Alumni Around the World
Year by year, advanced graduate students pass through the School of Theology and the Center for Global Christianity, then go out into the world to teach and do what they have been studying. As they move, the CGCM community grows in engagement through them. They are such a diverse group of people that no one description could possibly do the entire body justice. Instead, news and updates will be regularly provided. Cumulatively, their activities will create a portrait of the CGCM alumni community.
Adopting for God
Soojin Chung ('18) recently published, Adopting for God: The Mission to Change America through Transnational Adoption. The book explores the role missionaries played in the transnational adoption movement. Among other things, the book reveals how both evangelical and ecumenical Christians challenged Americans to redefine traditional familial values and rethink race matters. By questioning the perspective that equates missionary humanitarianism with unmitigated cultural imperialism, this book offers a more nuanced picture of the rise of an important twentieth-century movement: the evangelization of adoption and the awakening of a new type of Christian mission.
Ruth Padilla DeBorst (’16) joins Western Theological Seminary
Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst will be joining the faculty of Western Theological Seminary beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year to serve as the Richard C. Oudersluys Associate Professor of World Christianity.
Dr. Padilla DeBorst is a renowned practitioner, teacher, and speaker with decades of experience in ministry throughout Latin America through organizations such as the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), and Latin American Theological Fellowship. She has served the worldwide church through World Vision International, Resonate Global Mission (of the Christian Reformed Church of North America), and the International Fellowship for Mission as Transformation (INFEMIT), among others.
She has served on boards and councils ranging from the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization Latin America, A Rocha International, and the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies to the International Justice Mission and the American Society of Missiology.
Dr. Padilla DeBorst has also served as president of the Centro de Estudios Interdisciplinarios (CETI), dedicated to providing theological education to pastors and lay Christians throughout Latin America. In addition to her academic leadership, she has taught numerous courses through CETI as well as for theological schools throughout North America.
She earned her Ph.D from the School of Theology with concentrations in missiology and social ethics.
Essamuah (’03) Meets with the Pope
Casely Essamuah recently met with the pope. Essamuah is the secretary of the Global Christian Forum, which is a unique gathering of global Christian churches and organizations bringing together all the major streams of world Christianity. The GCF is an open space where all Christians can meet to nurture unity by fostering mutual respect and understanding as well as by addressing together common challenges.
You Must Remember This
Recently, Anicka Fast ('20) was interviewed by the Mennonite Missionary Network for a podcast on "You Must Remember This." Drawing on her dissertation, Fast reflects on how the stories of mission become the history of mission. She shares about why some stories get preserved and remembered, while others become forgotten. Plus, Rod Hollinger-Janzen gives insight into how AIMM (Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission) worked with Fast to unearth forgotten narratives from a century ago.
Alumna Ruth Padilla DeBorst (’16): “Fleeing the hot spots: Climate change, migration and mission”
On November 16, 2021, BU STH alumna Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst ('16) delivered the Alexander Duff Lecture as part of COP26, entitled “Fleeing the hot spots: Climate change, migration, and mission.”
Her lecture is available on YouTube here and was followed by responses from two World Christianity Ph.D. students, Nuam Hatzaw and Alec Simpson, and a time of discussion.
The Alexander Duff Lecture was sponsored by the Church of Scotland and co-hosted by the Centre for the Study of World Christianity and the Centre for Theology and Public Issues (New College, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh).
CGCM Alumna, Laura Chevalier (STH ’20), Speaks About Her Mission Journey at Houghton College
Laura Chevalier ('20), a CGCM alumna, was asked to speak at her alma mater, Houghton College, for their "New Vision" week on the topic, "God can use anyone in mission."
The idea was to encourage students to recognize that they play a part in God's mission no matter what they are studying. During the chapel service on Wednesday, Oct. 27, Laura shared her personal story in mission (pre-recorded) alongside three of her friends from Houghton College. To hear Laura's journey in mission, listen to and download the audio file here.
Then on Friday, Oct. 29, she spoke in chapel, and that talk is viewable on YouTube here. (The host introduces Laura around minute 13:50.)
The Reverend Jack Amick (STH ’06) and UMCOR’s Global Migration Program
The Reverend Jack Amick, STH alumn, is featured in a recent article announcing $10 million in grants for the work of Global Ministries and UMCOR.
The director of UMCOR's Global Migration Program, Rev. Jack Amick ('06), describes its primary goal to "support the church in its efforts to provide welcome to refugees and migrants of all types, regardless of where they are on the migration journey."
For more information about the grant announcements, to learn more about Global Ministries, UMCOR, and Rev. Amick, read the article here.
Anicka Fast (’20), Bruce Yoder (’16) and Unlikely Friends Mentioned by the Mennonite Mission Network
The Mennonite Mission Network's recent blog post mentions Anicka Fast ('20) and Bruce Yoder ('16), STH Alumni and former advisees of Dr. Dana Robert. Fast's research and Yoder's participation with the Congolese church and Mennonite mission are noted.
Through the post, blog author, Linda Hollinger-Janzen, reflects on Anicka's dissertation research, her current assignment in Burkina-Faso teaching African church history, and her chapter in Dana Robert's Festschrift, Unlikely Friends.
Hollinger-Janzen's reflections offer insight into historical Mennonite mission relationships in French-speaking Africa and present-day applications of friendship in mission through the lives of two STH alumni.
Read the blog post, "Expatriate women and house workers helped dismantle Mennonite segregation in Congo" by Linda Hollinger-Janzen, here.
“A Rite for All Souls” 50th-Anniversary Commemoration
The Boston Globe has featured Mark Harvey (STH '71, GRS '83), Peter Bloom (CAS '71), and the music of the Mark Harvey Group in an article published on Oct.25, 2021. See the Boston Globe article here.
Harvey, a School of Theology alumnus, is known for his work as the director of the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra and his work on jazz as sacred music.
His ministry through music is another example of the Boston University School of Theology's rich heritage in global hymnody and sacred music. For more information on the upcoming BU STH Hymnody Mini-Conference, see this news item.
To attend the free virtual event, "A Rite for All Souls" 50th-anniversary commemoration, held on Oct. 28, 7 p.m., register at www.eventbrite.com/e/50th-anniversary-of-a-rite-for-all-souls-zoom-conversation-and-video-tickets-187825500127
Sung-Deuk Oak to Speak about Majority World Responses to Healing & Mission
Sung-Deuk Oak Speaking on Healing & Mission
Dr. Sung-Deuk Oak ('02), Associate Professor of Korean Christianity and the holder of the Dongsoon Im and Mija Im Endowed Chair at UCLA, will speak on a panel discussing the Majority World's response to Healing and Mission at Fuller Seminary's Annual Mission Conference.
Dr. Oak will be speaking on October 28th from 12:30-2pm, in Session 4.
For more information and to register, visit the Fuller Mission Conference Webpage.