In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul describes the gifts of the church as a human body—each playing its own part. Linda Shelly is Mennonite Mission Network’s director for Latin America. “I’m the ligaments!” she says leaning in with eyes wide open.
Anyone who has met Linda knows that she is an expert connector.
Fifteen years ago, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) initiated a Global Gifts sharing project, and called on Linda’s gift of connecting. Linda gathered a group of Latin American facilitators to coordinate regional workshops to share the idea that God has given gifts to everyone. We’re a stronger global family when we share these gifts.
For Linda, this meant a global family of the north and south. Of both brothers and sisters.
The facilitators were mostly women who gave the time and accomplished the work. “These women had strong gifts that were under-utilized,” said Linda. When they had an opportunity to serve, their gifts became evident, and this led to invitations for some to travel to MWC in Zimbabwe.
Linda’s connections for the Global Gifts project recognized the spiritual gifts of Latin American women. This paved the way for the Movement of Anabaptist Women Doing Theology in Latin America.
“Bringing people together can have an impact far beyond what one expects.”
