Hosting United Methodist missionaries gives local churches a chance to hear powerful stories and gain deeper insight into how God’s love is moving in the world.
KAY DEMOSS
Michigan Conference Communications
Michigan United Methodists celebrate a long tradition of generous financial support for missionaries. Often, the Michigan Conference has led the denomination when it comes to engagement with these ambassadors of Jesus Christ.
Currently, the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) has 200 missionaries deployed in 60 countries worldwide. The Mission Personnel section of EngageMI invites covenants with 16 of them.
Why has Michigan been a pacesetter in this “from everywhere to everywhere” ministry? (This is the unofficial motto of GBGM.) The opportunities to meet and host missionaries, known as itineration, certainly play a part.
Lives of Service
“Missionary itineration is a unique opportunity for United Methodists here in Michigan to support the transformative work happening in our church around the world,” says the Rev. Audra Hudson Stone. Audra is the Secretary of Global Ministries for the Michigan Conference. Basically, she serves as a bridge between the General Board of Global Ministries’ work and Michigan United Methodists.
She adds, “In hosting our missionary siblings, hearing their stories, and learning about their lives and service, we gain deeper insight into how God’s love is moving in the world.” Audra sees itineration as a way for congregations to participate in the church’s broader work of justice and mercy, and “open ourselves to God’s transformation in our own lives and communities.”
Audra’s family recently experienced the joy of hosting the Rev. Dexter Ceballos. Ceballos is a missionary from the Philippines who serves in Mongolia. In early spring, he traveled to Mt. Pleasant. “Over meals, walks, and a visit to the Ziibiwing Cultural Center, we had deep conversations about faith, family, and mission,” Audra states. “We learned about each other’s lives and cultures, and, because of the ‘United Methodist connection,’ we realized that we knew dozens of people in common!”
The missionary’s visit came at the perfect time for the campus ministry Audra pastors at Central Michigan University. “Our Wesley Foundation students, along with the Wesley students at Ferris State University, were preparing for our yearly Service and Learning Trip that takes place each spring break,” Audra reports. “Dexter spoke with my students about the UMC’s theology of mission, its commitment to mission work that disrupts old, colonial models, and the ways those values are being lived out in The United Methodist Church in Mongolia.”
Personal interaction with missionaries can break down some traditional misconceptions. “Dexter’s perspective on mission was eye-opening for my students,” Audra says. “He helped our community gain a deeper appreciation for the intentional and transformative work our church is doing in the way of God’s justice, mercy, and love, and set my students up for a transformative mission experience themselves.”
Strangers Become Friends
Georgetown United Methodist Church (GUM Church) “officially” supports the Rev. Randy Hildebrant, a Church and Community Worker from Nebraska serving God’s Country Community Ministry in the Upper Peninsula. However, they met new missionary friends last October when Dr. Emmanuel and Florence Mefor came to Michigan.
From Nigeria, the Mefors are involved in healing ministry at Old Mutare Hospital in Zimbabwe. It was a blessing that they arrived at GUM Church on World Communion Sunday. After a brief presentation during worship, the couple came forward as communion servers. It was their first time sharing the sacrament. The congregation fully engaged in the meaning of World Communion as they received the bread and juice from the Mefors’ hands.
After worship, the medical team talked more about improvements to maternal care at Old Mutare, just across the road from Africa University. Emmanuel, a surgeon, retired from active service in December 2024. He is now a volunteer at Old Mutare while Florence, a nurse and midwife, continues in active service.
“We live in thankfulness as God has provided for us. With prayer and support from churches, we anticipate God will provide for the patients, staff, and waiting mothers in our shelter,” Florence says.
Welcome to Mid-Michigan
Born in Zambia, the Rev. Charles Mulemena has been a missionary pastor and trainer in Belize since 2015. “When I heard Charles was going to be in Michigan, I was very excited about having him visit our church to share about his work in Belize. I volunteered to host him in our home while he was in our area,” says Judy Huynh, a member at Lake Odessa: Central UMC.
Starting on April 16, Charles got a grand introduction to the state as Judy and others took him on tour. “We visited Anderson and Girls, a family-owned seasonal farm market and petting zoo near Stanton,” says Judy, “and Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids was the next stop, with dinner at a Korean restaurant to follow. “
Judy continues, “Charles said his daughter was extremely interested in Korean food and culture. When the waitress found out Charles was from Belize, she was very excited and told us her son’s girlfriend was from Belize. She shared a photo with us. It was a very enjoyable meal.”
The cross-cultural experience continued with a visit to Portland UMC, where the pastor engaged in conversation about the church’s community programs. Then came a special rural adventure. Judy reports, “We stopped at the farm where I grew up, and my brother gave us a ride on a Kubota to tour the woods and fields. One of the young farmers was planting alfalfa, and he gave Charles a ride on the huge John Deere tractor for a couple of rounds of planting.”
Because Charles works with two schools in Belize, he visited the Saranac Elementary School, where three of Judy’s nieces are teachers. “Charles was able to talk to a sixth grade classroom about his life in Zambia, his several years in Brazil, and his time in Belize. The kids had lots of questions! They loved meeting Charles and hearing first-hand experiences about places they had studied,” Judy explains.
On Thursday evening, Charles attended the weekly Lakewood Community dinner hosted at Central UMC and afterward shared about his work in Belize. Judy notes, “Everyone who came was so happy to learn where their mission money was going and to have a personal connection to our missionary. Charles told them how much it meant to him to receive birthday cards and letters from United Women in Faith members from different churches.”
Charles’ itineration proves that a missionary visit can be much more than the typical church potluck and slideshow. Judy is enthusiastic: “We really enjoyed hosting Charles, and I would encourage more people to offer to host whenever one of our missionaries is visiting in Michigan.” She concludes, “We learned so much from Charles as we visited at home in the evenings, and as we traveled around our local area with him. He’s now a part of our family!”
Nepal Is Next
The next missionary itineration is scheduled for November 30 through December 15, 2025. Dr. Les and Debbie Dornon are coming to Michigan to tell the story of their work at Tansen United Mission Hospital in Nepal. Les is the senior physician there. Debbie directs expatriate services, helping personnel and their families from many countries deal with issues such as housing, visa processing, and creating bank accounts.
Churches hosting the Dornons will learn about their dedication to life-saving ministry high in the Himalayan Mountains. Contact Audra Hudson Stone at gmsecretary@michiganumc.org to schedule a visit.
Last Updated on July 1, 2025