Battle Creek ACS Impacts Refugees

Springfield, MI—Just outside Battle Creek, an old high school has been renovated into the Burma Center, a community hub for Burmese refugees.

The Burma Center, according to its website, focuses on “empower[ing] Burmese Americans through advocacy, community engagement, and education.” Its goal is for Burmese refugees to “thrive alongside the people of Battle Creek to create a more equitable and inclusive community.”

The center offers resources for health, education, career development, language access, and translations. It also houses an Adventist Community Services (ACS) center directed by Shirley Finneman, a member of Battle Creek Tabernacle.

The ACS center is next to a preschool for refugee children run by a Baptist minister and his wife. Finneman collaborates with the school to serve its 70 students, providing a clothes closet stocked with items for preschoolers. “The teachers have a key,” Finneman says, “and they can come in and get pants and shirts anytime for the kids.”

Approximately 3,500 Burmese refugees live in the Battle Creek area. Many fled Myanmar (formerly Burma) due to violence, natural disasters, and human rights violations. Finneman explains that ongoing conflicts, including forced conscription, have worsened conditions, leaving many refugees struggling with loneliness, depression, or suicidal thoughts.

Refugees receive three months of support after arriving in America, says Chelli Ringstaff, ACS director for the Michigan Conference. “Once the three months are up, they’re just dropped. The Burma Center picks up that gap.”

While many refugees quickly find jobs, Finneman notes they often lack financial literacy. “They have no clue all of the expenses that come with [a vehicle]—the insurance, the gas. They still don’t have a real good concept of money.”

To address these challenges, ACS helps women start small businesses. The center provides ten sewing machines, allowing women to learn to sew and create home-based businesses. “They can use our sewing machines, learn how to sew, and have a home business,” Finneman says.

Even if these businesses don’t fully cover expenses, sewing helps families save money. Many also send funds to relatives in Myanmar, where even small amounts of U.S. currency make a significant impact.

Finneman schedules sewing classes an hour before school dismissal, enabling mothers to attend while waiting to pick up their children. “The mothers who attended were so thankful that they could learn to make modest clothing,” Finneman says. She also offers knitting, crocheting, and card-making classes to foster connection among women.

A study from the University of Florida informed Finneman’s approach, showing that traditional counseling isn’t effective for refugees. Instead, community activities like gardening or sewing provide healing spaces. “They can talk to each other,” Finneman says, “and we don’t insist they speak English.” These activities allow women to open up and support one another.

Finneman recalls one woman who was suicidal and heavily medicated before attending sewing classes. “We saw her come every week, and slowly, she was able to smile; she gradually got off her medication… it saved her life.”

While some refugees avoid church, many feel comfortable at the center. “Our emphasis is on helping women who feel isolated,” Finneman says. The center also offers hydrotherapy and hygiene classes, according to Ringstaff.

The Burma Center has been a blessing for both refugees and ACS. Finneman recalls a young boy excitedly pointing to the clothes closet and saying, “My new shirt, my new shirt!” Moments like this, she says, make the work worthwhile. “We are making an impact even though we can’t really speak their language.”

ACS is often seen as a provider of food and clothing, but Finneman’s work demonstrates its broader potential. “Adventist Community Services is like the Marines,” she says. “We can move quickly and get things done. It’s not just about giving out food and clothing; we do lots of other things, too.”

For ACS ministries to succeed, Finneman emphasizes, they must identify and meet the unique needs of their communities. The Burma Center exemplifies this approach, using God-given resources to reach and empower others.