Alumni

I’m inspired by the deep desire to learn more about Anabaptist theology and how the churches in Latin America see the relevance of Anabaptism today. The people in the churches often talk about this being their spiritual heritage.

When people are empowered to work in their contexts, that’s a big thing! It means that many people can read the Bible and learn hermeneutics and speak a language that their local communities can understand, and that the gospel can grow and people can develop a relationship with Jesus Christ, within the context that they know.

Since being on the board, I have appreciated the ways in which mission is seen as accompaniment — of people across the world and in the United States— and all of the service opportunities. It’s not, “I’m going to serve you because I’m such a good person and you need my help.” But, it’s accompaniment, where we’re going to do this together. We’re going to figure it out. We’re probably gonna mess up sometimes, but that’s the way it works. That’s the way life works. And, that’s the way following Jesus works.

I would never have know about or understood to the level that I do now, having participated in MVS, the homelessness crisis in San Francisco and all of the complexities associated with it. Its been eye-opening and thought-shifting in terms of the beliefs that I’ve grown up around and intrinsically had towards homelessness and the people who are homeless. That’s been really powerful.

Serving as an environmental advocate for the greater Madison community was more than just a year-long commitment. It was an experience that helped shape my vocation.

We had time for learning and reflecting on important issues. Just as important, we got to know each other better, to form bonds and to make meaningful connections.

We came face to face with some harsh realities in South Texas. Every day, we met people who are working hard to quench thirst, clothe, and provide shelter and dignity to people who desperately need it.

Something that I’ve learned a lot about is social justice and how to participate in that. Coming from a context of being a college student and hearing about all of these protests but not really being involved in any of them, it’s been really cool to learn more about that process and get involved and be able to make my voice heard in some of these actions.

I’m passionate about faith formation, and I think Mission Network provides fantastic opportunities, especially for young people, to be the hands and the feet of Jesus in this world.

For all the other things we learned and unlearned and remembered and re-membered, reading the Bible in another context just, had the biggest impact on our [Just Peace Pilgrimage] group.