“I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

John 10:9-10

QUESSUA, ANGOLA – Many women in the Quéssua community of Angola do not know the importance of prenatal consultations during pregnancy or going to a hospital for child birth delivery. Some are familiar only with traditional midwives and others even give birth alone at home. I am a Global Mission Fellow from Kenya with a diploma in nursing and midwifery and God has called me to serve this community as an outreach midwife at Quéssua Health Center.

I have been doing door-to-door outreach and creating awareness about the importance of prenatal consultation and hospital delivery. I thank God for the community openness and readiness toward change as they embrace the information in a positive way.

A good number of pregnant women are now coming to the health center and, monthly, I receive about 500-1000 women. This has been very encouraging and motivating to both the community and the health center. It means the fulfillment of the promise of an abundant life is near, and the chances of more women and families having healthy, strong children are increasing.

In addition to serving as a community outreach midwife, I also take part in mobile clinics. Access to health is a major problem because there are not enough hospitals, people travel long distances to reach them, and they lack transportation to get to them. Simply put, many people living in the interior of the villages are not able to access medical care.

There is always a sigh of relief and hope from people when we take the mobile clinics in those areas. They show up in great numbers, thanks to Global Ministries and other partners for the support they give. 

Health access is a necessity that no one should lack.

Please pray with me:

• That through the efforts of Quéssua Health Center, more people in remote villages in East Angola will gain access to health care, especially pregnant women seeking to deliver healthy, strong babies.
• That we can reach people with messages of hope and information that may save their lives and the lives of their families.
• That I may stand firm and strong in God’s mission to bring life-giving knowledge and expert care to those God has put in my path.

Sylvia Night Wesonga is from Nairobi, Kenya, and is now in her second year of service as a Global Mission Fellow in East Angola. She earned a diploma in nursing and midwifery at the Pumwani College School of Nursing and Midwifery in Nairobi City.

Global Mission Fellows

Global Mission Fellows are young adults, ages 20–30, who are committed to serve in social justice ministries for two years. They enter new communities, understanding their challenges and assets through relationships and with the long-term goal to overcome systemic oppression. Fellows partner with community organizations to address a variety of issues, including migration/immigration, education, public health and poverty.

Explore the work of Global Ministries missionaries.

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ATLANTA – Become a Global Mission Fellow (GMF) and join the movement of young adults who cross boundaries to better understand and respond to injustice.

The Global Mission Fellows program of The United Methodist Church places young adults, ages 20-30, in social justice ministries for two years of service. The program is excited to announce the launch of the application for the next cohort of fellows.

Since 1951, fellows have worked to address deep-rooted systems of injustice in a variety of areas, including food insecurity, migration/immigration, education and poverty. They gain a fresh perspective on systems preventing social change as they engage with current world issues.

“As we live in a world that is becoming increasingly polarized and the divide between socioeconomic classes, ideologies, race/ethnicity, and gender identities deepen, I believe God is pouring out God’s Spirit on all people so that ‘Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young will see visions. Your elders will dream dreams.’” (Acts 2:17, CEB), says the Rev. Dr. Judy Chung, executive director for Missionary Service for Global Ministries. “With the Spirit of God working in and through young people, a movement of God’s mission that ushers in justice and peace can transform the world.” 

The Wesleyan value of personal and social holiness is at the core of the Global Mission Fellows program. The program is open to those from different denominational backgrounds, but participants are expected to represent The United Methodist Church and uphold its social principles during their time of service.

Fellows form meaningful relationships with their host community as they are mentored by organizations meeting immediate needs and working toward lasting transformation. They receive ongoing training in spiritual and professional development and the program provides ways for the cohort to stay connected across countries and placement sites. 

The application deadline for the international track is Jan. 15, 2025. The program is not accepting applications for service on the US-2 track this year. Placement matches will be assigned throughout the selection process, but early application is encouraged for the strongest match. The application for the international track can be found at https://umcmission.org/become-a-fellow-international-track/.

Those selected for the next Global Mission Fellow cohort will begin onboarding in Spring 2025 and start service in August 2025.

For more information regarding the program or application process, email missionaryinfo@umcmission.org.

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About the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church

Global Ministries is the worldwide mission and development agency of The United Methodist Church. Founded in 1819, Global Ministries today supports more than 200 missionaries in over 60 countries, including the United States. It has personnel, projects and partners in 115 countries. Learn more about Global Ministries by visiting www.umcmission.org or by following www.facebook.com/GlobalMinistries and Twitter.com/UMCmission.

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Global Mission Fellows completing their two-year terms of service in spring 2024 shared photos and memories about their time as young adult missionaries.

Catch a glimpse into the work of 10 GMFs and what they found meaningful in their placements all over the world. 

A large part of the economy of Kamina is based on traditional subsistence agriculture, fishing and cattle breeding. Modern farms are rare. Yet, Kamina lacks neither rich land, nor rivers and lakes full of fish.

The people in the photo are from the southeastern part of Kamina in a village called Kinkunki, which is not far from Kamisamba farm, where I work. They are mostly peasant farmers whose livelihoods depend on their farms. Because of their financial constraints, this rural village finds it difficult to send its children to school, which results in high rates of illiteracy in the community.

The children, without resources to attend school, don’t have any other option than to join and support their parents in farming.

However, they lack some of the basic agricultural tools that could improve their farming techniques. They usually come to Kamisamba Farm to work during harvest. After the harvest, Kamisamba provides them with seeds that help them plant their own fields to improve their crop production.

In my place of assignment, I am involved both in the El Sembrador Sschool and in the church (which is located on the school grounds). I direct the English program, help with the school’s marching band, teach the recorder, pianica and the lira (glockenspiel), and I am involved with the church’s music team.

However, I have never felt so fulfilled and happy as I was during this moment. This is the first joint young people’s retreat/fellowship that I organized with the new GMF, Binu Bill Bright Abel from India. This was attended by the youth of two churches, both part of my work assignment: Iglesia Metodista Pastocalle and Iglesia Metodista Agua de Vida in Romerillos. We fellowshipped with each other, cooked and shared food, and listened to the Word of God shared by my seminary Professor, Dr. David Upp. The goal was to build a closer connection between the two churches and a community of young believers.

We all need friends, community, support and a sense of being loved. It is a blessing to have found all these through a local spiritual community in my place of assignment. This is one of the local churches in which I have spent time serving with the youth alongside the youth pastors of the church. Engaging in Bible studies together, celebrating and grieving with one another, visiting each other’s homes and learning more about our cultural dynamics has assisted in relationship building and enhancing our spiritual growth through shared stories of God’s experiences in our lives.

One of the days I will remember is July 9, 2023, pictured above. I had a role to play in the Sunday worship service. To my surprise, after the benediction, the band played a birthday song and the whole congregation started singing along, surrounding me. They showered me with gifts and prayers. I felt loved, like family, while joy overflowed in my heart on that day. With gratitude in my heart, I look forward to the continued growth and connection with them in my last days of GMF service and beyond.

Since the organization’s founding in 1994, Koinonia’s mission has been to mobilize ecumenical solidarity and render service to historically and culturally vulnerable groups that are in the process of social and political emancipation. The organization makes alliances with Black communities that are set in urban and rural areas, with women, young people, LGBTQIA+ communities, and with people who have HIV and AIDS.

Koinonia trains young people and adolescents on gender and diversity rights and coordinates public advocacy with people living with HIV, raising awareness in churches and religious communities on health and sexuality issues, and strengthening religious actions for inclusion.

The aim of the event pictured above was to build spaces to encourage and discuss information about the combined prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections as well as provide psychosocial support for people with HIV and AIDS, aiming to minimize the damage caused by pandemics in the outskirts and metropolitan regions of the city of São Paulo.

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with children, teenagers and senior citizens. Our organization focuses on the underprivileged and marginalized, but especially the children. They have the right to learn and develop, but because of their circumstances, they are not growing in optimal conditions.

In the photo, the children are playing games after their classes. Although the conditions there are very poor, the children always smile brightly and welcome us whenever we visit. I believe that children need more attention because they are the generation that will continue the work of God in the future. We provide alternative educational programs for these children, and we also have Bible study classes with them. This ensures that they develop both physically and spiritually.

The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy and community education. In Seattle, I work as a citizen intake coordinator to help clients navigate their program eligibility and provide direct representation to support attorneys and legal advocates through the U.S. legal system.

Part of why I applied to be a Global Mission Fellow US-2 was to take part in mission that works toward positive impact, to advocate for social justice for those who need it and are experiencing injustice and working with communities instead of for them.

But leaving Oklahoma to come to Seattle, I found it was also important to find a good church community outside of work and one that matched the GMF mission. Here are a group of us kayaking on a church retreat as we spent the weekend at church camp growing together and feeling connected!

Serving people and serving the community is the way I serve my God. I am grateful for the skills God gave me to use in my ministry, especially to work with kids and young people.

It is my pleasure to meet and work with a diverse community that allows us to show our love, respect, kindness and unity.

Connecting the church in mission and engaging with the community has a big impact on me as I lead a team. In Northern Ireland, we do surf workshops while sharing the Gospel of Jesus as we believe that “Real Life Awaits.”

The spiritual life of young people is strengthened through the balance (Sports and Workshop) of the ministry, also, they’ll grow in personal and in social holiness. Ministry has a big influence on an individual’s life, portraying the ministry of Jesus in the boat, in the sea, in the mountains, in the cities, as we see differently and serve differently.

I work closely with the Green Scenery Advocacy Team in organizing advocacy activities, including seminars, conferences, and some specific campaigns. I assist in designing, planning, implementing and monitoring advocacy project activities, and in organizing seminars, workshops and special lectures.

Here we work hand-in-hand with vulnerable communities to help them understand the impacts of climate change, empowering them to advocate for ways to help the climate recover and reduce practices that are unsustainable.

In serving with the Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance in Kenya, my focus lies within a climate policy and advocacy organization, distinct from direct church engagement. However, driven by a desire to find a local spiritual community of support, I connected with a United Methodist congregation while on this spiritual journey.

Following the disaffiliation of larger UMC churches in Kenya, including all of those in Nairobi, I, alongside like-minded believers, embarked on a mission to revitalize our United Methodist roots. Through collaborative consultation and concerted effort, we successfully planted six United Methodist churches in Nairobi. Today, these churches stand as beacons of hope, embodying the spirit of the UMC and nurturing spiritual growth within our community.

I am from the Philippines, and I serve in Clarendon Shelter, a homeless shelter in Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland. My job description involves learning about homelessness and active participation in doing support work.

I’ve learned never to underestimate the power of being different, especially in places where you will stand out. When I came to Derry, I was so afraid of being judged or profiled because of who I am and where I come from. However, I realized that if I don’t step into a lighted space I will forever be in the dark – unseen and unheard.

I started sharing my ideas in the shelter and facilitating projects with the residents. Going to schools and churches to share facts about the issue of homelessness helped me to feel at home with different people, especially young children, and to create an advocacy project.

Here at Clooney Hall Methodist Church, I met with the Elders Luncheon Club to share about the rapid growth of homelessness in Northern Ireland and the importance of advocacy for housing rights and how congregations and church members can get involved.

Please pray for these GMFs and their broader cohort of fellows as they transition to new careers, further studies or another phase of discernment in their lives.

Meanwhile, the 2024-2026 class of young adult missionaries has been selected and trained for service and will soon be arriving in their placements!

Learn more about the Global Mission Fellows program, including how to apply and ways to support.

The post 10 Global Mission Fellows reflect on 2 years of service appeared first on Global Ministries.

ATLANTA – Become a Global Mission Fellow and join the movement of young adults who cross boundaries to better understand and respond to injustice.

The Global Mission Fellows program of The United Methodist Church places young adults, ages 20–30, in social justice ministries for two years of service. The program is excited to announce the launch of the application for both tracks: service in the United States (US-2 track) and around the world (international track).

Fellows on both tracks address deep-rooted systems of injustice, working in a variety of areas including food insecurity, migration/immigration, education and poverty. Fellows on the US-2 track leave their home state to serve in a new community and fellows on the international track serve outside their home country in a new context.

All fellows gain a fresh perspective on systems preventing social change as they engage with current world issues. They form meaningful relationships with their host community as they are mentored by organizations meeting immediate needs and working toward lasting transformation.

Fellows receive ongoing training in spiritual and professional development and the program provides ways for the cohort to stay connected during their time of service. 

The Wesleyan value of personal and social holiness is at the core of the Global Mission Fellows program. The program is open to those from different denominational backgrounds, but participants are expected to represent The United Methodist Church and uphold its social principles during their time of service.

The application deadline for the international track is Jan. 17, 2024 and, for the US-2 track, April 9, 2024. Placement matches will be assigned throughout the selection process, but early application is encouraged for the strongest match. The application for the international track can be found at https://umcmission.org/become-a-fellow-international-track/ and the application for the US-2 track can be found at https://umcmission.org/become-a-fellow/.

Those selected for the next Global Mission Fellow cohort will begin onboarding in Spring 2024 and start service in August 2024.

For more information regarding the program or application process, email missionaryinfo@umcmission.org.

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The 2022 rainy season started early, with our first rains arriving around mid-May. In preparation for the season, we developed training on nutrition and vegetable gardening. We visited two communities that are located approximately 150 milesfrom the town where I live, but it took us two days to cover the three communities we targeted:  Mantantuh village from Cambia District, Mapoli village from Portloco District, and Rogban village from Tonkolili District.

The training was successful, though we had our share of transportation challenges, but we made it there and arrived back home safely. At some point, we crossed a big river on a canoe to get to our last village. I conducted the training, and a field officer and my supervisor from the Village to Village Federation helped with translations.

It was really an amazing experience. I learned quite a few things about the culture of this area of Sierra Leone because I conducted the training in a way that almost everyone was able to participate, giving them opportunities to share their knowledge about the crops we were discussing.

Crossing the wide river to get to one of the villages in the long canoe was a bit scary, but the experience turned out to be fun in the end. The boat is designed to carry at least 20 passengers with their hand luggage. The experience kept reminding me of how God loves his people and protects them from different dangers by giving them knowledge to keep them safe.

Our training covered methods of growing, organic production and post-harvest handling of crops. We explained the different food classes. We also described the nutrients found in different vegetables and how they help the body. We distributed a few seeds for the participants to try out right after the training, including onion, carrot, tomato, pepper and okra. We will revisit the communities to check on people’s progress with their crops.

Trobby Kandala works with the Village to Village Federation in Sierra Leone as an environmental advocate. He participates with local communities on different agriculture projects with the goal of providing food security and a balanced diet to those he serves.

Global Mission Fellows

Global Mission Fellows are young adults, ages 20-30, who are committed to serving in social justice ministries for two years. They enter new communities, understanding their challenges and assets through relationships and with the long-term goal to overcome systemic oppression. Fellows partner with community organizations internationally and in the U.S. to address a variety of issues, including migration/immigration, education, public health and poverty.

Support the ministries of missionaries working around the world, including young adult Global Mission Fellows, Advance #00779z.

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By Adam Bowers and Sara Logeman
November 30, 2022 | ATLANTA

What’s it like living and working in a different country, following God’s call to mission wherever it may lead? Young adults in the International track of the Global Mission Fellows (GMF) program know first hand! Now that applications are open for the Global Mission Fellows International track, just as we did for fellows in the US-2 track, we checked in with fellows currently serving around the globe.

The GMF program places young adults, ages 20–30, within community ministries combating systemic injustice in Central and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia for two years of service. By connecting the local and global church in mission, fellows make an impact as they grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Embodying Global Ministries’ commitment to send missionaries “From everywhere to everywhere,” four fellows describe their transformative experiences abroad and what led them to apply to the program.

International fellows must serve outside their home country, which exposes them to new cultures and broadens their understanding of what it means to be a Christian in different contexts. This is an important aspect of the GMF experience – shaping the first part of the program motto “see differently, serve differently”.

Venus Mae Gatdula, who is originally from the Philippines and is now in the middle of her service at the Cambodia Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies in Siem Reap Province, has seen the importance of learning about her new context:

Isabelle Mbako Matshik is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and is now serving at The Surf Project in Northern Ireland, where remnants of “The Troubles,” a political conflict that lasted from the late 1960s through 1998, still shape religious life:

Though new contexts accelerate personal growth, it can be challenging to find your footing, especially when very few people can relate to your experiences. That’s why the GMF program places importance on growth in community – not only in the new communities fellows find at their placements, but also through connections with their cohort (other GMFs going through the program at the same time).

Venus has found a family and support system in her GMF cohort:

Global Mission Fellows serve with a community organization, embedding themselves into an existing ministry. While there are certainly challenges, all four GMFs we spoke to were energized by their communities and the opportunities they’ve had to learn and grow.

Tariro (Tarie) Salim Nyamudeza, originally from Zimbabwe and now serving at Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW Limited) in Hong Kong, is most excited about how her work connects her with her community:

Working in children and youth ministry, Isabelle has learned about her strengths:

Jolainne Thowinson De Hoyos, originally from Colombia and currently serving at Junta Unida de Misiones in Argentina, sees the potential in her placement:

Venus appreciates how accepting her community has been, giving her room to grow:

There’s only one way to find out if you’re being called to serve as a GMF: completing an application online. Tarie explains why she applied to the Global Mission Fellows program: 

The application deadline is January 12, 2023. Apply now to become an International Global Mission Fellow. 

Adam Bowers is a content consultant for Global Ministries and UMCOR. Sara Logeman is the content strategist for Global Ministries and UMCOR.

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By Reeba Imola Webster Bennett
October 28, 2022 | MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY

When I reached Montevideo, Uruguay, to begin missionary service as a Global Mission Fellow, I thought I would be working with youth and children. But the first place church leaders assigned me was Espacio VAR, which operates a shelter for people who have no permanent homes.

My first day was overwhelming. Many of the people in this shelter are trapped in situations of substance abuse. One was having a seizure in the corner, while another was pounding his head with his hands. In another part of the room, someone was yelling, and another constantly asked for sugar. It was a troubling and difficult day for me.

But the following week, it was a little easier; I knew what to expect. I discovered the kitchen needed help, which was also the quietest place in the shelter.

As the weeks passed, I realized I wasn’t interacting with people, so, when the shelter seemed calmer and the kitchen work was done, I sat down at a table with shelter guests. There I got to know one of the shelter guests by name. She helped draw me out of my shell with her story of how she came to be homeless. I wanted to know more about other people there too and started communicating with a few more. They shared stories that were really captivating – and some that were really sad or horrific.

I noticed one woman who was blind. Imagine living in a shelter with her condition. But she is determined; she doesn’t sit and complain. She has friends in the shelter that help her get from one place to another, and I’ve learned what the true meaning of resilience is through her. She volunteers to clean the bathrooms, which no one else wants to do. She remembers how the bathrooms are laid out from when she had her sight. She does an excellent job – much better than the many who can see. Fortunately, her blindness is treatable. She has cataracts in both eyes and awaits surgery.

She is a positive and happy person, always smiling and polite. Every day she seeks to get closer to God. She and others I’ve talked with have shown me not to judge a book by its cover. I have learned from them to be patient, even though I shy away from those with addictions because their mood swings and outbursts are unpredictable. I go and serve in the shelter because many are in need for other reasons, for whom this space provides peace for a few hours, away from the streets.

I started a 30-minute time of reflection with those few and every Thursday we learn together from their stories and reading Scripture. The Lord is our refuge and our salvation. Together we also learned every parable about the amazing work of God and how, by faith, we can continue to serve others. So even though some days are difficult, and some of our guests unpredictable, the light of those days are people like my friends, Sandra and Carmen. Through their difficulties, they are still smiling and patient and very determined.

Reeba Imola Webster Bennett is a Global Mission Fellow from Honduras serving with the Methodist Church of Uruguay. During her two-year term, she will work in a variety of assignments supported by the Uruguayan church.

Global Mission Fellows

Global Mission Fellows are young adults, ages 20–30, who are committed to serve in social justice ministries for two years. They enter into new communities, understanding their challenges and assets through relationships and with the long-term goal to overcome systemic oppression. Fellows partner with community organizations internationally and in the U.S. to address a variety of issues, including migration/immigration, education, public health and poverty.

Support the ministries of missionaries working around the world, including young adult Global Mission Fellows.

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For release: IMMEDIATE

Media Contact:
Susan Clark, Chief Communications Officer
sclark@umcmission.org

The Global Mission Fellows program of The United Methodist Church is excited to announce the launch of the application for the 2023-25 cohort of fellows on the international track.

Global Mission Fellows are young adults, ages 20-30, who commit to serve in social justice ministries for two years. The program offers the opportunity for service in the United States (US-2 track) and around the world (international track). The application for the 2023-25 cohort of Global Mission Fellows international track launched Nov. 1.

The program allows fellows to enter into new communities, understanding their challenges and assets through relationships and with the long-term goal to overcome systemic oppression. Fellows partner with community organizations to address a variety of issues including migration/immigration, education, community development and poverty. 

Fellows on the international track serve outside their home country in a new context. The cohort represents participants from all around the world and the program provides ways for the cohort to stay connected during their time of service. Fellows engage with current world issues and receive ongoing training in spiritual and professional development.

The Wesleyan value of personal and social holiness is at the core of the Global Mission Fellows program. The program is open to those from different denominational backgrounds, but participants are expected to represent The United Methodist Church and uphold its social principles during their time of service.

Now more than ever, our world needs young leaders who are willing to learn from others, discuss social issues honestly and seek culturally appropriate ways to address issues of systemic injustice.

The application deadline is Jan. 12, 2023. The application can be found at https://umcmission.org/become-a-fellow-international-track/. Those selected for the next Global Mission Fellow international cohort will begin onboarding in Spring 2023 and service in Fall 2023.

For more information regarding the program or application process, email missionaryinfo@umcmission.org.

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About the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church

Global Ministries is the worldwide mission and development agency of The United Methodist Church. Founded in 1819, Global Ministries today supports more than 200 missionaries in over 60 countries, including the United States. It has personnel, projects, and partners in 115 countries. Learn more about Global Ministries by visiting www.umcmission.org or by following www.facebook.com/GlobalMinistries and Twitter.com/UMCmission.

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Fifty-four missionaries were commissioned for service in nine different worship services taking place around the world from April to July. Some begin service in new placements while others continue with work they began during the pandemic.

By Christie R. House
July 27, 2022 | ATLANTA

Augustinus Hutabarat, from Indonesia, was accepted and trained as a young adult Global Mission Fellow (GMF) and has served the Street Children Ministry in Phnom Penh for almost a year with the United Methodist Mission in Cambodia. The complications of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that he, and all other missionaries in the last three years, participated in online training, never actually meeting Global Ministries staff or colleague missionaries in person…until now.

As pandemic restrictions are lifted in many countries, small gatherings and travel have once again become possible, with certain precautions. From April through July, Global Ministries coordinated regional missionary gatherings so that 54 missionaries could be officially commissioned and have a few days to fellowship, worship and continue training together with other missionaries in the regions they serve.

So, on April 24, at Toul Kork Methodist Church in Cambodia, Augustinus Hutabarat was officially commissioned, along with five Global Missionaries and four more of his Global Mission Fellow colleagues.

“A day that cannot be forgotten, not only as a ceremony, but a spiritual journey that has just begun, finally we were commissioned!” Hutabarat exclaimed. “Through this commissioning I was reminded that, as a missionary, I have a duty from God to bring good news to everyone, that God loves all human beings, and that we must engage in our communities, connect with the church in mission, and grow in personal and social holiness.”

Most of the missionaries participating in the commissioning services expressed joy and amazement at meeting face-to face. Some had begun their missionary service as early as 2020.

“As we gathered for the commissioning event, it felt surreal,” noted Rachel Kuolou Therieh, who is from India and, like Hutabarat, serves in Cambodia. “Especially meeting Rev. Judy [Chung] in person after many months of online sessions. Having all the GMFs and Global Missionaries working in Asia in the same room was a wonderful experience. The four days with the team allowed me so much time to self-reflect, reaffirming my purpose and trashing my fear of the uncertain.”

The Rev. Dr. Judy Chung, executive director of Global Ministries’ Missionary Service, attended all the regional gatherings. Many were happy to meet her in person.

“It has been a great privilege to travel to four continents to participate in the commissioning of missionaries and Global Mission Fellows,” Chung said. “It is amazing to see that the call of God overcomes challenges and obstacles, sending people forth into the world to share God’s love. I am thankful to witness the power of God at work through these resilient and faithful missionaries and fellows.”

In addition to the Cambodia event, commissioning events were held in Northern Ireland for missionaries in Europe; Côte d’Ivoire for missionaries in Africa; Costa Rica for those in Latin America; and individual U.S. events held in conjunction with the North Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Mississippi and Mountain Sky annual conferences.

Each of the events took on a different flavor, reflecting the cultural differences of the continents and countries where they lived and worked and the particular culture of Methodists and United Methodists where the events were held. All of the regional gatherings outside the U.S. included extended training, mission site visits and other trips.

In Côte d’Ivoire, Albarka Abbo Wakili, a GMF from Nigeria, traveled with other missionaries to Dabou, a town in the southern part of the country. They visited the UMC hospital, a local congregation and water tower projects. “I felt uplifted witnessing God’s healing and grace at the hospital and God’s imminent providence through the church by providing a primary need such as water projects and agriculture to communities.”

The group meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland, visited the Surf project of the Methodist Church of Ireland in Portrush, Northern Ireland, where two of the GMFs worked. Then they walked to the famous Giant’s Causeway, the natural wonder of hexagonal basalt rock pillars that look like they had to be man-made, formed by volcanic eruption 6 million years ago.

“God’s creation is amazing,” noted the Rev. Krista Givens, from the U.S., serving as the pastor for international ministry with La Siesta Evangelical Church in Alicante, Spain. “I am so thankful for the hospitality of our partners and the great time of fellowship and fun.”

Hannah Reasoner, a Global Missionary from the U.S. serving in Bogotá, Colombia, appreciated the workshops led by fellow missionaries in her region. While she had worked with them extensively through online meetings, she was glad to meet them in person for the first time. A workshop led by missionary Osias Segura was engaging because it offered tools on how to respectfully navigate cultural difference and misunderstanding. Yorleni Rebeca Jiménez Rojas, a missionary and psychologist serving in Honduras, offered advice on the importance of self-care. 

In the United States, six U.S.-2 Global Mission Fellows were commissioned by annual conferences in Florida and Michigan, where the GMFs has already begun their two-year terms of service. In Mississippi, Althea Belton was commissioned to serve as a Church and Community Worker with Gulfside Assembly in Waveland. Courtney and Dan Randall were commissioned by the Mountain Sky Annual Conference as Missionary Advocates for the Western Jurisdiction, and the Rev. Dr. Sung Il Lee was commissioned in North Georgia to serve as a Global Missionary in Nausor, Fiji.

Returning to their places of service after the events, many of the missionaries expressed gratitude but also a renewed sense of calling and service, encouraged and supported by Global Ministries and their missionary colleagues.

“I am grateful for the village we have created and the communities we get to serve with,” Venus Mae Gatdula, a GMF from the Philippines working in Cambodia reported. “Grateful for this life I chose in the life that God has chosen for me. Just as we declared the Wesley Covenant Prayer – I am no longer my own, but God’s.”

Christie R. House is a consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.

Missionaries commissioned in 2022 regional services with service placements

Africa: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Global Missionaries
Blair Moses Kamanga – Mozambique
Leah Jane Magruder – South Africa
Edmund Melusi Makowa – East Congo Episcopal Area, Democratic Republic of Congo
Natallia Manyeza – Sierra Leone

Global Mission Fellows International
Sara Albert Amalia Bakhit – Mozambique
Imourana Bockarie – Zambia
Divine Kudzai Gaga – Liberia
Michael Mark Gandi – Zambia
Trobby Kandala – Sierra Leone
James Kanu – Kenya
Doel Kumwimba Kaloa – Zambia
Benjamin Langeni Mndeme – Kenya
Mary Sharon Mwango – Liberia
Sims Siamoonga – Kenya
Christopher Peace Theoway – Zambia
Albarka Abbo Wakili – Zambia
Elizabeth Nyalima Yambasu – Liberia

Asia: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Global Missionaries
Patrick Booth – Cambodia
Min Kyu Lee – Wesley Divinity School, Philippines
C. S. Park – United Methodist Mission in Southeast Asia
J. Park – United Methodist Mission in Southeast Asia
Joy Prim – Hong Kong, SAR, China

Global Mission Fellows International
Jay Hezeil Doctor Abayon – Cambodia
Syna Be – South Korea
Venus Mae Barroga Gatdula – Cambodia
Agustinus Hutabarat – Cambodia
Rachel Kuolou Therieh – Cambodia

Europe: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Global Missionaries
Krista Suzanne Givens – Spain
Eliad Dias dos Santos – Italy
Global Mission Fellows, International
Ricardo Alfredo Martinez Escobar – Ireland
Erick Park Hunter – United Kingdom
Isabelle Mbako Matshik – Northern Ireland
Benjamin Thomas Rose – Northern Ireland

Latin America: San José, Costa Rica

Global Missionaries
Edwin Campomanes Ramirez – Guatemala
Luis De Souza Cardoso – Uruguay
Bruna Farat da Silva – Costa Rica
Alvaro Rodrigo Godinez Jimenez – Mexico
Ann Margaret Hidalgo – Costa Rica
Yorleni Rebeca Jiménez Rojas – Honduras
Hannah Kaitlyn Reasoner – Colombia

Global Mission Fellows International
Brayan Alejandro Martinez Davalos – Uruguay
Eliana Maria Alves – Honduras
Abigayle Chesca Bolado – Colombia
Reeba Imola Webster Bennett – Uruguay

United States

Georgia
Global Missionary
Rev. Dr. Sung Il Lee – Nausori, Fiji

Florida
Global Mission Fellows US-2
Precious Tatenda Kufarimai – Miami
Amber Marie Kupfer – Miami
Grace Elizabeth Rogers – Miami
Meleanitema Sapoi-Finau – Miami

Michigan
Global Mission Fellows US-2
Megan Marie Rittenberry – Grand Rapids
Cenaya Ward-Johns – Kalamazoo

Mississippi
Church and Community Worker
Althea Belton – Gulfside Assembly, Waveland

Montana
Mission Advocates
Courtney Randall – Western Jurisdiction
Dan Randall –  Western Jurisdiction

The post Missionaries commissioned for service in five continents appeared first on Global Ministries.

By Sims Siamoonga

April 10, 2022 | NAIVASHA, KENYA

And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’”

Luke 19:29-31 (NKJV)

In the full Scripture reading, Luke 19:28-40, we find many characters: Jesus Christ – the master; two disciples to whom Jesus gave instructions; an untamed/untrained tied colt; owners of the colt; the whole multitude of disciples (supporters of Jesus); the Pharisees (opponents of Jesus); and the stones (those Jesus may raise to support/praise him).

Jesus Christ has a mission to be accomplished by all those whom he calls. In pursuit of the mission, we are each called and gifted differently within the Body of Christ (the church). Some, like the two disciples, receive direct instructions to serve God through Jesus. These may include pastors, teachers, evangelists, as well as missionaries and Global Mission Fellows. Others, like the whole multitude of disciples, offer praise to God and support those who are in direct ministry.

INUA Partners in Hope, whom I work within Kenya, chose the Swahili verb “Inua” because it means “to lift up together, raise or elevate.” We help to restore the hope of at-risk youth in Kenya, those who have lost one or both parents and who struggle in poverty. We provide training, counseling and skills that support these youth and young adults as they rise up out of poverty, building opportunities for better livelihoods and means of supporting themselves, their community and their families. They, too, are part of the Body of Christ and are called to serve God’s mission.

When the Body of Christ works together, the mission of God through Jesus Christ is realized. The question we should ask ourselves today is, when the master wants to use what we have in terms of our gifts, are we willing to submit like the owners of the colt? Or will we answer: “I am not qualified enough, I am not gifted enough, I do not have enough money,” …and so on? God is not looking for the qualified, but God qualifies those whom are called. God is not looking for those with huge sums of money to donate to ministry but blesses and increases those who give generously from the little they have.

Do you think accomplishing God’s mission will be easy? NO! It will be tough, stressful and demanding, because on the way, we will encounter the Pharisees. When we are faced with tribulations, challenges and needs, we should be reminded that Jesus Christ faced all these and even more, but he overcame. Therefore, we should not give up or be silenced. If we are, God will raise up the very stones to praise him.

Our Father in heaven, we ask of your Spirit to help us remember that serving you is a commandment you gave us, and yet it is an opportunity for us to partner with your son, Jesus Christ, to accomplish the mission he entrusted us with here on earth. Oh Lord, help us to be humble as we serve you in different areas of your mission. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Sims Siamoonga is a Global Mission Fellow, International, serving in Naivasha, Kenya, as a youth program mentor with INUA Partners in Hope program of the East Africa Annual Conference. He is a member of Pilgrim Wesleyan (non-United Methodist) Church of Zambia City, Lusaka, Zambia. A graduate of Choma High School, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from the University of Zambia.

The post Palm Sunday: Serving God is an opportunity appeared first on Global Ministries.