Missionaries

"Covenant Relationship for a Better World" 

As part of this program First Church currently supports four missionary teams:


Mutwale Ntambo Wa Mushidi - Missionary serving in Tanzania
The Rev. Mutwale Ntambo Wa Mushidi graduated from the Seminary at Mulungwishi in the Democractic Republic of Congo (DRC) and was recommended by the Persons (Retired missionaries who have been supported by our congregation for many years). Mutwale is serving the United Methodist Church in Tanzania as Director of Church Development and Evangelism. He is also the Superintendent of the Dar as Salaam District and the legal representative in Tanzania of the Bishop of North Katanga in the DRC.

He and his wife, Kabaka Noala Alphonsine (also a missionary), work in Christian education and health information, especially related to HIV/AIDS including reaching out to refugees. Mutwale started working in Tanzania in 1992 and became missionary with Global Ministries in 1999. Prior to attending seminary, Mutwale was a headmaster of a primary school in the DRC. After seminary, he was a pastor and teacher and then a chaplain of a secondary school in the DRC. They have six children ages 12-32 years old. Mutwale is passionate about the ministry occurring in Tanzania, and hopes to welcome future mission teams to see this ministry firsthand.

Romy del Rosario - Missionary serving in Cambodia
Rev. Dr. Romeo L. del Rosario is serving as Country Director for the United Methodist Mission in Cambodia. As Country Director, Romy serves as administrator and supervisor of mission programs and projects with a team of workers that includes Cambodians and eleven UMC missionaries from different parts of the world. Since 1998 the Methodist Church in Singapore, the Korean Methodist, The United Methodist Church in France, Switzerland and the United States, and the World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches have been cooperating and coordinating their missional efforts toward one Methodist Mission in Cambodia and hopefully, one Methodist Church in Cambodia by 2016.

At present Cambodian Christians are engaged in evangelization ministries; programs with women, youth and children; Christian education and discipleship; community health and food production; leadership training and community organizing; and church construction. For all of its rich heritage, culture and people, poverty and hunger are still prevalent in the countryside, villages and cities of Cambodia. Most Cambodian families were touched by the genocide that was perpetrated by Pol Pot’s regime in the 1970’s. The Killing Fields are a constant reminder of the terror that robbed Cambodia of its middle-aged population and its intellectual, artistic and spiritual leadership.

Immediately prior to his assignment to Cambodia, Romy was the Officer-in-Charge of Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines. He also taught courses on Christianity and Culture.

We are excited to be sending a mission work team from our church to serve alongside Romy in Cambodia during February of 2017!

Rev. Alex and Brenda Awad – Missionaries serving in Israel/Palestine
The Rev. Alex and Brenda Awad are missionaries with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church serving in Israel/Palestine. Alex pastors a small international church in East Jerusalem and is affiliated with the Bethlehem Bible College as professor, dean of students, and board member.

Of his ministry he says, “One day may find me teaching a class, another conducting a Bible study with church young people, and yet another sharing with pilgrims on Holy Land visits.” Brenda fills a wide range of functions at the church—Sunday School director and teacher, women’s group leader, and hospitality coordinator. At the Bible College, she spends approximately 30 hours per week assisting with English administrative needs and developing proposals for the college’s worldwide support base.

Brenda substitutes as an English teacher as needed, and also works with other United Methodist mission personnel in the region to facilitate United Methodist group visits. In an effort to bring about reconciliation among Palestinian and Israeli believers in Christ, Brenda and Alex participate in and support the activities of Musalaha (an Arab-Israeli reconciliation organization). The Musalaha ministry conducts annual activities (women’s meetings, theology of the land seminars, desert encounters, and leaders’ events) that foster ties between the two groups and promote peace and understanding amid much diversity.

Brenda and Alex three adult children: Christy, Basem, and Randy.

Brooke Collins – Missionary serving in the US/Mexico Border Regions
Brooke Collins is a Mission Volunteer with the General Board of Global Ministries. She serves at the San Diego/Tijuana borderlands as the Program Manager for the South District Border Ministry Team. Through the district, Brooke works closely with Rev. John Fanestil on the continued support and development of El Faro Border Church, a binational project that supports the spiritual, physical, practical, and emotional needs of families separated by the US/MX border wall in partnership with Pastor Guillermo Navarette of the Mexico Methodist Church.

She is also equipping and empowering the leadership team of the UMCOR/Cal-Pac initiative “No Están Solos (You are not Alone) Welcome Center,” which serves migrant children and their families fleeing the violence in Central America and seeking refuge in Escondido and the surrounding areas.

Brooke is also working with an interfaith group in San Diego coordinating local efforts of the national New Sanctuary Movement. She serves as a representative of the United Methodist Church to help educate and empower South District Congregations to become Immigrant Welcoming Communities, Sanctuary Havens for refugees, or support congregations for the sanctuary movement.

She has been nominated to represent the district on the Cal-Pac Conference Justice and Compassion Essential Ministries Team where she will work closely with the Immigration Task Force of the Annual Conference and incorporate the conference initiatives within the South District. Brooke is a member of First UMC San Diego, and we are thrilled to support her as one of our own who has heard God’s call and is serving in ministry.

Support our Covenant Missionaries

Learn more from Pastor Jessica Strysko how you can support our missionaries abroad:

CONTACT PASTOR JESSICA