August 25, 2021 | ATLANTA

For release: IMMEDIATE

Media Contact

Sara Logeman, Content Strategist

slogeman@umcmission.org

Ten United Methodist missionaries will be blessed for ministry in the United States during a virtual service of worship on Friday, August 27, 2 p.m. EDT. All are welcome to watch the service via Facebook Live.

The blessing service follows weeks of training for these missionaries and affirms their calling to mission. Of the 10 missionaries, seven are Global Mission Fellows, two are Mission Advocates and one is a Church and Community Worker. Global Mission Fellows are young adults ages 20-30 who desire to serve the church at the intersection of faith and justice, focusing on issues such as food insecurity, education, and migration. The Global Mission Fellow US-2 program, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, places fellows in new contexts outside of their home communities for two years.

Mission Advocates are assigned to a U.S. jurisdiction and connect the annual conferences, districts, and local churches within it to the work of Global Ministries. Mission Advocates focus on missionary support and sharing mission news locally and around the world.

Church and Community Workers strive to take the church into the community and bring the community into the church, equipping both church and community to work together to address human needs. CCWs are devoted to uplifting the poor and disenfranchised in rural and urban areas.

The individuals to be blessed and sent forth into service include:

Althea Belton, Church and Community Worker

South Carolina Annual Conference, Mt. Zion United Methodist Church

Assigned to Mississippi Annual Conference, Gulfside Assembly of Waveland

Precious Tatenda Kufarimai, Global Mission Fellow

North Alabama Annual Conference, St. Paul United Methodist Church

Assigned to Florida Annual Conference, First United Methodist Church of Miami

Amber Kupfer, Global Mission Fellow

Western North Carolina Annual Conference, St. Stephen United Methodist Church

Assigned to Florida Annual Conference, First United Methodist Church of Miami

Rev. Courtney Randall, Mission Advocate

New England Conference

Assigned to the Western Jurisdiction

Rev. Daniel Randall, Mission Advocate

New England Conference

Assigned to the Western Jurisdiction

Megan Marie Rittenberry, Global Mission Fellow

Louisiana Annual Conference, First United Methodist Church of Bossier

Assigned to Michigan Annual Conference, United Methodist Community House of Grand Rapids

Grace Elizabeth Rogers, Global Mission Fellow

Arkansas Annual Conference, Cabot United Methodist Church

Assigned to Florida Annual Conference, Justice For Our Neighbors

Meleanitema Sapoi-Finau, Global Mission Fellow

California-Pacific Annual Conference, United with Hope United Methodist Church

Assigned to Florida Annual Conference, Metropolitan Ministries of Tampa

Bailey Grey Townsend, Global Mission Fellow

Holston Annual Conference, Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church

Assigned to Michigan Annual Conference, Motown Mission of Detroit

Cenaya M. Ward-Johns, Global Mission Fellow

Delaware, United Fellowship Ministries

Assigned to Michigan Annual Conference, Wesley Fellowship of Kalamazoo

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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 200 missionaries in over 70 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.