Maria, Cassey Ann Marie Sta.
Cassey Ann Marie Sta. Maria 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.
A lay member of Blessed Hope United Methodist Church, Jaen, South Nueva Ecija Philippines Annual Conference, Cassey has been an active deaconess for three years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education.
Cassey grew up in a family where doing ministry is top priority, and mission work is part of the routine. She learned how to have a deep relationship with God and to prioritize her spiritual life. “I always make sure to have a silent time with the Lord every day,” she said. “I know that through my devotion, the Lord makes me stronger, and he teaches me to trust in him in every situation of my life.”
She likened her personal spiritual growth to a roller coaster ride, challenging yet enjoyable. “I love doing personal assessment to where I am now, and to look back on how the world tried to challenge me and break my faith in God,” Cassey said. “The Lord made me like a bamboo. It took me a lot of time before other people saw my sprout, but just like the bamboo, I can proudly say that my foundation is deep and not easily broken. In every storm I face, I will bend down in prayer, cry to the Lord, and rise again to fight for my faith and be useful in his vineyard.”
Because her church appointment as a deaconess was beginning to feel routine, Cassey was motivated to apply for Global Mission Fellows.
“Reaching out and helping other people gives me unexplainable joy in my heart,” she explained. “My heart as a deaconess is also in doing mission work, and I want to exercise my full potential as a deaconess through mission work.”
Before becoming a deaconess, Cassey prayed to be part of a mission abroad. When she entered Harris Memorial College in Taytay, Philippines, she saw how other deaconesses shared their talents and skills in mission.
“It inspiresd me so much,” she said. “I told myself that one day, I want to be part of it. I want to be a channel of blessing to others. I know and understand that the Lord is calling me in Global Mission Fellows before I enter the pastoral ministry. I can see that God is using this ministry as a stepping stone as he prepares me to a greater calling.
“I want to revive my passion, to be used in a wider ministry and touch lives outside the four corners of the church. With this, I am very much willing and ready to share the talents and skills that the Lord gave me and spread the love of Jesus to many. I know that being a fellow will allow me to go deeper in my ministry and reignite my love and passion to the ministry.”
Cassey’s heart’s desire is to put into action her interests, skills and education – to reach people who are need in different aspects of their life. “I can make use of my learned skills as a deaconess through teaching or helping children and youth improve in music, reading and writing,” she noted. She wants to embrace those who are abused or traumatized in physical, mental and emotional aspects of life.
Although she has no professional training in this area, Cassey believes she still can help.
“When you are interested in a specific ministry,” she said, “your passion is there, too, and you are able to put out the best in you because you are happy with what you are doing. I believe my interest will allow me to discover the skills I am not aware that I have. I am oriented and open to different kinds of ministries that I can and should do.”