Chris Sicks talked about For the Nations DC, a ministry that embodies that truth for immigrants and refugees and strives to provide hope and help to our new neighbors. Vera Fernandes also shared her 30 years of missions work overseas and her current trauma healing ministry.
Chris Sicks is founder and board president of FTNDC, offering English classes to refugees and immigrants four days a week to help our new neighbors acclimate and discover the truth and love of Jesus. Chris served on staff at Alexandria Presbyterian Church for 20 years, and is now pastor of One Voice Fellowship, a multi-lingual church in Northern Virginia focused on refugees and recent immigrants. Chris is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary DC. He is also the author of Tangible: Making God Known through Deeds of Mercy and Words of Truth, published by NavPress in 2013). Previously, he worked at Gospel Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter and drug treatment program in Washington, DC, and ran a scholarship/mentoring program for inner-city youth. He has been a newspaper editor, restaurant manager, and Army officer. Chris lost his first wife, Sara, to breast cancer. Now married to Naomi, they have four children.
Vera Fernandes grew up in Mumbai, India and has lived cross-culturally most of her life. She is presently re-settling in the US. Vera has served overseas for three decades with at-risk women and children in the Ukraine, India and Afghanistan. She managed night shelters and play therapy centers in some of the most broken and devastated places in the world. She has cared for child survivors of trauma and worked towards their recovery and restoration. She loves being a bridge between cultures and sharing her stories of Christ’s transforming power.