It is with great excitement I have accepted the opportunity to serve as a Young Adults in Global Mission volunteer in Senegal, starting in August. I will be one of almost 30 young adults serving on behalf of the ELCA in 6 different country programs around the world!

The program provides young adults with the chance to live and serve in international, cross-cultural settings for one year. The mission is not to go and create change abroad but rather to teach young adults how to be an active member of a global community and become a catalyst for change at home.

Traditional missionary work has a troubled history. As Christians we must recognize our role spreading colonialist and dogmatic ideals. YAGM aims to create a better example of what it means to be Christian in the world with a foundation built on mutuality, inclusivity, vulnerability, and sustainability.  

YAGM Missionaries travel to countries by invitation only. We do not go with our own agenda but rather to learn and become more conscious of injustices past and present.  

I graduated from Augustana University in 2017 with majors in art and English. My first job out of college was working as a multimedia producer at KTIV News in Sioux City, IA. As a journalist I would often find myself writing about issues with which I had no personal connection. I hope a year serving as a YAGM volunteer will nurture a broader and more empathetic worldview.

I can’t say what exactly I’ll be doing in Senegal. My work could involve education, agriculture, or something totally different. I will serve at the pleasure of the community and my host family. Accompaniment means walking together in solidarity and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

God’s mission is to restore community. In the past the church has played a role in breaking relationships. Together we can work to restore those relationships and recreate what it means to be a Christian in the world today.

You can learn about my reasons for volunteering with YAGM and my thoughts on mission and accompaniment by reading my blog. 

https://carlnorquist.wordpress.com/

The rub, as I'm sure you know, is that an experience like this costs money. So I invite you to join me in this journey by contributing funds.

Support me for one day, week or month!

As part of accepting this call, I am asked to raise at least $5,000. Please help me reach my goal by supporting my fundraising efforts with a donation today. Through your donation, you join me on this journey as I grow in my own faith and walk in partnership with our global companions. I am thrilled to think about the ways in which this year will form and transform me.

A gift of $50 is all it takes to support my year of service! You can support me for one day for $50, one week for $350 or even a whole month for $1,500. The total cost for my year of service is $15,000 over about 10 months. I will be so grateful for your support in any amount. Thank you — your gift truly matters!

This page is set up to receive donations from individuals only. If you’re giving on behalf of a congregation or other organization, please visit ELCA.org/YAGMgive or get in touch with me for information on how to give via check.

About Young Adults in Global Mission

The ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission program provides young adults, ages 21-29, the opportunity to grow in their faith and work in partnership with our global companions. Young adults in the program serve in churches, schools and social service ministries. Currently the program is engaged in work in Argentina and Uruguay, Australia, Central Europe (Hungry and Serbia), Jerusalem and the West Bank, Madagascar, Mexico, Nepal, Rwanda, Senegal, and the United Kingdom.

The total cost for one young adult in the program is $15,000. Each young adult is tasked with raising a minimum of $5,000 to help support their year of service. The ELCA commits to raising the additional $10,000 per volunteer through generous congregations and individual donors. If more than $5,000 in gifts is received, the additional funds will help support other young adult volunteers and the future of the Young Adults in Global Mission program.