What does faith formation in missions look like? For Delaney Plumb, it meant serving with Resonate Global Missionās Cohort for one yearāand now sheās back serving in Central America long-term.
Resonateās Cohort is an opportunity for young adults to discern Godās calling on their lives, engage deeply with their faith, and get hands-on mission experience with a grassroots ministry while living in an intentional, intercultural community. Cohort offers opportunities to serve in Central America, Detroit, Europe, and the Middle East.
āItās a fertile timeāworking with young adults when theyāre trying to make sense of the life theyāve already lived and to set themselves up for the life and future they really want,ā said Rachel Beveridge, a Resonate missionary who leads Cohort Central America.
When Plumb graduated from college, she was trying to discern her next steps. She had studied to become a Spanish teacher but realized that she didnāt find joy or passion in teaching. She didnāt think it was her calling. During the summer after graduation, she worked at a Christian camp and realized she loved working in ministry but wasnāt sure what that looked like in her future.
Thatās when Plumb learned about Cohort. With her background learning Spanish, she decided to serve with Cohort Central America in Honduras to discern her calling and learn more about mission work.
While it was intimidating, Plumb embraced the discomfort that came with moving to a culture different from her own. In the same way Resonate supports all Cohort volunteers, the agencyās ministry leaders walked alongside her every step of the way by helping her build a strong support network, matching her with a service opportunity, securing housing, and placing her in a group of intercultural young adults who were all eager to learn and grow.
Plumb built strong relationships with the young adults in her cohort, and she was particularly inspired by the many people she met in Honduras who are working every day to bring gospel transformation to communities. She learned about the important postures and practices of mission and how to work alongside local believers.
āGod just changed me in so many ways,ā said Plumb. āYou canāt do Cohort and be the same person. It truly is a very life-changing experience.ā
Ruth Lemmen, Resonateās Volunteer Ministries program coordinator, said she sees this change in the agencyās 20-plus Cohort participants every year as they learn how to join God on mission.
āCohort equips young adults to pay attention to where God is moving and how they can join in, both during their year of intercultural service and for the rest of their lives,ā said Lemmen. āSome live this out as missionaries and pastors, and some live it out as they work in nonprofit organizations, academia, agriculture with migrant workers, and more.ā
Plumb ended up going back. By the time she returned to the United States, she said she had āfallen in love with the region of Central Americaā and found her calling. She connected with Resonate about serving long-term and has been serving as a translator with Semillas de Nueva Creación in El Salvador. As an English-speaking translator, she helps build bridges between volunteer groups and other visitors with the local ministry and community.
āGod has been working in my life in so many ways,ā said Plumb. āIf youād asked me five years ago if I saw myself doing something like this someday, I wouldāve said, āNo way. Absolutely not.ā This was never in my plans at all.ā
But sheās confident that sheās where she needs to beāfor now. Cohort has equipped her to follow Godās call and live out her faith wherever and however God leads.
āI just want to serve God, whether thatās here in El Salvador or wherever next.ā
About the Author
Cassie Marcionetti, Resonate Global Mission