Mennonite Women USA

Mennonite Women USA's International Women’s Fund (IWF) scholarships help women around the world receive training for church leadership. In 2008, grants totaling $7,000 U.S. helped pay education-related expenses for more than 12 Anabaptist women worldwide. The International Women’s Fund also contributed part of the funding for the African Anabaptist Women Theologians (AAWT) scholarship fund.   IWF Theology students: Rosario Rosales (left) and Sandra Campos Referrals are received from agencies and conferences related to Mennonite Church USA. See Guidelines.  Your gifts assist women's leadership training in our worldwide Mennonite church.  See also:importance of women as spiritual mentors discussion with Colombian theology students.

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Meet the 2008 International Women's Fund recipients

Emilia Amexo, Ghana, graduates in 2008 from Good News Bible Institute, Accra, Ghana. She has served the Northern District congregations of the Ghana Mennonite Church by leading worship and giving leadership in the youth and women’s programs.  She is also a member of the committee that has recently begun implementing the HIV/AIDS ministry in the GMC.  Her future plans are to continue this kind of work with the Northern District.

Rosario Rosales, Honduras, is currently working for the Central Mennonite Church in La Ceiba, Honduras, where she works as coordinator of the youth group.  In her community of Armenia, Honduras, Rosario organizes services for disabled people and others who have health problems. She also works in social work with children, youth & adults in precarious communities; training for people living in places of extreme poverty and discipleship for women and youth. Rosario is a student at SEMILLA.

Monica Parada, Chile, works with women in Bible studies and in work of holistic development, conducting annual retreats for single women (widows, older singles, and separated). She has started a support group for sexually abused women. Monica and her husband work with youth in Christian education, orienting them to strengthen their family lives. Monica is a pastoral counselor in the church. She has recently become active in a network against family violence. Since this is a secular network, her participation is a witness of hope that the church getting involved in this issue. Monica is a student with SEMILLA.

Albania Molina, Honduras, is a volunteer teacher of the Bible Institute.  She and her husband pastor the Central Mennonite church in San Pedro Sula.  Albania is the Vice-President of the Anabaptist theologian women’s organization in Central America.  She also works in a social project with people affected by HIV/AIDS in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and supports the formation and training of church counseling teams that work for the prevention of HIV.  Her dreams and hopes are to prepare herself so that she may work in the realm of education at the national level. Albania is a student with SEMILLA.

Elizabeth Vado, Nicaragua, is active in the Fraternidad Mennonite Conference of Nicaragua. She has been director of the Bible Institute, is active with the Peace and Justice Commission, and is involved in projects of Christian education and training of women.  Elizabeth is the representative of her Mennonite conference in the SEMILLA board.  She is also the treasurer of the board. She concurrently has the opportunity to put into practice her studies in several activities of teaching and leadership in the Nicaraguan Mennonite Church.

Viviana Machuca, Columbia, and her husband pastor an Anabaptist community. She ministers most specifically to the pastoral needs of women who have suffered family violence. Viviana has begun working with the Seminary, coordinating the School of Peace program. Viviana is studying at Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Colombia.

Teresa Ibarra, Paraguay, began her theology training after finishing high school. She is a third-year student. She is a member of a Mennonite Church in Ciudad del Este where she has been active in the Sunday school. Teresa’s call to theological education is a commitment to prepare for the service of God in the mission work in Paraguay. Teresa is a student at the Seminary of the Conference of Mennonites in Paraguay.

Sandra Campos, Costa Rica, teaches in the Bible Institute in the area of training leaders and pastors. She also coordinates groups of SEMILLA students at the advanced level.  She is Chair of Semilla’s Board. Sandra participates in the MCC consultant committee of Nicaragua (which includes Costa Rica), and continues working as Chair of CAMCA (Consulta Anabautista Menonita Centroamericana) Central American Anabaptist Mennonite Consul.  She has also assumed roles as treasurer and conflict mediator of the Mennonite Convention of Costa Rica.

Martha Gomez, Colombia, is an educator and has decided to dedicate full time to pastoral work.  She is the Pastoral Coordinator in a Mennonite community in Pereira, Colombia.  Martha has been participating in the regional process with women in the western region of Colombia. She has a passion for pastoral work and is very involved in the Mennonite Church in Colombia through all her gifts.  Martha  is studying at Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Colombia.

Liliana Ocampo, Colombia, has a long trajectory of service in the Mennonite church in Colombia and Ecuador. She has served as coordinator of the Mennonite church in southern Colombia. She has collaborated in the pastoral accompaniment of a group of families displaced in the city of Tulúa, Colombia, has participated in the Mennonite Seminary and has accompanied women and children experiencing internal family violence. At the completion of her theological studies, Liliana plans to return to Colombia prepared to serve.

Zarai Gonzalia, Colombia, has participated in Christian Education with children, as well with teachers in Mennonite churches. At the moment, Zarai assists in the Mennonite Seminary library. She feels called to continue working in the Mennonite church through teaching in the field of Christian education. Zarai plans to continue educating herself in Conflict Resolution. Zarai is studying at Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Colombia.

Esther Barnaba, Tanzania, is a member of the Tanzania Mennonite Church and currently serves as assistant secretary for Mennonite Women in the Lake Diocese of Tanzania Mennonite Church. Esther is gifted in evangelism and is committed to serving the church now and in the future. Esther is a student at the Mennonite Theological College of East Africa.