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Nations
Ministry Center, as an instrument of God's grace in welcoming refugees and immigrants to Middle Tennessee, promotes genuine
self-sufficiency by serving the needs of the whole person. By engaging churches, other organizations, and individuals, Nations
Ministry Center seeks to support awareness of cultural diversity for the mutual benefit of clients and the entire community.
History Nations Ministry
Center emerged from an April 2002 meeting of nine concerned Nashvillians, all members of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
In January 2003, an apartment was rented at Tennessee Village (now Village West) to begin serving the many immigrants
and refugees living in west Nashville. NMC organized English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes, fellowship
events, computer classes, clothing give-aways, and employment assistance. In 2005, the organization incorporated
as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. With the arrival of the Somali Bantu refugees also in 2005, the organization
made a significant contribution to this community. Matt McParland served as the first director.
In order to reach immigrants beyond the Tennessee Village housing area, NMC opened an ESL class at Westminster Presbyterian
Church in October 2005. Glencliff Presbyterian Church, in 2006, agreed to host ESL classes to serve the
growing international community in south Nashville. In November 2005, NMC enlisted Marie-Aimee Abizera, a Rwandan refugee herself, to serve as the new
director. In April 2006, the Center at Tennessee Village was closed and NMC’s offices were
moved to First Presbyterian Church.
With the
arrival of over 100 Burundi refugees in summer 2007, Nations Ministry Center partnered with African Leadership to provide
refugee services at a Refugee Training Center (RTC), a rented apartment in the Richland Hills Apartment Community where now
about 120 Burundi live. The RTC offers multiple services to the newly-arrived refugees including survival
skills in adjusting to American life and basic English classes. October 2007 saw the departure of Aimee Abizera to
Africa for a four-month internship. NMC hired Chris Lovingood to serve as interim director.
Along with a strong volunteer corps, the interim director developed a preschool for the Burundi community, a computer
lab for English instruction, and a tutoring program for at-risk Burundi youth.
In April
2008, Aimee Abizera concluded her tenure as director to pursue full-time graduate studies. Chris Lovingood was hired
as the new executive director. With so many opportunities, Nations Ministry Center opened a Refugee Center in summer 2008
to expand services. NMC received its first grant in 2008 from The Frist Foundation. The first annual campaign
began in spring 2008. A grant from the Joe C. Davis Foundation greatly enhanced our English language teaching programs.
Thanks to a generous grant, NMC hired its first Director of Volunteer Services in April 2009. The Junior League
also chose Nations Ministry Center to be a community partner in 2009-2010. We also welcomed in 2009 our first Young
Adult Volunteer through the Nashville Epiphany Project.
Board of Directors Betsy Bahn
Heather B. Cain
Denise Mathis DeVane Laura
W. Dreher Leslie Grote
Linda Lea Hood Christie C. Kelley
Terry Allison Rappuhn
Karen E. Richardson
Karen Stevens
Frank W. Wade
John S. Wagster Trey Wince
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