A great multicultural experience

Yes it Fits!

Last week (June 1-4) a wonderful group of young people of color met at The University of the South, Sewanee TN to explore ministry in community while celebrating their cultures. 

The Does it Fit Conference, a collaborative effort between the Ethnic Ministries Offices and the Pastoral Leadership Search Effort-PLSE, was a rich experience.  It was rich not only as stated by the participants in their testimonies and evaluation forms but also for the Design Team and Seminary Staff who were delighted by the gifts, talents, personalities and passion of the group and the high sense of community and fellowship shared with one another.  

Does it Fit? was also an opportunity for celebration of a multicultural experience and community, where languages, dances and food were share.  From enjoying a Round and a Rabbit Native American dance to eating coconut and tamarind dessert from the Caribbean, from hearing about the beauty of Alaska, hearing a beautiful song in Spanish, to enjoying in laughter a wonderful funny sketch about black history prepared by the African American delegation. 

Among the 39 participants, 13 students expressed their desire to consider ordained ministry in the future.  Jasmine Bostock a college student of the Diocese of Hawaii, who resides in Washignton DC, commented “I came in to the conference with a clear acceptance and realization that God had called me to ordained ministry. I have never fought against the call, but, until the conference, had a lot of unanswered questions”. 

Indeed, Does it Fit? provided a safe and healthy space for exploring and asking all kind of questions about ministry.  

Others participants, like Amasi Kumeh from the Diocese of Newark expressed her interest of pursing missionary work like after graduate school.   

At the lunch hosted by PLSE for participants interested in ordained ministry, Diego Veizaga, 20 year old from Florida expressed his desire to go to law school and his passion about serving others.  Diego shared with the group how the ministry of his Rector encourages him to consider ordination, as second career in life.

What is next for us, the leaders who organized this event?  What is next is to support this kind of initiative, follow up, nurture, and guide Does it Fit? Participants to continue exploring and living their call to lay or ordained ministry and to usher them into the various ministries and networks of our Episcopal at large.

What is next? To continue nurturing and promoting ministry and diversity within the Church to continue embracing our mission as children of God and ambassadors of God’s Kingdom.

If you have questions about future, Does it Fit? events please contact any of the following staff person at the Episcopal Church Center:

The Rev. Angela Ifill (Black Ministries Office) aifill@episcopalchurch.org

The Rev. Anthony Guillen (Hispanic Ministries Office) aguillen@episcopalchurch.org

The Rev. Winfred Vergara (Asian American Ministries Office) wvergara@episcopalchurch.org

Sarah Eagle Heart (Native America Ministries Office) seagleheart@episcopalchurch.org

The Rev. Miguelina Espinal (Pastoral Leadership Search Effort-PLSE) mespinal@episcopalchurch.org

Let’s keep the beat! It does fit!

Paz,

Miguelina

My calling is to serve, by Andrea de la Torre

My calling is to serve

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is true worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

God has giving all of his children the gift to serve. Some may not know how to flourish this amazing gift. While some maintain the gift all to them selves and not allowing to illuminate the lives of others by sharing the love of God. While the children that do share the gift; are able to hear the calling louder every time. I can feel the calling to serve; running all through my blood. I have been blessed with a gift that keeps on giving. From my perspective, I don’t know if there is anything better then seeing someone elated.

 

Serving makes me joyful, alive and fortunate; as if it was an addiction that I have towards serving God. I’ve been blessed with this calling from a young age; with the privilege of being introduced to acolyte. Along the way it has guided me more towards God and strengthens my faith. As a former director of acolytes I was able to guide other children and youth. As a young adult in my former community of St. Francis I had been giving the opportunity to represent the Hispanic and youth ministry as a delegate in the annual vestry convention in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida in October 2007. It had inspired me even more to guide and lead the less fortunate; minorities and youth to be heard and attended. Since we are all children of God; and all should be treated equally. In my future vocational goals I have planned, first if God allows me to become an ordained Reverent in the Anglican Church; my second home. One day, traveling around the world to third world countries to evangelize and help other children of God, be spiritually filled with faith, hope, and love.

 

God is good, why not let the world know how great God is. By sharing the love that God has giving us and allowing this magnificent gift blossom. Hoping that one day this world would become a better place, as God has it planned for us. Not allowing man to destroy the gifts that God has giving all his children. Where we will not restrain but express the love we have for each other. Tolerance, to allow everyone to be different; since we are all unique in the eye’s of God.

Andrea de la Torre is a  Member of the Student Leadership Team and a member of the Young Adult Festival 2009 Design Team