Reflections from the Rt. Rev. Austin Rios on his YASC experience
What drew you to initially applying to Young Adult Service Corps?
In my senior year of seminary, The Rev. Jane Butterfield approached me outside the library of The Seminary of the Southwest (then known as ETSS) and asked if I might be interested in being a missionary. Due to the peculiarities of my discernment process, I had a year of canonical waiting to do after graduation from seminary and before I could be ordained.
I remember going into Jane’s office and thinking, “A missionary? Me?”
In my senior year of college, I had joined an ecumenical group of students who spent 6 months preparing for a “reverse mission trip” to Nicaragua and had witnessed firsthand how the unhelpful empire-building dynamics often associated with missionary efforts could give way to companionship and faithful curiosity in authentic mission encounters.
After praying about it and talking with a friend who had been one of the first YASC missionaries, I decided to take the risk and sign up. I continually thank God for connecting me with Jane that day, and for the life that has unfolded as a result.
What surprised you about your year of service?
Xalapa, Veracruz was a rich environment for being a YASCer. Some of the most surprising aspects of serving as the admin for the diocesan bishop came from seeing the insides of how another member church in the Anglican Communion did business, and witnessing the interactions and relationship between the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Mexico. I helped out at the local cathedral in whatever tasks needed to be done (even playing the organ), and helped coordinate companion diocesan relationships and large group visits.
The bishop I worked for was a candidate for the Presiding Bishop equivalent in the Church of Mexico, and I saw how political alliances affected church hierarchy. Through these experiences I gained a deeper appreciation for how challenging it is to work for justice and wield structural power in the church.
But the biggest surprises, and the most joyful ones, arose from the people that were part of our daily lives. Marcelo, who ran a restaurant out of his home near the cathedral with the best tortillas I’ve ever tasted. Don Ricardo whose makeshift cat sanctuary and hard-earned wisdom reminded me that appearances can distract us from deeper truth. The Rev. Gaby Reyes whose path as an ordained woman faced so many more obstacles than my own.
YASC provided a container and the space for me to truly begin to see, appreciate, and love people in new ways. That is a skill that has served me well in life and ministry. In retrospect, I can see how the learning from my YASC year has been foundational to my almost 20 years of ordained service in the church.
What pieces of advice would you give to someone who is considering applying?
Allow yourself some time to sit with the questions about what saying yes to YASC might mean for the people with whom you’ll serve and to you.
Are you a naturally curious person who is willing to look for and be attentive to God’s guidance in an unknown and uncertain environment? YASC will make you more so.
If you are at all on the fence about participating—wondering if now is the right time or whether you will “be enough” for the people with whom you’ll live and serve—lean toward going. God will show up in your moments of fear, uncertainty, and worry and teach you to rely on others and the Holy Spirit for discerning the way forward.
And if you feel like you are the perfect fit, sign up as well! But make sure you temper your zeal with service and deep listening.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your YASC experience?
While the year I spent in Mexico was transformative, the most satisfying part of YASC was becoming a mentor to others going through the program. It was my great privilege to work with several YASCers while in Rome, and to see how both the congregation and the YASCers grew as a result. Seeing the myriad ways in which these former missionaries are transforming the church and world in powerful and faithful ways is one of the great joys of my life.
