wfn.org | United Methodists commission young adult missioners

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Feb. 20, 2001 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212)870-3803*New York
10-71B{090}

By United Methodist News Service

The inaugural class of Bishop W.T. Handy Young Adult Missioners was
commissioned Feb. 18 at Bowen United Methodist Church in Tuskegee, Ala.

A new ministry of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, young
adult missioners gives young men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 an
opportunity to answer God's call to service. Placed in a variety of mission
assignments, they will serve two years, with the option of serving
additional terms through the age of 30.   

The first class of 17 includes young adults from five countries.

The program is named in memory of the late Bishop W.T. Handy, Jr., who for
many years was involved in training young adults for global mission service.
 
Commissioned were May-Britt Borgen, Northern Europe Conference, assigned to
Emma Norton Women's Residence in St. Paul, Minn., to minister to abused
women; Carrie Abigail Cravens, North Texas Conference, assigned to Project
Transformation in Dallas, to coordinate an after-school program for inner
city children; and Michael Hammond, Methodist Church-Ghana, assigned to
Wesley Foundation at the University of Northern Iowa. He will serve in an
international student ministry working in after-school programs at a local
church.

Also assigned to Project Transformation in Dallas were Isaac Harris, Liberia
Conference, and Omega Lee S. Ramos, North Central Philippine Conference, for
ministry with inner city children and youth; Robert B. Kantee, Liberia
Conference, for outreach ministry with newly-emerging African population;
James Alvaro Nilo, Central Luzon Philippines Conference, and Ephraim F.
Ramos, North Central Philippine Conference, for Filipino population
outreach; and Catherine Ramsey Locke, Central Texas Conference, to do
development work for a ministry connecting children and churches of the
inner city.

Also commissioned were Ricky B. Mandagan, Central Luzon Philippine
Conference, assigned to a tutoring ministry for youth at Sugar Creek United
Methodist Church in Chatham, Ill.; Ramil Manuel and Janet Hop Mena-Manuel,
North Central Philippines Conference, assigned to Manila House in Manila for
urban ministry; and Kathryn Elisabeth McAliley, North Georgia Conference,
and Rolando F. Ramos, North Central Philippines Conference, assigned to
Wesley Foundation serving the University of California at Los Angeles.

Also, Bennie Grace B. Palaganas, Pangasinan Philippines Conference, assigned
to Bocobo House in Manila, for a leadership development ministry with youth
and young adults; Luwalhati Isabel Y. Quilang, Northern Philippines
Conference, assigned to Bocobo House for urban ministry and health
education; and Julie Kathleen Schubring, Wisconsin Conference, assigned to
Bishop's Flock Initiative in Wisconsin Annual Conference to coordinate
conference-wide ministries and mission trips for youth and young adults;

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United Methodist News Service
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