Photo cutline: Sonja's most proud of building and maintaining positive, encouraging relationships with youth and their parents.
Empowering the Church to be faithful to God’s call, reflective of Christ’s Mission and open to the surprises of the Holy Spirit.
· Filled in for Rev. Dr. Tom Martinez while he was on sabbatical (summer, 2023) In addition to shepherding and providing resources for parents and youth, I began actively planning and participating in weekly worship. I enjoyed being the glue that connects the various, independent ministries together and guiding discussion in a monthly joys and concerns meeting.
· Preached six times at Desert Palm UCC.
Strategically creating the future of God’s church
· Seek to improve the execution and environment of youth ministry on Sundays.
· Intentionally seek to equip and care for the teachers in youth ministry.
· Assist in the improvement of kids’ ministry curriculum through teacher input and youth ministry curriculum by devising one.
Witnessing in the Public Square to God’s redeeming power.
· Compiled a list of mental health resources for youth and their parents that was made available for distribution and maintains a spot in the church office.
· Participated in the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) march in 2023.
· Participated yearly in the MLK March in downtown Phoenix.
· Relied on journalism career skills to advance local youth mental health wellness.
· My call to chaplaincy shapes witnessing in the public square by sharing God’s love and compassion with each patient.
Performing necessary and appropriate administrative tasks
· Demonstrate ability to plan, organize and implement ministry programming.
· Demonstrate capacity to inspire, instruct, and encourage through Sunday school lessons and intergenerational moments.
Working collaboratively with intercultural awareness and sensitivity
· Regular training on cultural sensitivity through the Southwest UCC.
· Many of Desert Palm’s youth are on a spectrum and/or are transitioning.
· I follow and share several BIPOC leaders and progressive causes on the internet.
Encouraging leadership development of self and others through continuing education and lifelong learning
· Bachelor’s diploma in Journalism, master’s diploma in ministry.
· Current independent study on trauma and grief in adults and children.
· Proven skills in creating, implementing, maintaining, and following through on processes that ensure people are engaged, cared for, informed, and connected.
· Leadership is collaborative and shows strong complementary skills in relation to the rest of the congregation staff and an ability to lead in concert with other leaders.
· Demonstrate a strong ability to build and maintain positive, encouraging relationships with youth and their parents.
Commenti