Social Justice Ministries a Common Theme for Global Mission Fellows

Laura Wise served in the Philippines. 

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Five individuals with ties to the North Texas Conference have either served or are currently serving as Global Mission Fellows, a two-year program conducted by the General Board of Global Ministries that gives young adults an opportunity to work in social justice ministries. Fellows serve domestically or abroad, working with local communities, churches and organizations, where they grow in personal and social holiness. All fellows from around the world attend a month-long training in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Fellows learned of the program in different ways. Some learned about the positions through conference events and communications. Others heard about the program through more personal ways, an email was shared or a pastor mentioned it to them. All agree the experience has made a lasting impression on their lives.

Joseph Bradley

Bradley currently works for the North Texas Conference in the Center for Leadership Development. He was interested in becoming a Global Mission Fellow because he “wanted to know what it would be like to experience different cultures … and understand the world in a larger context.” He worked with orphans and street children teaching them English in Cambodia. He gained a “better understanding of how culture and geography affect how one sees the world.”

Hayley Terrell

Terrell, who worshiped at First UMC Richardson, served locally at the Dallas Leadership Foundation as a community and youth coordinator. Terrell served with the residents and neighborhood leaders in nine different neighborhoods throughout Dallas as well as work with a youth mentorship program in three high schools. Of her time as a Global Mission Fellow, Terrell said, “I grew closer to God … I had to rely on Him when I faced situations of injustice and hurt.” Because of her experience, Terrell entered seminary and obtained a master degree in social justice. She is now a prevention coordinator with Safe Passage, Inc.

Laura Wise

Wise, who grew up attending St. Luke “Community” UMC, was living and working in Los Angeles when she learned of the program from her pastor. She says she was at “a place in my career that it was time for a change.” She served in the Philippines – with an organization focused on peace and justice in Mindanao – and in New York with the General Board of Global Mission. She said her faith was challenged seeing extreme poverty, but it “helped re-form my faith and [became] stronger.” Wise now is a Regional Development Specialist with St. Jude in New York.

 

Jamie Morgan

Morgan learned about the program through several events, including Texas Youth Academy and Annual Conference. Morgan, who attended McMurry University and worships at Tioga UMC, will be serving at the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, and will be an interreligious dialogue assistant. She hopes through her work and faith she can “show others that even when you struggle, God's love is going to bring you through waiting for a placement, a visa or waiting to see your family again. God is present in so many different ways!”

Sarah Walker

While she was in high school, Walker learned about the program through an email. By the time she was a senior in college, she decided to apply. She is just beginning her two-year journey to Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Spain, where she will be teaching English to immigrants from Northern Africa and Eastern Europe. Walker recently returned from the month-long training in Johannesburg, South Africa, alongside people of different cultures and background, which she said “was a great example of God’s love for the nations and the beauty of the global church.”

Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2018