People in Mission

Volunteers

Blamburg, Margaret

Margaret Blamberg, a member of Plymouth Church, United Church of Christ, Brooklyn, New York, has been appointed to serve the United Nations since 2006. She is working with international government, non-government, and ecumenical organizations.

DeSouza, Barbara
Brazil
Barbara DeSouza, a member of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, River Falls, Wisconsin, has been appointed to serve the Community Health Education Project of the Instituto de Estudos da Religiao (ISER) in Rio de Janeiro from 1998 to August 2009. She serves as a health consultant.

Jacquay, Paul
Paraguay
Paul Jacquay, a member of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Big Timber, Montana, has been appointed to serve the Mision de Amistad (Friendship Mission) as a health consultant and nurse trainer since 2006. He works as a health consultant for the medical department and nurse training at the Mision de Amistad School of Nursing.

Longatan, Nancy Molin
Philippines
Nancy Molin Longatan, a member of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Reno, Nevada, has been appointed to serve the North Luzon Jurisdiction of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines as assistant to the bishop since 2006.

Lott Henry, Nancy
India
Nancy Lott Henry, a member of Avon Lake United Church of Christ, Avon Lake, Ohio, has been appointed to serve the Church of North India through January 2009. She is teaching nurses for hospitals.

Oracion, Levi
Philippines
Levi Oracion, a member of Emmaus Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Covina, California, has been appointed to serve the Divinity School of Silliman University in Dumaguete City from 2002 to May 2010. He is a professor of theology.

Szucs, Barbara
Hungary
Barbara Szucs, a member of The Lorain Hungarian Reformed Church, Lorain, Ohio, has been appointed to serve the Reformed Church of Hungary working through June 2009. She works with the Roma (Gypsy) Mission as an enabler.

Wallace, John
Chile
John Wallace, a member of Allisonville Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Indianapolis, Indiana, has been appointed to serve the Pentecostal Church of Chile. He assists with the preparation and administration of retreats at the Shalom Center.

Missionaries

Alvarez, Carmello
Venezuela
Carmello Alvarez, a member of Hermandad Cristiana, Indianapolis, Indiana, has been appointed to serve the Latin American Evangelical Pentecostal Commission (CEPLA) and the Evangelical Pentecostal Union of Venezuela (UEPV) based in Chicago, Illinois from 2002 to 2010. He serves as program consultant and visiting professor for the CEPLA and the UEPV.

Barnes, Jon
South Africa
Jon Barnes, a member of the Seventh Street Christian Church, Richmond, Virginia, has been appointed to serve the Kei Regional Council of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa from 2002 to 2010. He is currently a development officer in the Kei region of the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Barnes, Dawn
South Africa
Dawn Barnes, a member of the Seventh Street Christian Church, Richmond, Virginia, has been appointed to serve the Kei Regional Council of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa from 2002 to 2010. She is currently a development officer in the Kei region of the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Behle, Mark
Lesotho
Mark Behle, a member of The Church of the Palms, United Church of Christ, Sun City, Arizona, has been appointed to serve the Lesotho Evangelical Church from 1996 to December 2009. He is a math teacher at Masitise High School.

Bentrott, Patrick
Haiti
Patrick Bentrott, a member of Sixth Avenue United Church of Christ, Denver, Colorado, has been appointed to serve the National Spiritual Council of Churches in Haiti (CONASPEH) from 9/1/08 to 8/31/12. He advises CONASPEH on theological education and diaconal projects and programs.

Bentrott, Kimberly
Haiti
Kimberly Bentrott, a member of United Methodist Church, Belleville, Kansas, has been appointed to serve the National Spiritual Council of Churches in Haiti (CONASPEH) from 9/1/08 to 8/31/12. She advises CONASPEH on health care and diaconal projects and programs.

Byrd, Phyllis
Kenya
Phyllis Byrd, a member of Hollis Avenue Congregational, United Church of Christ, Queens Village, New York, has been appointed to serve the Presbyterian Church of East Africa from 2001 to 2009. She is a theological educator in Nairobi.

Campbell-Nelson, John
Indonesia
John Campbell-Nelson, a member of Upland Presbyterian Church, Upland, California, was appointed to serve the Evangelical Christian Church of West Timor from 1999 to May 2009. He has taught at the Theological Faculty of Artha Wacana University and its Center for Regional Studies and served as a consultant to the Evangelical Church in East Timor. He provides in-service training and continuing education for clergy.

Chan, Judy
Hong Kong
Judy Chan, a member of Colesville Presbyterian, Silver Spring, Maryland, has served the Hong Kong Christian Council since 1994. She has an ecumenical radio broadcasting ministry and will be itinerating in the United States from 10/1/08 to 11/30/08.

Couper, Scott
South Africa
Scott Couper, a member of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Battle Creek, Michigan, has been appointed to serve a United Congregational Church of Southern Africa congregation in Durban in the Kwazulu-Natal Region from 10/1/04 to 12/31/08. He is the pastor of that congregation.

Dobson, Michal
Thailand
Elementary teacher at Chiang Mai International School, and assisting in the development of curriculum

Dudley, Donna
Angola
Donna Dudley, a member of University Church, United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Chicago, Illinois, has been appointed to serve the Evangelical Congregational Church of Angola (IECA) from 7/1/07 to 6/30/09. As an Economic and Social Projects Consultant, she assists with development projects and staff leadership training programs.

Frank, Kenneth
Turkey
Ken Frank, as educational overseas missionaries for 32 years, he served from 1969 to 1978 in Zambia and has served in Turkey since 1982. He currently serves as joint General Secretaries of the American Board in Istanbul.

Frank, Elizabeth
Turkey
Elizabeth Frank, as educational overseas missionaries for 32 years, she served from 1969 to 1978 in Zambia and has served in Turkey since 1982. She currently serves as joint General Secretaries of the American Board in Istanbul.

Gobledale, Todd
Australia
Professor of Practical Ministry

Hanson, Bruce
Honduras
Bruce Hanson, a member of Belmond United Church of Christ, Belmond, Iowa, has been appointed to serve the Christian Commission for Development with assignment to Honduran Theological Community in Tegucigalpa from 2004 to June 2012. He is a nurse serving in the health ministries of the Honduran Theological Community (CTH) where he teaches HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and care. He is also a consultant to the medical teams sponsored by the Christian Commission for Development.

Hanson, Linda
Honduras
Linda Hanson, a member of Belmond United Church of Christ, Belmond, Iowa, has been appointed to serve the Christian Commission for Development with assignment to Honduran Theological Community in Tegucigalpa from 2004 to June 2012. She teaches theological courses at the Honduran Theological Community (CTH) and serves the CCD clinic as a physical therapist and consultant to exchange medical teams.

Henry, Teresa
India
Teresa Henry, a member of Brookmeade Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Nashville, Tennessee, was appointed to serve the Synodical Board of Health Services of the Church of North India in 1997. She is an anesthesiologist at the Christian Hospital in Mungeli.

Henry, Anil
India
Anil Henry, a member of Brookmeade Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Nashville, Tennessee, was appointed to serve the Synodical Board of Health Services of the Church of North India in 1997. He serves as the medical director of the Christian Hospital in Mungeli.

Huegel, Elena
Chile
Elena Huegel, a member of Iglesia Cristiana de Guadalajara, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Guadalajara, Mexico, has been appointed to serve the Pentecostal Church of Chile (IPC) from 1999 to August 2011. She is an environmental and Christian education specialist.

Johnson, Lydia
New Zealand
Lydia Johnson, a member of First Christian Church, Asheville, North Carolina, has been appointed to serve the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin from 2000 and will complete her assignment in October 2008. She teaches students in practical/applied theology, serves as a consultant to the theology department’s distant learning center, and provides pastoral care.

Joseph, Michael
Colombia
Michael Joseph, a member of Metro Baptist Church, New York, New York, has been appointed to serve the Restoration, Life and Peace Commission of the Council of Evangelical Churches (CEDECOL) from 5/1/07 to 4/30/10. He provides pastoral critical presence to church leaders and lay people who are living in life-threatening situations.

Kamphoefner, Kathleen
Egypt
Kathleen Kamphofner, a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Jerusalem, has been appointed to serve St. Andrew’s Church in Cairo from 9/1/07 to 8/31/11. She serves as the Joint Refugee Program Coordinator.

Kyle, Veronica
South Africa
Veronica Kyle, a member of Avalon Park United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois, has been appointed to serve the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, based in Johannesburg, from 1/1/03 to 12/31/07. She is a coordinator for education, social, women and youth programs and consultant to the Bridgman Center. She served in Jamaica 1995 – 2002.

Kyle, William
South Africa
William Kyle, a member of Avalon Park United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois, has been appointed to serve the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, based in Johannesburg, from 1/1/03 to 12/31/07. He serves as administrative assistant to the general secretary and assists in the development of a ministry and programs for at-risk youth. He served in Jamaica 1995 – 2002.

Luzares, Casilda
Japan
Casilda Luzares, a member of Church of the Holy Redeemer, United Church of Christ in the Phillipines, has been appointed to serve the United Church of Christ in Japan, Kyoto Conference, from 10/1/05 to 9/30/09. She is an English Literature Professor at Doshisha University and does pastoral ministries with migrant workers from the Phillipines, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Madrazo, Carlos
Timor Lorosa
Carlos Madrazo, a member of United Church of Christ, Seattle, Washington, has been appointed to serve the Protestant Church of East Timor (IPTL). He serves as consultant for church resource and management, community development, and school curriculum development.

Martinez, Salvadore
Thailand
Salvadore Martinez, a member of Silliman University Church, United Church of Christ in the Phillipines, has been appointed to serve the Church of Christ in Thailand through 4/30/09. He has been a Professor of Theology with the McGilvary Faculty of Theology at Payap University since 1993.

McFarlane, Doreen
China
Doreen McFarlane, a member of Flagg Road United Church of Christ, West Hartford, Connecticut, has been appointed to serve Nanjing Jingling Union Theological Seminary in Nanjing from 8/1/06 to 7/31/10. She is a professor of Biblical Studies.

McFarlane, Michael
China
Michael McFarlane, a member of Flagg Road United Church of Christ, West Hartford, Connecticut, has been appointed to serve Nanjing Jingling Union Theological Seminary in Nanjing from 8/1/06 to 7/31/10. He is a professor of Church Music.

Medyesy, Laslo
Hungary
Laslo Medyesy, a member of Evangelical and Reformed United Church of Christ, Wallingford, Connecticut, has been appointed to serve the Reformed University in Budapest from 1994 to 8/31/09. He is a Professor of Theology in Department of Theology at the Karoli Gaspar University and the Reformed University in Budapest.

Medyesy, Coralyn
Hungary
Coralyn Medyesy, a member of Church of Christ at Yale, New Haven, Connecticut, has been appointed to serve the Reformed Church of Hungary from 6/1/00 to 8/31/09. She is a teacher of Social Work and Diakonia and has taught pastoral counseling and English Conversation classes. She is involved in the preparation of future teachers in church-related schools in the Teacher Training Facility of Gaspar Karoli Reformed University, Nagykoros, Hungary.

Mendsendiek, Martha
Japan
Martha Mensendiek, a member of Church of the Crossroads, United Church of Christ, Honolulu, Hawaii, has been appointed to serve the Doshisha University, Kyoto from 1996 to 2/28/09 through the Council on Cooperative Mission. She is a teacher of social welfare.

Mensendiek, Jeffrey
Japan
Jeffrey Mensendiek, a member of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Berkeley, California has been appointed to serve the Council on Cooperative Mission since 1993 to 2012. Assigned to the Emmaus Center in Sendai, he is director of youth activities.

Morse, Thomas
China
Thomas Morse, a member of Southport Christian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, is serving Amity Foundation from 6/1/07 to 5/31/09. He is an English teacher.

Nafziger, Bethsaba
Nepal
Community health worker, United Mission to Nepal Associate, Nepal

Nafziger, Dale
Nepal
Self-help Development Project Manager, United Mission to Nepal Associate, Nepal

Ojedo-Perez, Justino
Mexico
Justino Ojedo-Perez, a member of ICDC Bo Espinosa, Dorado, Puerto Rico, has been appointed to serve the Christian Congregational Churches of Mexico, the Alliance of Evangelical Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Mexico (AICEDCAR), and the Fraternity of Evangelical Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Mexico (CICE) from 7/1/05 to 6/30/09. He is a consultant for the Mission Development Program on church capacity building, church ministries, and reconciliation.

Pierce, Paul
Egypt
Paul Pierce, a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Jerusalem has been appointed to serve St. Andrew’s Church in Cairo from 9/1/07 to 8/31/11. He is a Joint Refugee Program Coordinator.

Rivera-Rivera, Zaida
Mexico
Zaida Rivera-Rivera, a member of ICDC Bo Espinosa, Dorado, Puerto Rico, has been appointed to serve the Christian Congregational Churches of Mexico, the Alliance of Evangelical Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Mexico (AICEDCAR), and the Fraternity of Evangelical Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Mexico (CICE) from 7/1/05 to 6/30/09. She is a consultant for the Mission Development Program.

Rose, Timothy
France
Tim Rose, has been appointed to serve the Reformed Church of France as a program assistant with the Refugee Migrant Program. He will be itinerating in the US through 4/30/09.

Schrader, Marla
Israel-Palestine
Marla Schrader, a member of Lafayette Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Lafayette, California, has been appointed to serve the Ramallah Friends Meeting in Palestine of the Religious Society of Friends through 7/31/09. She supports the theological work of Jean Zaru, Clerk of the Ramallah Friends Meeting, through organizations and churches engaged in advocacy and education concerning the Middle East conflict.

Searles, Elizabeth
Poland
Elizabeth Searles, a member of Schleswig United Church of Christ, Schleswig, Iowa, has been appointed to serve the Evangelical Reformed Church from 7/1/08 to 6/30/11. She is a mission worker for church growth and outreach.

Searles, Doug
Poland
Doug Searles, a member of Schleswig United Church of Christ, Schleswig, Iowa, has been appointed to serve the Evangelical Reformed Church from 7/1/08 to 6/30/11. He is a mission worker for church growth and outreach.

Smith, Lisa
Germany
Lisa Smith, a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Covington, Kentucky, served the Evangelical Church of the Union (EKU) in the Berlin-Brandenburg region from 1996 to 7/31/08 as assistant to the commissioner for migrant issues and provided lay training in the church region. She has completed her service and will be itinerating in the US from 8/1/08 to 1/31/09.

Smith, Steven
Germany
Steven Smith, a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Covington, Kentucky, served the Evangelical Church of the Union (EKU) in the Berlin-Brandenburg region from 1996 to 7/31/08 serving on the Ecumenical Council of Churches on behalf of the region and provided lay training in the church region. He has completed her service and will be itinerating in the US from 8/1/08 to 1/31/09.

Stendahl, Alison
Turkey
Alison Stendahl, a member of University Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Seattle, Washington, has been appointed to serve the Near East Mission in Istanbul from 9/1/07 to 8/31/11 as academic dean and math teacher at Uskudar American Academy. She has served in Turkey since 1980.

Szucs, Zoltan
Hungary
Zoltan Szucs, a member of HRC of Lorain, United Church of Christ, Lorain, Ohio, has been appointed to serve the Hungarian Reformed Church from 7/1/05 to 6/30/09. He serves as Professor of Practical Theology at Karoli Gaspar University in Budapest.

Valiquette, Susan
South Africa
Susan Valiquette, a member of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Battle Creek, Michigan, has been appointed to serve the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) from 1999 to December 2008. She serves as the chaplain of Inanda Deminary in Durban.

Van Voorhis, Bruce
Hong Kong
Bruce Van Voorhis, a member of Wellshire Presbyterian Church, Denver, Colorado, has been appointed to serve the Asian Human Rights Commissions (AHRC) from 1998 to 12/31/09. He is a writer and editor and has served in Hong Kong since 1990.

Vincente, Gloria
Guatemala
Gloria Vincente, a member of University Church, United Church of Christ/Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Chicago, Illinois, has been appointed to serve the Guatemalan Culture Action (ACG) from 9/1/07 to 8/31/10. She is a youth and communication worker.

Wilson, Jayanthi
Botswana
Jayanthi Wilson, a member of Cairo-Jacksonville Pastoral Unity Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Cairo, Missouri, has been appointed to serve the Kgolagano Theological College in Gaborone from 2006 to 2009. She is currently upgrading the library as a community development. She served Lesotho Evangelical Church from 1988 to 2005.

Wilson, James
Botswana
James Wilson, a member of Cairo-Jacksonville Pastoral Unity Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Cairo, Missouri, has been appointed to serve the Kgolagano Theological College in Gaborone from 2006 to 2009. He serves as a teacher of theology. He served Lesotho Evangelical Church from 1988 to 2005.

Overseas Staff

Dangers, Xuyen
Laos
Xuyen Dangers is a social worker in Laos/Vietnam. She serves as a Social work supervisor of Donkoi child center and 5 other centers, Social work advisor, Faculty of Social Sciences, and the National University of Laos, for Church World Service and Witness (NCCC).

Henry, Anil
India

Global Mission Interns

Giger, Carla
South Africa
Carla Giger, A member of Slater Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Slater, Missouri, is continuing her service with the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), based in Johannesburg through 12/31/09. She is serving as an assistant program coordinator for Girls Against the Spread of Aids providing HIV/AIDS education for youth.

Howe, Kevin
Honduras
Kevin Howe, A member of University Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Ft. Worth, Texas, is serving with the Christian Commission of Development (CCD) from 8/1/07 to 12/31/08. He works in the communications ministry.

Lee-Takei, Sandra
Japan
Sandra Lee-Takei, A member of Sycamore Church, United Church of Christ, El Cerrito, California, is serving with the Council on Cooperative Mission in Sendai from 12/1/07 to 12/31/08. She is the assistant to the Director of Youth Ministries at the Emmaus Center.

McKinney, Erin
Dominican Republic
Erin McKinney, A member of Hiram Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Hiram, Ohio, has been appointed to serve Caminante in Boca Chica from 9/1/08 to 8/31/09. She will work with children in Caminante’s Outreach Ministry.

Morse, Alexander
Dominican Republic
Alexander Morse, (7/1/07 - 6/30/08) a member of Hazelwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Muncie, Indiana, is serving a one-year term (with the possibility of an extension) with Caminante in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. He is working with children in Caminante’s Outreach Ministry.

Vijayakumar, Varsha
Switzerland
Amirtha Vijayakumar, a member of Olmsted Community Church, United Church of Christ, Olmsted Falls, Ohio, was appointed to serve with the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) in Geneva from 10/1/07 to 9/30/08. She is a human rights and solidarity intern.