Josiah, Lois Lubanya
This person is a candidate for the GMF INT’L Track and is expected to be confirmed by October 31, 2024.
Lois Lubanya Josiah 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.
After earning a diploma/certificate in mass communications, public relations and advertising at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, she served as the communications director at Our Recycling Hub, an initiative founded by young women to combat climate change. Lois also volunteered with Women’s First Digital, Freetown, and took part in the National Youth and Entrepreneurship Fair.
Focusing on gender-based violence and gender equality, Lois participated in activities related to the International Day of the Girl Child, initiated by the United Nations.
“I used social media platforms to challenge the norms and narratives that limit young women and girls in society,” she explained. “I also worked with the communications department to facilitate a program on the International Girls in ICT Day, 2023.”
A member of Brown Memorial United Methodist Church, Freetown, Lois is president of the Young Adults Fellowship, as well as a Sunday school teacher.
“I was fortunate to be born and baptized in a Christian home,” she said. “My father, who is a reverend, taught us about the word of God. He and my mother compelled us to spend time with our Bibles, and I grew up knowing Christ and seeking to know him more. I involved myself in things that were spiritual and acts that would glorify God.
“As a child, I joined the children’s ministry in The United Methodist Church, where I took active roles like singing and memorizing verses in the Bible to show my commitment in doing God’s work. I became a president of the children’s ministry and was given the opportunity to deliver God’s word at 12 years old because of the dedication they saw in me wanting to propagate the gospel.” As a youth, Lois was confirmed, which strengthened her involvement in the church.
She shared her faith in school as well. “I served as an evangelist in the Scripture union in my secondary school,” Lois said. “I held Bible studies, preached at the assembly and made time to visit classes during my leisure time to spread God’s word.”
Matthew 28:19, NRSVU is her guiding Scripture: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
“My involvement in the church cannot be overemphasized as I have placed myself as a sacrifice in carrying out God’s work in the church and in the children’s ministry,” Lois asserted. “I believe serving in mission will create a more open platform for me to deliver God’s word. I also believe as a young person, I might be able to influence society as a Global Mission Fellow. This will help [young people] to relate more with me in terms of relaying the message and understanding it.”
She concluded, “This passion has been with me since I was a child. Working as a fellow will allow me to fulfill this passion and help me to navigate my talents through fighting social injustices in other parts of the world.”