27 Episcopalians ready to serve as missionaries through the Young Adult Service Corps program

June 17, 2015

by Office of Public Affairs

Twenty-seven young adults representing 20 Episcopal Church dioceses are serving as missionaries in the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) for the 2015-2016 term in locales throughout the Anglican Communion.

“This year we witnessed the largest group ever of applications for positions as YASC missionaries,” said Bishop Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer. “A record 45 applications from 27 dioceses across all nine provinces in the Church were reviewed. Of those, more than half have discerned to serve as YASC missionaries. We are proud of our YASC missionaries and of this remarkable achievement.”

YASC is a ministry of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society for Episcopal young adults, ages 21 – 30, who are interested in exploring their faith in new ways by living and serving in communities around the Anglican Communion.

Bishop Sauls noted that most of the YASC missionaries will provide ministry work in education, youth work, social services, community development, and agriculture. He noted that YASC missionaries will assist in expanding the relationship with the Mission to Seafarers, will support an existing diocese-to-diocese relationship (Virginia-Liverpool), and will support mission initiatives in the northern region of Haiti by partnering with Episcopal Volunteers in Mission who are serving in the area.

Each YASC missionary maintains a blog, detailing his/her service, reflections and adventures. Elizabeth Boe, Global Networking Officer for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society and a former YASC missionary who served in Tanzania, said blogs provide an ideal avenue for connecting with the YASC missionaries.

Meet the YASC missionaries

The 27 YASC missionaries, their home dioceses, assignments and blog addresses are:

Thomas Balch, Diocese of West Virginia

Thomas is serving in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. His blog is http://tgbalch4yasc.blogspot.com/

Catherine Belous, Diocese of Virginia

Catherine is serving the Episcopal Church in the Philippines. Her blog is http://ccbelous.blogspot.com/

Mary Grace Benhase, Diocese of Georgia

Mary Grace is serving the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui. Her blog is http://helpinginhongkong.blogspot.com/

Eliza Brinkley, Diocese of North Carolina

Eliza is serving in the Diocese of Haiti. Her blog is http://inwardspiritualgrace.blogspot.com/

Andy Cameron, Diocese of Virginia

Andy is serving the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui. His blog is http://andyjcameron.blogspot.com/

Naomi Cunningham, Diocese of Kansas

Naomi is serving the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe. Her blog is

http://afearandadreampart2.blogspot.com/

James Fitzpatrick, Diocese of Hawaii

James is serving in the Diocese of Panama. His blog is www.jamesyasc.blogspot.com

Alejandra García-González, Diocese of Delaware

Alejandra is serving in the Diocese of Costa Rica. Her blog is http://episcopalien.blogspot.com/

Charles Graves IV, https://episcopaliansinconnection.org/

Charles is serving the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe. His blog is

http://charlesgravesiv.blogspot.com/

James Guandique, Diocese of Los Angeles

James is serving in the Diocese of El Salvador. His blog is http://salvadoranmission.blogspot.com/

Tim Hamlin, Diocese of New York

Tim is serving in the Diocese of Grahamstown, South Africa. His blog is

http://soujournsa.blogspot.com/

Tristan Holmberg, Diocese of Kansas

Tristan is serving the Episcopal Church in the Philippines. His blog is http://tristanholmberg.blogspot.com/

Annie Jacob, Diocese of Virginia

Annie is serving in the Diocese of Liverpool, England. Her blog is

http://whereisthelovetoday.blogspot.com/

Kayla Massey, Diocese of Upper South Carolina

Kayla is returning for a second YASC year as the first Julia Chester Emery United Thank Offering YASC missionary. Her blog is http://kvmassey.blogspot.com/

Rachel McDaniel, Diocese of West Tennessee

Rachel is serving a second year in the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil. Her blog is http://ramcdaniel.blogspot.com

Jacob Nastruz, Diocese of Iowa

Jacob is serving in the Diocese of Highveld, South Africa. His blog is http://jacobnastruz.blogspot.com/

Lacey Oliver, Diocese of Tennessee

Lacey is serving the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. Her blog is

http://heartsloud.blogspot.com/

Eric Panter, Diocese of Texas

Eric is serving the Episcopal Church in the Philippines. His blog is

http://ouronebody.blogspot.com/

James Rose, Diocese of Southwestern Virginia and Diocese of Georgia

James is serving in the Diocese of Kobe, Japan. His blog is