Chomba, Evalyne Wanjiru
Evalyne Wanjiru Chomba is an international 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.
Evalyne is a lay member of the Anglican Church of Kenya, St. James Kiaritha Parish, Kerugoya. Because she lives in a different city, she mentors the younger generation by giving financial support to church youth projects. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental and biosystems engineering.
“My personal spiritual development,” Evalyne said, “has been distinguished by a growing faith, a dedication to service and a desire to contribute to the well-being of others.” Growing up in a Christian home, she was taught the principles of love, compassion and justice. However, it wasn’t until her high school years that she began to understand the connection between her faith and the larger world, and she began to view mission work as more than an abstract idea.
“Through my engagement in church events and volunteering with AIESEC,” Evalyne recalled, “I began to view mission work as a chance to live out Christ’s principles in real ways. I understood that assisting others, particularly the underprivileged and defenseless, was not just a calling, but also a responsibility rooted in my faith. I developed spiritually by learning to interact with different groups, listening to their stories and understanding their struggles.
“This gave me a broad way of perceiving life, allowing me to understand how poverty, food insecurity and environmental degradation are linked to spiritual values of justice, stewardship and neighborly compassion.”
Evalyne is drawn to mission work because she believes that faith drives people to pursue justice and peace in the world. “For me,” she said, “mission work is a means to live out my faith in action rather than just words. It is about becoming Christ’s hands and feet, helping others, and making a good difference on a local and worldwide basis.
“This calling is both humbling and thrilling. I view it as an opportunity to strengthen my connection with God while also bringing hope, healing and justice to those in most need. Through mission work, I desire to learn from others, serve with humility and help create communities that reflect God’s love and care for all.”
She views service as a Global Mission Fellow as an honor.
“As a result of my AIESEC volunteer experiences and my biosystems engineering degree,” she explained, “I have a great desire to solve global issues including community development, environmental preservation and food security. Being able to engage with communities to promote sustainability and justice as a fellow would enable me to meaningfully combine my technical knowledge with my religion.
“As a fellow, I would be proud to help communities thrive, whether via programs focused on sustainable agriculture, food security or environmental stewardship. Engaging with local communities would allow me to promote faith-based principles of justice, equality and peace while also putting my technical skills and problem-solving abilities to use.”
Evalyne is eager to gain hands-on experience working in a variety of cultural situations while also enriching her leadership abilities in a global environment. “Through encounters with like-minded individuals and groups,” she said, “I would learn about how faith-based projects may promote long-term social change and influence.
“Working as a fellow would help me prepare for the future by broadening my perspective and improving my abilities to function in cross-cultural contexts. It would expand my awareness of how faith and justice intersect, strengthening my commitment to advancing social good in both professional and personal settings.Finally, this program would provide me with the practical experience, spiritual growth and leadership abilities required to pursue my objective of contributing to sustainable communities.”
Evalyne said that contributing to projects that support sustainable agriculture, give people access to essential resources and address structural injustices would be her dream.
“This fellowship will allow me to grow both personally and professionally,” she said. “I hope to deepen my leadership skills, learn from others’ experiences and better integrate my faith into my work. I aim to use my skills, education and passion to serve with humility and contribute to a more just and sustainable world.”