Just before Thanksgiving, in November 2007, the Congregational Church of Brookfield began helping three Iraqi refugees – Dr. Nafie Abtan, his wife, Suhair, and their two year-old son, Mutaz – to become completely self-sufficient in our community. Through the sponsorship of the United States government and a New Haven-based nonprofit, Integrated Refugee and Immigration Services (IRIS), this family has escaped death threats in their war-torn country to find a safe haven here in Brookfield.

Church member Jennifer Wurst seemingly tirelessly coordinates the loving care-taking of 40 volunteers who help the Abtan family by providing medical and dental care, food supplies, clothing, guidance about budgeting and finances, English lessons, advice in how to manage day-to-day shopping needs – while the transportation team arranges all needed appointments and then driving the family to those appointments. Pastors Bryn Smallwood-Garcia and Jennifer Whipple and dozens of wonderful volunteers are daily giving of their hearts, minds and souls to help this family assimilate into our American culture, and a new life in Brookfield.