United Methodist missioner begins assignment with CWS public policy team

"Rebecca Yount at work in CWS's Washington DC office
Photo: Tsehai Dirar/CWS

February 18, 2008

The Education & Advocacy (E&A) office of Church World Service in Washington, D.C. has added Rebecca Yount to its staff by way of the US-2 Young Adult missionary program of the United Methodist Church General Board of Global Ministries.

The US-2 program places young adults with partner ministries engaged in peace with justice missions, for two-year assignments around the country

Rebecca serves the E&A Washington Office as Assistant Public Policy Advocate. Her work involves advocating to the U.S. government on global HIV and AIDS funding, orphans and vulnerable children, child soldiers, and peacemaking in Colombia and Sudan. Carrying out this assignment involves close collaboration with other faith-based Washington offices and non-governmental advocacy organizations.

Rebecca grew up in Oklahoma and is a member of First United Methodist Church in Owasso, Oklahoma. She graduated in May 2007 with bachelor degrees in religion and business administration from Oklahoma City University. Rebecca has been certified by the Oklahoma United Methodist Annual Conference as the first step in the process of ordination as a Deacon.

According to Rebecca, “The US-2 program is a great opportunity for young adults to experience service settings they might consider as a career path and for further education. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I have been given through the US-2 program and my placement at Church World Service.”

Rajyashri Waghray, Director of the CWS Education and Advocacy Program, said, “We are excited about this partnership; it enables us to work together, with young and emerging talent on peace and justice issues in support of our partners worldwide.”