UMC missionaries to lead Latin America study at Mission u

Above: UMC missionaries Nan McCurdy and Miguel Mairena will lead the Latin American study portion for this year's Mission u. Photos courtesy UMC Mission

Submitted by Jim Gulley, Assistant Dean for Mission u

In July, Mission u will provide a rare opportunity to learn about Latin America from two experienced United Methodist missionaries, Nan McCurdy (29 years service) and husband Miguel Mairena, a Nicaraguan national. Nan and Miguel will be the study leaders for Latin America beginning with a one-day event for clergy at the Evanston Center in Denver on July 15, followed by a three-day course at First UMC in Colorado Springs, and the first Spanish-language course led by Miguel at Brentwood UMC in Denver on July 18.

Nan has served as a missionary to Nicaragua since 1985. She and Miguel most recently worked for some 15 years with youth and children through the Women and Community Association in San Francisco Libre.

The study invites us to know Latin America as: a sacred land through the life and culture of the pre-Colombian civilizations (Aztecs, Mayans, Incas and Tupi-Guarani); impacted by colonization; through waves of independence (18th century) and immigration (late 19th and 20th centuries). The study examines some of the current challenges in the region and initiatives to overcome them, as well as the role of popular culture, how women have been active in arts, literature and politics and the role of the church in Latin America.

Nan and Miguel are currently serving as Mission Advocates for the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church, helping annual conferences, districts, and local churches to understand and participate in global mission.

You can find more information and register online for these courses at http://bit.ly/RMCMissionu. Registration forms will also be available at the Mission u table at the 2015 Annual Conference session at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park.

Mission u is a cooperative event in the Rocky Mountain Conference and sponsored by the United Methodist Women and The United Methodist Church.