The General Board of Global Ministries began work in Vietnam in 1998 when a team traveled to visit Vietnamese Christians and learn about their lives and ministry.
The Revs. U and K Van To are United Methodist Vietnamese-American pastors who feel a strong pull to their homeland and its people. They returned to Vietnam in 2002 to help bring the church alive.
Vietnam Volunteer Possibilities:
Vietnam is open for teams to help in educational programs.
Missionaries
Ut To
The Rev. Ut To is a missionary with the Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church assigned to Southeast Asia along with his wife, the Rev. Karen Vo-To, also a GBGM missionary.
Ut trains Christian leaders in developing new congregations and nurturing Christians in the region. “I believe that through my teaching and example, I will prepare students for their future work as preachers, teachers, and pastors,” he says, “and through my witness many new congregations will be established.” Ut has served in Southeast Asia since 2002.
Reflecting on the experiences that led his to this assignment, Ut says he worked to nurture Christian groups in Southeast Asia that wished to be United Methodist while he chaired the Vietnamese National Caucus in the U.S. from 1997-2001. He also visited Southeast Asia several times to explore the possibility of establishing congregations there. “When I returned from our first mission trip to Southeast Asia, I believed that God wanted me to go to the region to be a missionary,” he recalls.
An ordained elder of the Detroit Annual Conference, Ut served ten years as associate director of the Vietnamese United Methodist Ministry of the Michigan Area before he was commissioned as a GBGM missionary. During that period, he also served on the Detroit Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and the Board of Global Ministry. In addition, he has served as vice-president of Union College of California and academic dean of Vietnamese Bible College in Europe, based in Germany.
Ut holds a BRE degree in pastoral studies from Tyndale University College and an MDiv degree from Ontario Theological Seminary, both in Toronto. He completed his DMin degree at San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, CA, and a PhD from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN.
Ut and Karen have two adult children, An To and David To. David has served as youth pastor of Chapel Hill UMC in Farmers Branch, TX, since 2004.
Make an online donation to: Ut To #14175Z.
Additional Information:
Missionary Support Code: 14175Z
Last update: 7/08
Karen Vo-To
The Rev. Karen Vo-To is a missionary with the Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church assigned to Southeast Asia, along with her husband, Rev. Ut To, also a BGM missionary.
Karen trains Christian leaders her work focuses on recruiting women to study for pastoral ministry. She works with a women's support group to encourage them to “reach their full potential in Jesus Christ; to promote fellowship among women at the national level; to provide vehicles of communication for women, listening to and offering solutions for the women's needs; and to present the whole gospel to the whole person,” she says.
Rev. Vo-To also serves as coordinator for the Women's Ministry. She sees the objectives of her work as "serving the needs of battered women, victims of sexual abuse and harassment, the homeless, imprisoned women, and those who are struggling with substance abuse while providing job training to the umemployed and food for the hungry." Serving in Southeast Asia since 2002, Karen is also involved in church planting.
An ordained elder in the Detroit Annual Conference, Karen served four years as an associate pastor at Cass Community UMC in Detroit. During that time she served on the Commission on the Status and Role of Women and the Ethnic Local Church Concerns Committee. For four years she was president of Vietnamese United Methodist Women on the national level.
Attending Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, Canada, Karen earned a BRE degree in pastoral studies. She earned her MDiv from Methodist Theological School in Ohio.
Karen and Ut have two adult children, An To and David To. David has served as youth pastor with Chapel Hill UMC in Farmers Branch, TX, since 2004.
Make an online donation to: Karen Vo-To #14174Z.
Additional Information:
Missionary Support Code: 14174Z
Last update: 7/08
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Thailand Initiative Information
In October 2006, Global Ministries commissioned the first United Methodist missionaries to Thailand in South East Asia. The Rev. Michael W. Morrissey, Jr., and the Rev. Sherri Tabaka-Morrissey (left) now serve as pastors and teachers at God's Purpose Church, a congregation in the city of Chon Buri, an hour outside of Bangkok, Thailand's capital.
God's Purpose Church ("Pradumri" in Thai) began in 1999 as a house church. It became a congregation in 2002 and today has an average Sunday worship attendance of more than 100. The church has active Bible and fellowship groups. It hopes to become the base of a network of local churches and ministries in Thailand, where Christianity is growing.
"This is an exciting mission development," the chief executive of the mission agency said of the assignment of the Morrisseys to Thailand. The Rev. R. Randy Day added that "the planning has been careful and Michael and Sherri are the right people for this venture in faith. They are committed and energetic."
English teaching volunteer: Ban Nong Puen Tak School, Songpeenong, Amphur Gaengkrajan, Petchaburi Province. Teaching English in Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary classes. Creating any learning supporting activities, i.e. sports, games, singing, music, etc. Term of volunteer service should be during the semesters, which are from May to October and from November to March. No stipend is paid but housing is provided by the school director.
Missionaries: Michael Morrissey
The Rev. Michael Morrissey, missionary with the Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, is serving in Thailand along with his wife, Rev. Sherri Morrissey.
The Morrisseys are the first United Methodist missionaries assigned to Thailand and are serving as co-directors of National Ministries for the Board of Global Ministries in Thailand. They are responsible for planting new congregations and mercy ministries as well as training United Methodist pastors and leaders for credentialing and ordination.
Michael is an elder in the Kentucky Annual Conference, and served as pastor, with his wife, of College Heights United Methodist Church, Elizabethtown, KY, before his ministry in Thailand. He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, and lived in San Diego before moving back to the Boston area, where he was part of a Baptist congregation.
Rev. Morrissey felt the call to mission while studying at Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, in the early 1980s after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College, Deerfield, Illinois. He and Sherri married while both were at Moody and together entered the Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, with the goal of becoming Baptist missionaries. However, they found that they were not Baptist, but Wesleyan in theology. They joined The United Methodist Church and were ordained in the Kentucky Conference.
The Morrisseys have three sons, James and Michael, who are grown, and Anthony, age 18. They have one grandchild.
”The Lord used the inspiring lives of missionaries, missionary kids, and professors to impress upon me the tremendous need for the Gospel and for justice ministries around the globe. The Lord has blessed us as we have sought to be a blessing to internationals who dwell among us wherever we have lived. We are excited about the opportunity to serve in our calling.”
Make an online donation to: Michael Morrissey #15122Z.
Additional Information:
Missionary Support Code: 15122Z
Last update: 12/08
Sherri Morrissey
The Rev. Sherri Tabaka-Morrissey, missionary with the Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, is serving in Thailand along with her husband, Rev. Michael Morrissey.
The Morrisseys are the first United Methodist missionaries assigned to Thailand and are serving as co-directors of National Ministries for the Board of Global Ministries in Thailand. They are responsible for planting new congregations and mercy ministries as well as training United Methodist pastors and leaders for credentialing and ordination.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, into a Roman Catholic family, Sherri felt the power and presence of God at an early age and accepted Christ while attending a summer camp. By age 18 she knew the call to serve God vocationally and entered Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, where she met and married Mike. Sherri also holds a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College, Deerfield, Illinois.
Attending South Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, each graduated with Master’s of Divinity degrees. Convinced by the power of Wesleyan theology, they became United Methodists and clergy members of the Kentucky Conference. Sherri has done doctoral studies in preaching and pastoral leadership at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky. Her ministry includes mediation and conflict management, victim advocacy and crisis intervention.
The Morrisseys have three sons, James and Michael, who are grown, and Anthony, age 18, as well as one grandchild.
”From a very early age I was drawn to mission. I recall writing for information on missionary service when I was still a child. From the time of my conversion I’ve also had a strong sense that people ought to know Jesus…Cross-cultural ministry is our [Michael’s and my] passion—reaching people for Christ and developing Christian leaders.”
Make an online donation to: Sherri Morrissey #15123Z.
Additional Information:
Missionary Support Code: 15123Z
Last update: 12/08
God's Purpose Church ("Pradumri" in Thai) began in 1999 as a house church. It became a congregation in 2002 and today has an average Sunday worship attendance of more than 100. The church has active Bible and fellowship groups. It hopes to become the base of a network of local churches and ministries in Thailand, where Christianity is growing.
"This is an exciting mission development," the chief executive of the mission agency said of the assignment of the Morrisseys to Thailand. The Rev. R. Randy Day added that "the planning has been careful and Michael and Sherri are the right people for this venture in faith. They are committed and energetic."
English teaching volunteer: Ban Nong Puen Tak School, Songpeenong, Amphur Gaengkrajan, Petchaburi Province. Teaching English in Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary classes. Creating any learning supporting activities, i.e. sports, games, singing, music, etc. Term of volunteer service should be during the semesters, which are from May to October and from November to March. No stipend is paid but housing is provided by the school director.
Missionaries: Michael Morrissey
The Rev. Michael Morrissey, missionary with the Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, is serving in Thailand along with his wife, Rev. Sherri Morrissey.
The Morrisseys are the first United Methodist missionaries assigned to Thailand and are serving as co-directors of National Ministries for the Board of Global Ministries in Thailand. They are responsible for planting new congregations and mercy ministries as well as training United Methodist pastors and leaders for credentialing and ordination.
Michael is an elder in the Kentucky Annual Conference, and served as pastor, with his wife, of College Heights United Methodist Church, Elizabethtown, KY, before his ministry in Thailand. He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, and lived in San Diego before moving back to the Boston area, where he was part of a Baptist congregation.
Rev. Morrissey felt the call to mission while studying at Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, in the early 1980s after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College, Deerfield, Illinois. He and Sherri married while both were at Moody and together entered the Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, with the goal of becoming Baptist missionaries. However, they found that they were not Baptist, but Wesleyan in theology. They joined The United Methodist Church and were ordained in the Kentucky Conference.
The Morrisseys have three sons, James and Michael, who are grown, and Anthony, age 18. They have one grandchild.
”The Lord used the inspiring lives of missionaries, missionary kids, and professors to impress upon me the tremendous need for the Gospel and for justice ministries around the globe. The Lord has blessed us as we have sought to be a blessing to internationals who dwell among us wherever we have lived. We are excited about the opportunity to serve in our calling.”
Make an online donation to: Michael Morrissey #15122Z.
Additional Information:
Missionary Support Code: 15122Z
Last update: 12/08
Sherri Morrissey
The Rev. Sherri Tabaka-Morrissey, missionary with the Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, is serving in Thailand along with her husband, Rev. Michael Morrissey.
The Morrisseys are the first United Methodist missionaries assigned to Thailand and are serving as co-directors of National Ministries for the Board of Global Ministries in Thailand. They are responsible for planting new congregations and mercy ministries as well as training United Methodist pastors and leaders for credentialing and ordination.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, into a Roman Catholic family, Sherri felt the power and presence of God at an early age and accepted Christ while attending a summer camp. By age 18 she knew the call to serve God vocationally and entered Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, where she met and married Mike. Sherri also holds a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College, Deerfield, Illinois.
Attending South Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, each graduated with Master’s of Divinity degrees. Convinced by the power of Wesleyan theology, they became United Methodists and clergy members of the Kentucky Conference. Sherri has done doctoral studies in preaching and pastoral leadership at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky. Her ministry includes mediation and conflict management, victim advocacy and crisis intervention.
The Morrisseys have three sons, James and Michael, who are grown, and Anthony, age 18, as well as one grandchild.
”From a very early age I was drawn to mission. I recall writing for information on missionary service when I was still a child. From the time of my conversion I’ve also had a strong sense that people ought to know Jesus…Cross-cultural ministry is our [Michael’s and my] passion—reaching people for Christ and developing Christian leaders.”
Make an online donation to: Sherri Morrissey #15123Z.
Additional Information:
Missionary Support Code: 15123Z
Last update: 12/08
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