Mission agency issues call for new missionaries

STAMFORD, Conn. (GBGM) - The United Methodist Church needs at least 20 new international missionaries during the two years.

A recruitment effort - "The Next Missionary May be YOU" - was launched at the semi-annual meeting of the directors of the General Board of Global Ministries.

"We are extremely pleased to be able to again actively recruit missionaries for international service," said the Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the international mission agency.

Dramatic revenue shortfalls, primarily from a sharp drop in investment income, resulted in a moratorium on new missionary assignment in 2002. International missionaries placed during the last three years have filled emergency needs, Day noted.

"We are looking for missionaries in 2006 and 2007 for service in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Israel/Palestine," said the Rev. Edith Gleaves, who heads the Mission Personnel unit of the board. "We need missionary pastors, educators, health and social workers, children and youth workers, administrators, and specialists in rural and construction ministries."

A typical missionary term is three years in length and provides health benefits and educational provisions for dependent children.

The board currently provides full support for 229 missionaries; 179 in international services and 50 in the United States. Partial support is provided to another 120 persons, mostly in the United States. These include Church and Community Workers, Hispanic/Latino Plan missionaries, Alaska missionaries, and short-term young adult missionaries.

Another 100 persons are "non-commissioned" mission personnel, and the agency helps to support 293 persons in mission selected by partner churches around the world. There are 119 deaconesses and home missioners who are commissioned by the board but find their own places of service.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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