Live from Stamford: The commissioning
Bishop Bruce Ough and Lois Dauway of the United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries, lay hands on David Goran as he is commissioned as a
missionary during an Oct. 13 service in Stamford, Conn. UMNS photos by
Cassandra M. Zampini. |
By Linda Bloom*
Oct. 14, 2009 | STAMFORD, Conn. (UMNS)
Shannon and David Goran use the Internet to advertise their campus ministry to students in the Ukraine.
So it seemed fitting that the young couple’s formal commissioning as
missionaries of The United Methodist Church could be viewed live as a
Webcast. “I think it’s a good illustration of the global church in the
21st century,” David Goran said.
They were among the 40 people commissioned in an Oct. 13 service
during the annual meeting of the United Methodist Board of Global
Ministries in Stamford, Conn.
David and Shannon Goran are missionaries with the Board of Global Ministries of The
United Methodist Church,
serving in L'viv, Ukraine.
|
For the first time, any United Methodist with computer access could
watch that evening as one of the largest groups in recent years were
blessed and sent out in service. Commissioned were eight international
missionaries, 10 church and community workers, seven deaconesses, two
home missioners, six mission interns, two Hispanic/Latino Plan
missionaries and five US-2s, young adults serving two-year terms in the
United States.
“This is not a Board of Global Ministries moment, it is a church
wide mission moment,” Bishop Joel Martínez, the board’s interim top
executive, explained as he opened the commissioning service.
According to a report from the mission agency following the Webcast,
300 sites stayed with the link for the entire service, with a peak at
1,000 sites. Viewers were identified as coming from the United States,
Australia, Indonesia, Western Europe, the Caribbean and South America.
“A terrific idea to live stream the commissioning of UMC
missionaries tonight,” twittered Missy Buchanan, a writer from Texas.
“People around the world sharing the experience!”
Sybil Dodson wrote on Facebook: “So enjoyed watching the commissioning
of fellow deaconesses and home missioners as well as the other
missionaries. Makes one proud to be a United Methodist!”
Because of the time difference -- the Ukraine is five hours ahead of
the U.S. East Coast -- the Gorans weren’t sure that any of their
students would be watching. Nor, Shannon admitted, did the students
totally understand the concept of commissioning. But, she added,
“They’re excited for us.”
Student ministry in Ukraine
David, 26, an Illinois native, and Shannon, 31, a Texan, have been
working among the roughly 150,000 college students in L’viv, Ukraine,
for the past year. Because the schools there do not have campuses, they
run their ministry from a fourth-floor apartment in a downtown
building. There, they offer tea and cookies, free Internet access, a
clean bathroom and a place for students to hang out, do homework and
take part in Bible studies.
Married for two and a half years, the couple met while pursuing
mission studies at Asbury College. Shannon, who was raised a United
Methodist and has a master’s degree in social work, decided to be a
missionary in 2001 and interned in the L’viv program in 2003. David, a
Free Methodist, is combining a calling by God with “the desire to do
something of true value.”
Bishop Joel Martínez and Bishop Bruce Ough commission Jennifer Battiest
as a church and community worker with the United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries during an Oct. 13 service
in Stamford, Conn.
|
Haewon (Cindy) Moon, 53, and Sungchul (Gary) Moon, 57, members of
Covenant United Methodist Church, a Korean-American congregation in
Pomona, Calif., also felt the call and have prepared themselves through
a number of short-term mission experiences.
For the past five months, the couple, who are parents of three adult
children, has attended language school in Thailand. When they finish
their studies next spring, the Moons plan to open an orphanage for
children with HIV/AIDS in Chonburi Province, about an hour south of
Bangkok.
During the application process with the Board of Global Ministries,
Sungchul, a chiropractor, and Haewon, who has administrative experience
with assisted living programs, immersed themselves in study about
HIV/AIDS to prepare to establish the orphanage. “We’ll start very
small, with about four kids,” he said.
They were both excited about the Webcast of the service and hoped
that friends from Bangkok, Los Angeles and Texas would be watching. “I
sent out e-mails to a lot of people I know,” he added.
Privilege and responsibility
Noting that mission service is both a “great privilege” and “solemn
responsibility,” Bishop Bruce Ough, the board’s president, called on
the Gorans, Moons and 36 others – representing 23 U.S. annual
(regional) conferences and one partner church in the Caribbean – to
make a public pledge of their dedication to that service.
After each had been individually called forward and commissioned
with a laying on of hands “to take the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
into all the world,” the group stood in a long line across the
ballroom, reciting the Wesley Covenant Prayer, which begins: “I am no
longer my own, but Yours.”
Haewon and Sungchul Moon.
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The Gorans and Moons will soon head back to their assignments. In
the Ukraine, the Gorans already have seen some progress with bringing
students to the faith, reported David, who is studying for ordination
through the United Methodist church there. “I think we’ve been able to
mobilize some students in leadership,” he added.
The Moons expect to rely on connections with other missionaries, as
well as assistance from local hospitals, doctors and the staff of
similar orphanages, during the start-up process for their orphanage.
“I’m so grateful for the ministry we’ll be involved in,” Sungchul said.
The full list of those commissioned on Oct. 13, and their annual conferences, includes:
International missionaries: David and Shannon Goran, Texas; Jonathan
McCurley, Florida; Haewon (Cindy) and Sungchul (Gary) Moon,
California-Pacific; Helen Roberts-Evans, Northern Illinois; Serna
Samuel, Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas; and Charles
Tran, Virginia.
Church and community workers (engage in ministries with the poor in the United States):
Deborah Archie, West Ohio; Jennifer Battiest, Oklahoma Indian
Missionary; Steve Claris, Virginia; Alexandria Jones, New York; Soraya
Montano, Colombia (South America)/West Ohio; Rebecca Parsons, Eastern
Pennsylvania; Amy Spaur, Iowa; Anita Tracy, West Virginia; James Pat
Watkins, Virginia; and Trina Scott-Zuor, Iowa.
Mission interns (young adults serving three-year terms, with
experiences both inside and outside the United States): Joseph Bradley,
Texas; Erin Eidenshink, Western Pennsylvania; Hannah Hanson, Virginia;
Rachel Keller, Central Pennsylvania; Jennifer Tyler, Dakotas; and Holli
Vining, North Alabama.
US-2 missionaries: Bethany Amey, Greater New Jersey; Heather Bishop,
Virginia; Jennifer Chickering, New England; Amanda Thrasher, Western
North Carolina; and Amihan Jones, Southwest Texas.
National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministries missionaries: Jaime
Nieves, Rocky Mountain; and Rosanna Panizo-Valladares, North Carolina.
Deaconesses (women) and home missioners (men) are lay people who
make lifetime commitments to ministry, are members of annual
conferences and obtain their own employment.
Deaconesses: Virginia Baker, Louisiana; Patricia Croley, Dakotas;
Cynthia Andrade Johnson, Rio Grande; Mary Cameron Kempson, Western
North Carolina; Susan Lewandowski, Virginia; Myka Kennedy Stephens,
Northern Illinois; and Kyung O. Yu, West Ohio.
Home missioners: Charles Barrow, North Carolina; and Jeffrey Bruce Murrell, North Alabama.
*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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