• 2007

    Under the leadership of Reverend Tomas Angon, Gloria Dei Hispanic Mission, and the Northwest Indiana Lutheran Hispanic Mission Society, a variety of classes were started to serve the local immigrant community.

  • 2010

    Having served as a volunteer since the beginning, Jessica Burkman was entrusted with leadership over the classes being offered.

  • 2011

    Classes began being held at the same time and in the same location. Participants representing many countries and many languages, not just Spanish speakers, began to attend. To reflect the diversity and the whole-family-studying-together approach, this community took on a new name: Compass International Family Center.

  • 2011-2017

    Due, in part, to a significant influx of international students and visiting scholars at Valparaiso University, Compass experienced dramatic growth in support of these visitors and their families, welcoming approximately 100 participants on a nightly basis with the help of 50 annual volunteers.

  • 2017

    Compass became a registered non-profit organization.

Compass is an open community of participants who come from a variety of cultural, language, and faith backgrounds. A heart of warmth and welcome is shared with our participants regardless of our differences. With great care, we create an environment that allows all to be comfortable within our learning community. Compass leadership experiences that same freedom, as being a program founded by Christians, and continues to be led by Christians. As a Leadership Team, it is our deepest desire to extend mercy and care to our new neighbors on their long difficult journeys.

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