ATLANTA – Become a Global Mission Fellow (GMF) and join the movement of young adults who cross boundaries to better understand and respond to injustice.
The Global Mission Fellows program of The United Methodist Church places young adults, ages 20-30, in social justice ministries for two years of service. The program is excited to announce the launch of the application for the next cohort of fellows.
Fellows work to address deep-rooted systems of injustice in regions such as Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America with a focus on food insecurity, migration/immigration, education, poverty, peace, health and more. They gain a fresh perspective on systems preventing social change as they engage with current world issues and the role of our faith.
“As an alumna of the program, God transformed my life by meeting me in community in South Africa. Experience was paramount to my own leadership development. I taught and was taught, I made mistakes, I sang songs in new languages, I cooked pap* and raised chickens. I laughed, and my placement and the community gave me new lenses for understanding the world and our faith,” says Hannah Hanson, director of Young Adult Mission Service and U.S. Missionaries. “This invitation comes from Jesus’s example to see the world differently, so we are able to build God’s kingdom by serving differently. A Global Mission Fellow is rooted in local community, with those who can make the best decisions for what they need, while being connected in a cohort of fellows from 20-30 different countries. I invite any young adult who is open to seeing with new eyes and recentering our narratives and stories in the margins instead of from places of power, wealth and privilege.”
The Wesleyan value of personal and social holiness is at the core of the Global Mission Fellows program. The program is open to those from different denominational backgrounds, but participants are expected to represent The United Methodist Church and uphold its social principles during their time of service.
Fellows form meaningful relationships with their host communities as they are mentored by organizations meeting immediate needs and working toward lasting transformation. They receive ongoing training in spiritual and professional development, and the program provides ways for the cohort to stay connected across countries and placement sites.
The application deadline for the international track is Jan. 14, 2026. The Global Mission Fellow US-2 track is in a re-envisioning process, please check the GMF website for updates about changes in 2026. Placement matches will be assigned throughout the selection process, but early application is encouraged for the strongest match. The application for the international track can be found at https://umcmission.org/become-a-fellow-international-track/.
Those selected for the next Global Mission Fellow cohort will begin onboarding in Spring 2026 and start service in July 2026.
For more information regarding the program or application process, email missionaryinfo@umcmission.org.
*South African staple made from maize (corn), similar to sadza, ugali or fufu.
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About the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church
Global Ministries is the worldwide mission and development agency of The United Methodist Church. Founded in 1819, Global Ministries today supports more than 160 missionaries in over 60 countries, including the United States. It has personnel, projects and partners in more than 100 countries.
