The Importance of the Global Mission Intern Program
As the Disaster Relief, Refugee Resettlement, and Sustainable Development Mission Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Week of Compassion serves as an important tool in the life of the church. Through WoC and our incredible, committed partners, the church provides life-saving aid and supports life-changing programs that not only support the building of skills and the exchange of expertise and local wisdom, but the building of relationships that are at the heart of the Gospel.
As the Disaster Relief, Refugee Resettlement, and Sustainable Development Mission Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Week of Compassion serves as an important tool in the life of the church. Through WoC and our incredible, committed partners, the church provides life-saving aid and supports life-changing programs that not only support the building of skills and the exchange of expertise and local wisdom, but the building of relationships that are at the heart of the Gospel.
The Global Mission Intern (GMI) program is one such partnership. As GMIs, Young adults from North America are able to contribute to the work of church agencies, ecumenical organizations, and other historic partners of the church, developing a global perspective, gaining greater insight into the context in which they work, and benefiting from a time of vocational exploration and discernment. GMIs come back transformed—filled with new experiences and awareness, whether they have worked with vulnerable children in South African townships, explored agricultural development and disaster recovery in the Philippines, or supported grassroots community building in Haiti.
For me, such talk of transformation isn’t hyperbole. It is part of my own call to ministry. I served as a GMI with the All Africa Conference of Churches from 2004-2006. Working as a communication officer for this continental ecumenical hub, I found myself in the middle of a flurry of activity–from being part of an interfaith anti-poverty campaign, to helping design and market programs addressing HIV/AIDS and human trafficking, to meeting devoted, activist Christians from all over Africa and simply discussing the way the Church can engage questions of deep human need. The complicated dynamics between my North American context and the different African cultures in which I found myself were salient, pushing me to confront my own presuppositions, privilege, and power in ways I had not considered. My service as a GMI remains an important touchpoint in my understanding of ministry, socially responsible citizenship, and in helping me live my life as a follower of Christ.
Now, as Associate Director of Week of Compassion, I find myself in a unique position. Reading the dispatches from current GMIs, meeting several before they take off for their assigned internships, and receiving the occasional social media check-in months later, I get to learn from their keen reflections, and I am humbled by the ways they embrace relationships in such open-hearted, committed ways. I am often stunned by their insights, and feel honored to learn from them as they learn from the committed partners and communities in which they work.
Your generous support of Week of Compassion does so many things—including developing leaders and sustaining the relationships they build on behalf of God’s reign of peace and justice. Don’t take it from me, though; the Global Mission Interns who serve with you and on your behalf have stories of their own to share.
Brandon Gilvin servers as the Associate Director of Week of Compassion.