About: Since 2010, the number of displaced people in the world has doubled to almost 80 million. As refugees flee persecution, they are finding fewer and fewer communities willing and able to welcome them. Violence and war separate people from their loved ones, their communities, and their homes. Displacement is a disruptive and disconnecting force, but we were made to live interconnected lives: connected to God, to one another, and to creation.
At Memorial Drive Ministries, we envision the end of disconnectedness for refugees and the diverse community of Clarkston. Clarkston has been the site of refugee resettlement for decades, so much so that Clarkston has become known as the Ellis Island of the South and is now the most diverse square mile in America. After refugees arrive in Clarkston, they need spaces for reconnection, rebuilding a sense of belonging again. Our goal is to cultivate that kind of space on the Memorial Drive campus.
We know that to rebuild a sense of belonging, resettled refugees will need access to:
- worship in their heart languages
- supportive services and resources
- relationship-building and community gatherings
Our mission at MDM, then, is to foster diverse worship, innovative social services, and transformative relationships on our Memorial Drive campus. The Memorial Drive campus is a shared space for congregations, nonprofits, and community groups, which we often call our Onsite Partners, all of whom are serving the diverse, under-resourced neighborhoods around us. Follow us on Facebook and sign up for our E-Newsletter to stay in touch!
