A Vietnamese refugee family will apparently be sponsored in New Ulm by Redeemer Lutheran Church.

The church’s congregation has decided to sponsor a family if housing can be found, the Rev. Al Lueman, pastor of the church, said Thursday.

“Our people, I think, here at Redeemer feel that this a great opportunity to help human beings as well as expressing the Christian faith,” Pastor Lueman said.

A number of members of the congregation are looking for housing for the family. According to the congregation’s vote, housing must be found before July 15 in order for the church to apply for sponsorship.

“We’re cautiously hopeful at this point that we’ll find housing,” Pastor Lueman said.

SHOULD the church sponsor a refugee family, the move would apparently be supported in part by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Courtland.

The Rev. David Susan, pastor at Immanuel, said Thursday that his congregation has voted against sponsoring a refugee family but for support to other churches offering to bring refugees to the area.

A fund has been started at Immanuel, Pastor Susan said, to lend financial support to Redeemer’s sponsorship and to sponsorship by two churches in Mankato.

Later, Pastor Susan said, there may be support from Immanuel in the way of food, clothing and volunteer work.

SHOULD Redeemer find the housing for a refugee family, an application would be sent to the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service in New York with a copy to Lutheran Social Services in Minneapolis.

The type of housing available could dictate the size of the family Redeemer would sponsor, according to Pastor Lueman.

New Ulm Daily Journal

June 14, 1975