By The Rev. Dr. Carmen Manalac-Scheuerman
Commissioned as Global Missionary of the UMC
Praise the Lord!
After almost three years, returning with my family to Philippines serving as Christian Education professor at Union Theological Seminary, and from my Ph.D studies at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, I am now a commissioned Global Missionary of the UMC! The turn of events in our lives is fast.
The commissioning was on October 12, 2017. It was led by the staff of the General Board of Global Ministries Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, president of the board; Thomas Kemper, general secretary; the Rev. Judy Chung, executive secretary of Missionary Service; and Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton. My husband Jeffrey and our son RhythmLee were also in attendance. The commissioning was held in Grace UMC at the headquarters of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. My missionary placement is at Davuilevu Theological College in Nausori, Fiji Island and my deployment date is February 5, 2018.
At The Pacific Northwest Conference
Right after commissioning, our family flew to The Pacific Northwest Conference for my pre-assignment itineration on October 13-18, 2017. It was home! Friends from the Philippines, colleagues from Garrett-Evangelical and my husband’s family were there.
Our first week as Global Missionary was affirming and inspiring. It was highlighted with the following: Preaching at Seattle: Beacon UMC, conversations with our Filipino Caucus, conversations with Renton UMC, and a visit to Oregon First UMC.
We are grateful to Marilyn Reid, the PNW’s Conference Secretary for Global Ministries who arranged this pre-assignment itineration together with the Rev. John Mark Galang, pastor of Beacon UMC.
Prayed for by PNW Filipino Caucus
My conversation with Filipino Caucus was concluded with a prayer led by the Rev. Allan Ocampo.
These fellow pastors are also missionaries. They come from different parts of the Philippines to Pacific Northwest where they serve the least, the lost and the lonely. God just blessed my family with covenant partners who will pray with us and for us as we embark on this new Missionary Journey in Fiji.
Conversation with Renton UMC
The men’s group of Renton UMC welcomed Jeff and I with a meal followed by a conversation of our Call to Mission. It was a story connected to their church because Jeffrey is from Renton and served as a Volunteer in Mission to the Philippines, where our love story began. It was concluded with a prayer. An offering of support was taken and sent to my GBGM Advance number (3022398).
At Old Oregon City UMC
We visited Oregon City UMC where Jeffrey’s parents, Lee and Eileen Scheuerman were commissioned as Global Missionaries to Pakistan in 1948 where they served for 22 years. Standing beside us is the Rev. Michael Benischek, Pastor of Oregon City UMC. It was a sacred moment.
Call for Covenant Partners
My family and I are your Missionaries to Fiji. We were blessed to begin our first week with you as Global missionaries. We are grateful for your hospitality. We ask you to pray for us and be our covenant partners. Here is a link for how you can support me and other Global Missionaries of the UMC: bit.ly/gbgm_carmenscheuerman
Thank you. May the blessing of God; his son Jesus and the Holy Spirit be upon us all as we continue to serve God in places where we are called.
Special thanks to Marilyn Reid.
The Rev. Dr. Carmen Manalac-Scheuerman serves as a Global Missionary of The United Methodist Church and is stationed in Nausori, Fiji.
Change the World (D2022)
Making a positive difference in a hurting world, serving the least, lost, and lonely in Jesus’ name, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, isn’t that what Christians are supposed to do? This study will guide church leaders into the work of global mission by helping them find ways to use all opportunities and aspects of church life from worship to education to fellowship to budgeting to facilities for missional outreach. As pastor of Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City, Ohio, Slaughter’s church serves those in need from local Dayton to international Darfur. Under his leadership the church has grown from 90 worshipers to more than 5,000.
