Molina, Ester Ivania Franco
Ester Ivania Franco Molina 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.
Ester is a lay member of La Santísima Trinidad (Gante), a Methodist church in Mexico City, where she serves on the media and audio commission, helping with streaming and content creation to share God’s message. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications and completed a Middle East and North Africa studies program in Morocco.
Growing up in a Methodist family, Ester had a close connection with the church and religion. “A major change during my childhood was moving from Mexico City to a small city,” Ester recalled. “This shift exposed me to a quieter environment, different ways of life, even different kinds of relationships with nature, which helped me become more aware of other people’s realities and needs.”
As a teen, Ester stayed involved in church activities, teaching children, participating in Sunday school, attending youth leagues and completing her membership course. However, before turning 18, she went through an identity crisis, questioning her faith and place in the church. Although she chose to step away for a time, Ester remained involved in projects like medical-social campaigns and visits to the migrant shelter. These experiences showed her the love and dedication of those who share their time and resources with the most vulnerable.
Returning to the church as a young adult, Ester found a place in the media and audio commission. “I discovered and developed my vocation, identified my role within the church, and found a space to share with others how we can live in community, even with our differences,” she said. “This is where I found examples of service and my call to serve.”
Ester believes that the most powerful testimony isn’t always spoken. In how people live, others can see that God’s grace is for everyone, through actions and fellowship.
“The church, like any human institution, has conflicts and disappointments,” she asserted. “But it’s also a place for connection and growth. My faith is rooted in being with others and the constant search to improve our lives together.”
Discovering Global Mission Fellows was a pleasant surprise in Ester’s life. “It allowed me to reflect on the ways I can contribute to the common good,” she said. “The vision of The United Methodist Church, to motivate young people and future leaders to engage deeply in social justice causes, has been particularly impactful. It has reminded me of the importance of having structures that not only support personal development but also foster commitment to the community and the world.”
Ester’s goal is to apply her knowledge in other communities. She firmly believes that sharing talents and gifts from God enriches everyone. “Collaboration not only nurtures individuals but also transforms the way we view the world,” she said. “From the simplest tasks, like preparing food, to managing projects that have a significant impact on people´s lives, each action has the potential to change lives and build a fairer future.”
She sees the importance of training community leaders. “Developing committed individuals who work as a team, recognize the potential of others, all while leading with love and respect,” Ester said. “Leadership based on empathy and the ability to face challenges with courage is something I wish to learn.”
Ester is convinced that GMF will be both a challenge and an opportunity to broaden her perspective and develop her ability to collaborate with others in the pursuit of a more just and livable world. “I am ready to take on the responsibility of contributing to making lives more livable,” she said, “guided by the principles of social justice and cooperation of The United Methodist Church.
“In every change, we give something of ourselves. From this interaction something emerges: an idea, a shared thought, a friendship, an organization, a new way to name, a common identity or even a new sense of community.”