Ryan Zavacky
Ryan Zavacky is a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Alma and has recently begun discernment for ministry. This July, he has join with the YASC (Young Adult Service Corps), an Episcopal organization, to assist with a mission trip in Grahamstown, South Africa. Read more to learn about what inspired Ryan to be involved in this mission trip as well as ways you can support him and other missioners.
“I am a recent graduate of Alma College. I earned my Bachelors of Arts in Religious Studies. I am a fairly new member of the Episcopal Church, having joined St. John’s, Alma, the fall of 2012. I was baptized there in January 2013. The Episcopal Church has been a great home for me; my understanding of my faith has grown deeper and my relationship between faith and community has also expanded. Currently in the midst of my discernment process I realized over the last few years that I felt a calling to the ministry.
The main reason why I wanted to do international travel of this nature was to simply see the world. I am fresh out of college and there is no better time to see it, but I wanted my travels to actually mean something. I did not want to go backpacking or to do the Peace Corps. I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives, to go around the world and have my new faith play a part in my journey; the Young Adult Service Corp provided that opportunity for me. I can participate in service work for underprivileged regions in the world, which in turn allows my faith to grow even deeper by working with other Anglican dioceses.
My budget for this trip is dealt with by the mission personnel at the national office, although I have to raise $10,000. Mission Personnel plan the flight, food stipend and things of that nature. I need to raise $5,000 (included within the $10,000) to book my ticket. This is the most pressing task I currently have for my trip. Other than that, I am planning on having my ticket booked around July 27th or 28th to Grahamstown, South Africa.
Here is a little information about my mission trip:
- It is through an Episcopal program called the Young Adult Service Corps. (YASC), through the Mission Personnel Office.
- YASC sends 21-30 year old Episcopalians to a foreign diocese for a year of service. The program typically sends 15-20 people each year.
- I am going to Grahamstown, South Africa to work at the continued from page 5… Order of the Holy Cross Monastery as a teacher aide and after school programmer, aka, playing soccer at every spare moment of the school day.
- This monastery school is mostly for the disadvantaged children in Grahamstown.
- Many of the other missionaries at this placement preach and have many activities involving the Diocese of Grahamstown.
- The Order of the Holy Cross is an Anglican Benedictine Monastic community; they have three other locations: West Park, NY, Santa Barbara, CA, and Toronto, Canada.
- I will also practice the Benedictine prayer life and schedule throughout my time at the monastery.
- I need to raise $10,000 for this mission trip.
The Diocese of Eastern Michigan will be doubling each gift that I receive. To donate to my trip, you can send a check to the Diocese of Eastern Michigan and in the memo line put “Ryan Zavacky’s Mission Trip.”
You can more closely follow Ryan by visiting his blog, http://ryanzavacky.blogspot.com/ and also previewing a video about the trip at http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhvr84LKC6M.