Askew, Shanquel
Shanquel Askew is a US-2 Global Mission Fellow with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, engaged in a two-year term of service.
The Global Mission Fellows program takes young adults ages 20-30 out of their home environments and places them in new contexts for mission experience and service. The program has a strong emphasis on faith and justice. Global Mission Fellows become active parts of their new local communities. They connect the church in mission across cultural and geographical boundaries. They grow in personal and social holiness and become strong young leaders working to build just communities in a peaceful world.
Shanquel is member of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, Macon. She is involved in the usher, culinary and senior ministries. She volunteers with the youth/young adult ministry and the church’s food pantry.
Shanquel earned two degrees, a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Middle Georgia State University, Macon, and a Master of Social Work with a concentration on child and family from Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta.
Troubled by gun violence in her community, Shanquel envisions local churches as safe havens. She said, “The church must be a place where people feel welcomed and not judged. A place to hear a word from God and feel free to be themselves. The church is us, and we must go outside the four walls into the community. Do in it in love like Jesus did. He did not judge, and he accepted everyone for who they are.”
She encourages conflict-resolution classes where people learn to mediate problems without violence. She explained “Each person will learn how to communicate in a respectful way. Place-based violence intervention can reduce gun violence. Vacant buildings can be turned into safe hubs in hot spots with high rates of gun activity. Restoring abandoned and blighted buildings will beautify the community. It will give residents a sense of pride and appreciation of their community. Violent activities and loitering may decrease.”
Shanquel recommends a year-long process of qualitative and quantitative data collections to get an in-depth assessment of the community, followed by two years of buying and renovating vacant buildings. She advised, “A committee board of members from the community should be created. People from the board will go out into the community. This will ease tension and build rapport.”
Shanquel would like to see churches inviting youth to meet and relax in “late-night hubs” where they could get essential items, receive tutoring, play games, connect with necessary resources and relieve stress. Other services would include mentorship, support, health and sex education, workshops and community service.
Shanquel believes Global Mission Fellows is a good fit for her. “My personal and professional experiences allow me to work and interact with a diverse group of people,” she said. “I can adapt to new learning experiences. I love opportunities to learn and grow. Global Mission Fellows aligns with my passion for helping others.”