Have you ever met Vicki Sullivan? Perhaps at the Accounts Payable desk in the Business Office of First Methodist Church Shreveport, where she's been a friendly presence for over 11 years. Maybe you've shared a pew with her at FaithLink or Traditional services, or perhaps you've walked alongside her on a spiritual journey during a Seekers Class or Walk to Emmaus.Some of you may even have embarked on international adventures together, traveling to Haiti, Russia, Costa Rica, or Italy. No matter the setting, you'd remember her infectious enthusiasm for missions and her unwavering love for Jesus.That's why, when it came time to appoint a new Director of Global Missions of First Methodist Church Shreveport, the answer was clear: Vicki Sullivan. Her qualifications extend far beyond a resume. With a compassionate heart and an ever-present smile, she embodies the spirit of this vital role.Vicki's love story with the FMC Global Missions family began nearly a decade ago when she sponsored a young man at Darivager Children's Home in Haiti. This wasn't just a financial commitment; it ignited a passion that led her on her first mission trip to Haiti, forever transforming her perspective. Mission work, for Vicki, transcended writing checks. It became about fostering relationships with the people we support around the world.From agape teams in Russia to construction projects in Costa Rica, and retreats with missionaries in Italy, Vicki has a deep understanding of the diverse needs and challenges faced by our global partners.But her dedication goes beyond the geographical. The cornerstone of Vicki's life is her faith in Jesus, which she readily shares with enthusiasm. Whether you've met her on a Walk to Emmaus or simply crossed paths at FMC, you've undoubtedly felt that contagious spirit. Above all, Vicki prioritizes building genuine connections, a quality that will serve her remarkably well as she connects with our global family.Indeed, God has meticulously paved the way for Vicki to step into this new season of leading our global efforts. Please join us in welcoming her! We're thrilled to see how Vicki's passion and experience will guide the FMC global missions family in the years ahead.Music by: Irene & the SleepersLogo by: Jill EllisWebsite: menomissions.orgBB Website: https://www.brokenbanquetpodcast.comContact Us: [email protected]

Your co-hosts, Wil & Ashley, are taking a break this week. And since we replayed Wil's episode earlier this season, we thought we'd re-introduce you to Ashley this week! Lots of changes are coming for Ashley, and we look forward to filling you in on those soon! Music by: Irene & the SleepersLogo by: Jill EllisWebsite: menomissions.orgBB Website: https://www.brokenbanquetpodcast.comContact Us: [email protected]

Friends, do we have a show for you! Meet Dr. Larry Dempsey, the leader of Wil Bailey's first trip to Costa Rica! Larry is a long-time member of 1st Methodist Church of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and over the course of 40+ trips to Costa Rica, he has a unique perspective on what mission relationships look like and how his feelings about missions have evolved over his many years of travel. We're so thankful for Larry joining us, and for his faithful commitment not only to Costa Rica Mission Projects, but to Brian Dubberly of El Salvador, as well!Music by: Irene & the SleepersLogo by: Jill EllisWebsite: menomissions.orgBB Website: https://www.brokenbanquetpodcast.comContact Us: [email protected]

Kay Ferguson loves Jesus, loves missions, loves her husband (Joe), her son (Joseph), her dog (Tracker), and her cat! Kay has been at the helm of the First Methodist Church of Shreveport's Global Mission family for over 10 years. We talk with her today about what led her to go on her first mission trip, what she thought of missions then, and how her perspective has evolved over time. It's a beautiful, emotional episode as Ashley & Kay reflect on ten years of learning together! Music by: Irene & the SleepersLogo by: Jill EllisWebsite: menomissions.orgBB Website: https://www.brokenbanquetpodcast.comContact Us: [email protected]

You've met his wife, Tamara! She blew the competition away with her episode! It has nearly double the listens of any other episodes we've produced! Now, it's time to hear from hubby, Jeremy. He's a rabid UNC fan and loves Jesus just as passionately. In 2009, Jeremy and Tamara Boone left the United States for Jinja, Uganda, and soon began serving in a refugee camp-turned-slum called Masese III. The people who live there fled the high deserts to escape war, child abduction, and famine. Decades later, the community still struggles to survive each day and is aid dependent. Though many of them say they are Christians their community is largely devoid of any tangible evidence of God’s love. Jeremy and Tamara are sure that God has called and sent them, alongside of others, to share the gospel in word and deed with the hope He will bring His Karamojong children to Himself.Today, the Karamojong in Masese Slum are at risk of being displaced again as the town dismantles the community to make room for development. Nearly everyone is at a loss about where they will go or what they will do. As the community disappears, it is clearer than ever that Jesus’ call to disciple is the only way to make a long-term, eternal impact among the Karamojong tribe. Jeremy and Tamara currently seek discipling relationships through three platforms: financial training and job creation, advocacy, and church planting.Since being in Uganda, they have adopted two children, Gloria and Evan, as well as given birth to two more, Karis and Samantha.Jeremy and Tamara also serve as Member Care Associates for Equip International, providing support and encouragement for all Equip missionaries in order to increase their resilience and effectiveness in the field.To learn more about Tamara & Jeremy, check out this video!Music by: Irene & the SleepersLogo by: Jill EllisWebsite: menomissions.orgBB Website: https://www.brokenbanquetpodcast.comContact Us: [email protected]

We'll be back next Monday with new episodes! Until then, by popular demand, we're replaying one of our episodes from Season One. Listeners, meet Co-Host Wil Bailey! He's a husband to Yolanda, a father to Isabella, and a friend to many, near and far. To learn more about Wil & Yolanda, watch: https://youtu.be/o73CY-x06Y4To learn more about Costa Rica Mission Projects, visit: http://costaricamissionprojects.comRead The World in a Wafer by William Cavanaugh. Wil Bailey is a Missionary serving in Costa Rica. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Duke University Divinity School in May of 2003 and has been commissioned as a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Individual Volunteer. His wife, Yolanda, is an active, life-long member of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Costa Rica.Wil went to Costa Rica for the first time when he was 15 years old with a United Methodist Volunteers in Missions youth work team. He went back every chance he got, and by the time he moved to Costa Rica in 2003, he had been 14 times. The majority of those trips were mission work teams. Wil says, "I have known since that first trip that doing mission work in Central America would always be a part of my life." Wil has also been on work teams to Honduras and Belize and spent the Summer of 2001 working with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa.Wil spent the Summer of 2002 back in Costa Rica living with a pastor and his family in San Isidro. It was over the course of those three-and-a-half months that God showed Wil that there was a ministry for him in Costa Rica. The week before he left to come back to the States to finish seminary, Wil met with Bishop Fernando Palomo in San Jose, and the Bishop invited him to come to work full-time as a part of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Costa Rica.In March of 2014 Wil and Yolanda were overjoyed to welcome the newest member of the Costa Rica Mission Projects family, Isabella Caroline Bailey Ulloa. Wil and Yolanda believe that when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, he taught us, in dramatic fashion, that if we claim to be His followers, we must be servants to one another. Christian service comes in many forms and they believe that they have been called to provide opportunities for churches in Costa Rica and churches from other countries to serve one another and explore what it means for us to be part of a body that extends far beyond the walls of our own individual churches. Their hope is that they might be able to help foster long lasting, fruitful relationships between the congregations who participate in this ministry. It is very important to them that they avoid establishing or reinforcing already existing relationships of dependency, but rather, that the churches involved will discover the benefits of interaction with one another. They understand the communion that takes place across borders, cultures and languages as a glimpse of God's Kingdom and as a sign of the work of the Holy Spirit among us.Music by: Irene & the SleepersLogo by: Jill EllisWebsite: menomissions.orgBB Website: https://www.brokenbanquetpodcast.comContact Us: [email protected]

Kenneth Rwego was born in Southwestern Uganda near the border of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. As a child he enjoyed crossing the border into Congo to visit his friends. It was during those visits that Kenneth saw firsthand the disturbing images of human suffering and broken families. In 1997, Kenneth accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. It was then that he began to feel a strong conviction to share the message of Faith, Hope and Love with the people of Congo. Kenneth's first trip to Congo as a believer was in 1998 during his first year of college. Since then, he has traveled to Congo at least once each year to share the Gospel with the people there. Over the years, God has continued to clarify Kenneth and his wife, Abigail's call to go into full-time missionary ministry in Congo through the founding of Eden Mission. With a focus on family, the Rwego Family trusts that Eden Mission will help families find joy, peace and a more fruitful and fulfilling life through Christ Jesus.Beginning in 2015 Kenneth and his family moved to live in the Congo full-time to continue and expand the work of Eden Mission. To learn more about Eden Mission, visit their website: https://edenmission.orgMusic by: Irene & the SleepersLogo by: Jill EllisWebsite: menomissions.orgBB Website: https://www.brokenbanquetpodcast.comContact Us: [email protected]

You've already met so many members of George Fox Evangelical Seminary's Leadership & Global Perspective Cohort #4 -- Stefania Tarasut, Dr. Julie Dodge, Dr. John Woodward, and Dr. Mitch Arbelaez. Now it's time to meet Dr. Deve Persad!Deve has been serving in the Lead Pastor role at Sarnia Evangelical Missionary Church since 2006. He’s a simple guy (vanilla ice cream and regular chips) just trying to bring the mission, mercy and message of Jesus to the world. Deve and his wife, Amanda, have two adult children, Jarrett (married to Katlyn) and Aynsley. Together they share a love for food and football!To read Deve's WHOLE story, click here: https://emcctogether.ca/2020/06/deve-persad-emcc-enrichment-facilitator-series/To read Deve's dissertation, download it at: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/137/To read Deve's amazing writing, visit: https://www.down2earthleadership.comTo learn more about Deve's church, visit: https://sarniaemc.orgTo learn more about Deve's El Salvador partnership, visit: https://www.shelterhelps.comMusic by: Irene & the SleepersLogo by: Jill EllisWebsite: menomissions.orgBB Website: https://www.brokenbanquetpodcast.comContact Us: [email protected]

Listeners! This is episode speaks to our souls! ​​Meet Nathan Nelson!Nathan is the Pastor of Mission & Outreach at Bethany Community Church in Seattle, WA. He has more than a decade of experience working in short-term mission on the side of the sending church and receiving organization. He has worked throughout Latin America, Rwanda, and Seattle in church-based community development and is passionate about unifying local churches to be agents of holistic transformation in their communities. He holds a MA of Divinity with an emphasis in International Development & Urban Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and BA in Global Development and Sociology from Seattle Pacific University. He is a contributor to the book Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions and several publications on the topic of Christian mission. He calls the Pacific Northwest home and lives every day in gratitude and admiration for his beloved wife Maci.To learn more about Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions, visit the RISTM Book Website: https://www.reimaginingstm.com/Rwanda to Seattle Mission Trip (teaser trailer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSq0j2w6PI8Music by: Irene & the SleepersLogo by: Jill EllisWebsite: menomissions.orgBB Website: https://www.brokenbanquetpodcast.comContact Us: [email protected]

You've met Dr. John Woodward, a gazillion times. Wil & Ashley have interviewed him, he has interviewed Wil & Ashley, and he's serving on the Meno Missions Board of Directors.But have you met Lissy Pixley?! No, she's not a unicorn, but she is a super hero! Lissy serves in Campus Christian Fellowship at Iowa State University, a role you may have heard about in a previous episode when we interviewed Lissy's dad, Dr. John Woodward. That's right, Lissy is following in the footsteps of her father, and we adore this father-daughter duo. You will, too!Music by: Irene & the SleepersLogo by: Jill EllisWebsite: menomissions.orgBB Website: https://www.brokenbanquetpodcast.comContact Us: [email protected]