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Like Seeds Sown: Nine Young Adult Missionaries Ready To Grow |
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by Mary Beth Coudal New York, NY July 29, 2008--Nine young adults were commissioned as missionaries of The United Methodist Church in a Spanish and English service on July 27, 2008, at Grace United Methodist Church in New York City. The nine comprise the new class of US-2s, a category of short-term mission service. They were commissioned by a team of mission leaders headed by Bishop Felton E. May, interim general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries. US-2s are generally recent college graduates. They work in a variety of settings across the United States, many of them in United Methodist-related institutions and church projects. One of the lectionary readings for the day incorporated Matthew 13:12-13, the parable of the mustard seed. The preacher for the occasion, the Rev. Doug Cunningham, a former young adult missionary himself, talked about the innate potential within a mustard seed and within all of us. "That smallest of seeds can yield the most remarkable of results," he said, noting a societal obsession with size that is not always wise. "That which is big and powerful can have cracks in it." He compared the 2008 Olympics, where people pay thousands of dollars for a big event, to more modest but perhaps more productive athletic events: "Have you heard of the Special Olympics? When one of the athletes had fallen? One by one, everyone went back, all nine. ... They linked arms and walked together across the finish line. They are the mustard seeds, teaching us the kingdom of God." Cunningham recalled his service as a young adult missionary, a Mission Intern, in the Philippines from 1983 to 1984. Day after day, Cunningham witnessed ordinary people protesting the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. And in 1986, Marcos was ousted, a testament to the power of the common person. "We have more power than we think we do. God will work in ways that will amaze us," he concluded. The preacher, a clergy member of the New York Annual Conference, is currently developing a new congregation in the Bronx, a borough of New York City. Bishop May presided over the commissioning with the Rev. Edith Gleaves, deputy general secretary of the Mission Personnel Program Area of the Board, and two colleagues, the Rev. Glenn Rowley and the Rev. Suzanne Field-Rabb. The nine new missionaries from eight different states will serve in eight other states. Listed below are the new missionaries, their home towns and home conferences, and their places of service (additional information follows the list):
Additional Information on new US-2s:Elyse Christensen will serve as a case manager, providing counseling and resources to homeless men and women. Other responsibilities include serving meals, managing the information desk, sorting donated clothing, and leading workshops and trainings. Elyse is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a major in music. "I feel most called to help end homelessness and hunger," Elyse said. "I would like to help provide people living with homelessness the resources they need to survive and also create lasting, proactive changes that help those individuals escape homelessness." She is affiliated with St. Malachy Catholic Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and First Presbyterian Church in Richland, Michigan. Samaritan House of Atlanta was founded in 1986 and has several programs aimed at helping homeless people in Atlanta gain self-sufficiency. Samaritan House works with each guest to map out a personal plan of accountability, while providing the support needed to help each person achieve his or her goals. Services include comprehensive case management, referral services, clothing closets, laundry, facilities, means, telephone access, and much more. Krista Dover will serve as coordinator/caseworker, linking providers of services for the homeless through a holistic and sustainable approach. As a caseworker, she will be available as a resource to homeless men and women as they work towards self-sufficiency. Krista is a recent graduate of Emory & Henry College in Emory, Virginia. She majored in public policy, community service, and psychology and minored in religion. She is an affiliate member of Chilhowie United Methodist Church in Chilhowie, Virginia. Krista feels she has a calling to help people. She said, "I have a blessed life that's been enriching, fulfilling and empowering, and I simply ask the question, 'Why not give back?'" Meg Koach will coordinate the involvement of congregations in the Sanitation Workers Campaign and the Paid Sick-Leave Initiative of Interfaith Worker Justice. The organization is a network of people of faith that draws on shared religious values in order to educate, organize, and mobilize the religious community in the United States. Meg recently graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in engineering science and a minor in religious studies. She wanted to be a US-2 because of a desire to "address problems within communities and understand systems that perpetuate social injustices." Meg is a member of Courthouse Community United Methodist Church of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Greg Little will serve at Hampden, Woodberry, Remington, and Mount Washington (HWRMW) United Methodist Parish / Community Services and Food Pantry / Christian Fellowship in Baltimore. He will provide support for a range of programs. Greg is a graduate of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, with a degree in multi-disciplinary investigation of exceptional children in society. Greg is deeply committed to ministry with children and youth, those with special needs, and the homeless. He says that being in mission is "a response to the life of Jesus Christ, an all-embracing movement of love and service." Greg is a member of Matthews United Methodist Church in Matthews, North Carolina. The HWRMW United Methodist Parish, organized in the early 1980s, comprises five United Methodist churches working together to serve the people of the community to invigorate and expand the life of the represented churches. The parish supports a food pantry, an emergency services office, and the St. Mary's Outreach Center, a faith-based community center for seniors. Carolyn Renee Marcus will engage in community and ecumenical education, and serve in the after-school program, lead Bible studies, and attend to residential transition living clients. She attends Jonesboro United Methodist Church and is a recent graduate of Mercer University with a major in sociology and a minor in chemistry. Carolyn feels a call to work with people who are homeless or live in transitional housing and are in chronic poverty. She is interested in reaching out to elementary-school-age children who may or may not be homeless or in transitional living. Harbor House Crisis Center (HHCS) provides a safe hospitable shelter for homeless women and families. Their goal is to assist their guests in attaining housing. This program is the only shelter in Douglas County (Superior Wisconsin) and serves approximately 300 people per year. It provides case management, shelter, food, clothing, information, and referral. Sarah Martindell will serve the community as a social-justice advocate in a range of areas including food security and public assistance. Sarah is a recent graduate of Otterbein College in Ohio with a degree in English and a minor in religion. She is a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Marietta, Ohio, but her family has since moved to Homer United Methodist Church in Homer, Alaska. Sarah says: "To be in mission is to have a purpose. Our mission as Christians is to preserve the rights of the poor, hungry, sick, and imprisoned." She wants to step outside of her comfort zone and be willing to take some risks with her faith and to "give back to God's people out of gratitude for what God has given me." Crossroads Urban Center is a United Methodist national mission institution related to the General Board of Global Ministries. It works with low-income, disabled, and minority persons, helping them to meet basic needs and to address essential issues affecting quality of life. It has a multi-faith constituency and broad ecumenical involvement. Bonnie Monk will work as the community-ministry coordinator overseeing a Farmer's Market program and its volunteers. Bonnie is a recent graduate of Willamette University in Oregon with a degree in vocal music education. A member of First United Methodist Church of Corvallis, Oregon, Bonnie understands mission as a "ministry to serve in a particular way." She says: "I have a passion and calling for working on issues of poverty and community development. I want this experience to lead me where I am meant to go." Upper Sand Mountain Parish is a cooperative ministry of ten small churches and chapels in rural North Alabama. The cooperative seeks to strengthen member congregations so that they may better serve their members. It also engages in a wide range of community development and economic development projects. Emily "Brooke" Newsome will serve with the special therapies groups and assist in coordinating spiritual life activities. Brooke is a graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, with a degree in history and secondary education. Brooke says, "Throughout college I have felt a calling to ministry in some capacity but for a long time have denied this calling." Her experience with youth and teenagers through student teaching has confirmed her calling to be in ministry with them. Brooke is an affiliate of Boone United Methodist Church and a member of Duke Memorial United Methodist Church. She is the daughter of a United Methodist pastor. Since 1984, when Joseph and Mary Cunningham bequeathed their home and land to the women of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the property has been a safe haven for children. A mission and ministry of the United Methodist Women of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference in partnership with Global Ministries, Cunningham offers children with severe emotional and behavioral disorders a therapeutic environment where they can experience personal growth and healing. Lily "Fawn" White will serve as the youth leadership development coordinator and as the Munaqsri (Muh-knocks-ree) senior services assistant. Fawn is a full-blood Native American from the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and Ponca Nations. She is a graduate of Northeastern State University with a degree in developmental psychology. She is a member and Young Adult Director of D.D. Etchieson Memorial United Methodist Church. Drawn to work with Native populations, Fawn proclaims her calling to be "inspiring and encourage young natives to reach their potential." Fawn says: "[This program] is a tool through which God could work many wonders through me." Nome Community Center began in 1910 as the Lavinia Wallace Young Eskimo Mission and was incorporated as an independent non-profit organization in 1970, maintaining a Covenant Relationship with The United Methodist Church. The primary focus of staff is serving the needs of the elderly, children, youth, and families.
The Cunningham Children's Home, Nome Community Center, and the Crossroads Urban Center are among the United Methodist National Mission Institutions in the United States. * Mary Beth Coudal is a staff writer for the General Board of Global Ministries.
Date posted: Jul 29, 2008 |
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More photos from this commissioning service
