the services they need.

Since H4R began, the ministry has seen 75 refugees become citizens and more than 20 have graduated with high school diplomas. Five families have bought their own homes.

Founders Beka and Jeni have seen the Lord provide in numerous ways as they have built relationships with refugee families. They are also excited about a new partnership they are starting in Southeast Asia, the home of many of the refugees with whom they work. Becca and Jeni are looking forward to new opportunities to minister to this people group God has laid on their hearts.

The next 5th Sunday Hunger Offering is January 29. Click here to give today.