Junia Awards 2024
East Central Africa Division: Mary Mburu. Kenyatta University, on the outskirts of Nairobi, has 70,000 students! The Adventist Church chose Mary Mburu to be Chaplain to the 3000 Kenyatta Adventist students. Led by the Senior Chaplain Dr. Kigundu Ndwiga, she runs a Week-of-Prayer every month. Twice a year during the holidays, students spread the message of the Seventh-day Adventist faith on mission trips. They learn valuable hands-on experience in ministry and leadership through community service projects, educational programs, health clinics, and evangelistic meetings. Mary’s passion for working with young people inspired her to pursue a master's degree in chaplaincy, majoring in public campus ministry at Adventist University of Africa. She attributes her journey to the Grace of God.
Euro-Asia Division: Elena Butova. From the age of 9 Elena searched for God in atheist USSR. At 15 she attended an evangelistic series becoming an Adventist. Discouraged from following her calling to ministry because of her gender, she became a physician. She married a pastor who encouraged her evangelistic talents. He gave her $500 to start a church. In one year, she established three churches with 129 baptisms! The Union then hired her as their evangelist. Elena led 1000 more people to Adventism! (half in Russia and half on mission trips) The young family moved to Australia where Elena completed a PhD in theology. She now leads one church while her husband leads another in Victoria, Australia. She is the author of three religious books.
(There are difficulties in communication and trust in contacting women educators and church leaders in the ESD. We are aware of multiple women who have answered the call of God to evangelize in the ESD and we will not stop trying to share their stories.)
Inter-America Division: Margaret Ramsarran of Guyana, became an Adventist in 1968 while working as a civil servant. She became Sabbath School superintendent, then youth leader, then head elder in her local church. She held her first annual evangelistic series in 1979 as lay preacher and over the last 40 years has converted hundreds. In 1990 she was voted director of the Education Department (a post she still held in 2023) and Associate Director of Church Ministries. She was commissioned as a pastor in 2010. She is currently 74 years old and still helps with evangelistic meetings. She has said “I thank God for using me to accomplish His purpose . . . Wherever He leads, I am ready to follow.”
Inter-European Division: Abigaela Trofin was born and raised in Romania. Her parents, having lost a son, dedicated their unborn child to be a pastor. What a surprise they had when the baby was a girl! She first completed a degree in law then religion in Bucharest. She has three masters’ degrees including one in Religious Freedom. In 2000 she moved to Italy and revisited her pre-birth dedication. There she has led in 12 church communities and now serves in Sicily. She follows her clear and engaging calling despite the difficulties and criticism and has found support from God, family, friends and fellow pastors.
Northern Asia-Pacific Division: Mongolia Mission is a busy place! And trying to shepherd a growing flock requires more shepherds. Two and a half years ago we knew of two women leading in Mongolia and now, thanks to an article by NSD picked up by the Adventist Review, we know that there are now 9! (Unfortunately, the women’s names were not included and requests to the Mission and Division were unanswered.) Eight of the women pastors attended a retreat in Dec 2023. “This milestone gathering not only celebrated women in pastoral roles but also laid the foundation for . . . a supportive network that will undoubtedly help their ministries in their local churches.”
South American Division: Fedra Pérez says ”I became a Seventh-day Adventist in my teens. I received a call, even before graduating from my theology degree, to be part of a team that planted a church where there was none. Then I started working as a chaplain in a K-12 church school in Argentina. I completed a postgraduate degree in mediation and conflict resolution to serve better. This training also allowed me to revitalize a church that was about to close. My focus in life is to see Jesus, which motivates me to wake up every morning and share Him with others. Despite the challenges as a woman serving as a leader of the church, I continue to obey my divine calling. Leading others to Christ is both a joy and a responsibility I am passionate about encouraging the spiritual growth of others and accompany them as if they were my own children.”
South Pacific Division: Joyce Kandawok Bale is a consistent soul winner and discipleship trainer in her rural area in Enga Provence, Papua New Guinea. She is not content just to entertain her local pathfinder and young adult groups but trains them to run evangelistic programs and give Bible studies. With them, she has converted hundreds to Adventism and started several new church congregations. Women lay workers are not often placed in leadership positions, but Joyce's hard work and leadership has led to her being named district youth coordinator.
Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division: Tshepiso Anathi Mbele. Raised in Soweto (South Africa), Pastor Tshepiso studied theology at Solusi University in Zimbabwe and was commissioned in February of 2022. She has fostered several thriving church communities in the Trans Orange Conference, South Africa, where she is on the Executive Committee. She and her husband (also a pastor) have created several unique missions, such as the MMR Radio Station podcast, and The Boy/Girl Child Boot Camp Club. Her belief in the potential for young individuals to learn, assume responsibility and embrace faith is apparent in her vibrant youth ministry. It is not surprising several have asked Tshepiso to perform their baptism. Tshepiso is also an accomplished artist and author of three books.
Southern Asia Division: Sharon Roja Vakkanthula (Clinton) took her master’s degree in religion at Andrews University and is working on a DMin. She has been both the assistant leader of the Spicer Adventist University Church and an Assistant Professor in the Division of Religious Studies India since 2016. Teaching gives Sharon the opportunity to counsel, direct, encourage and empower future pastors at Spicer. Her passion is to share the Gospel and witness the transformation of individuals. She works with the Youth and Young Adults of our church to deepen their relationship with Jesus and help identify their strengths for ministry. “Being the first female pastor in India, my passion includes mentoring potential females for pastoral and ministerial work in India.”
Southern Asia-Pacific Division: Jadaza Hintay was an engineer when she became an Adventist in 1987. She worked initially led a Chinese-Filipino church in Manilla while completing her DMin on church growth in 2009, the first woman to complete that degree at Adventist International Institute of Advance Studies. She shone as a missionary/evangelist in Central Luzon Conference. Along with the traditional Adventist topics, “Sister Jade” molds health topics into the gospel making her message widely appealing. She recently became the director of Health Ministries at North Philippine Union Conference.
Trans-European Division: Joanna Krupa-Roszak leads in her church in Poland and loves being an evangelist. Being a part of the intense response to the massive displacement of women and children created by the war in Ukraine has rewarded them with many new members. 2023/24 has been a challenging year for Joanna’s work-life balance as she cared for her seriously ill child. She found when we live our lives out loud in Christian community those around us see that fear and questions are part of life, and that hope and God’s love are stronger yet. Joanna supports women's involvement in church life and wants to help them believe in themselves. Together with her congregation, she is creating an inclusive church with a place for families and small children, those with special needs and disabilities.
West-Central Africa Division: Samuelle Ngo Ikouba epse Nfor is senior chaplain for Babcock University’s Division of Spiritual Life. She provides spiritual care to students, mostly non-Adventists, as well as staff. Samuelle contributes to the development of the university’s strategic and spiritual master plan. She helps implement Week of Prayer and student service activities. As chaplain in the residence halls, she enjoys personally interacting with students. She also provides part-time spiritual care in the University teaching hospital. As chaplain she is affiliated with the Pioneer University Church; however, she primarily serves in one of the campus’ several worship centers. Samuelle is passionate about media ministry, hosting Bible studies on satellite TV/radio. She is married and is the mother of two beautiful children. Samuelle has a BA, MA and is working on a PhD in applied theology.
North American Division: There has been significant discussions about which cultures accept women’s ordination. We propose that acceptance has to do with exposure. Many cultural subgroups are recognizing God’s calling through women leaders. We have chosen to highlight women who have recently been ordained while leading in mainly immigrant communities. Maria Ejurango is the first Filipina in Filipino church at Waterman-Visayan Fil-Am church and Elina Camarena is the first Hispanic in a Spanish church (Paradise Valley Hispanic Church). Shiphrah Fepulea'i, the first Samoan, Therezinha Barbalho, the first Brazilian and Linda Biswas, the first Bengali-American, are also of note leading in mixed communities.