The Council for World Mission (CWM) recently welcomed two interns and a consultant, who will be deployed in the London, South Africa, and Singapore offices respectively.
The two interns, Adam Pailing, and Lethabo Renee Moloko, were selected from a pool of young hopefuls who applied for the CWM Internship Programme when the call for registrations was sounded in late 2023.
Both interns had to be first endorsed and supported by their churches and respective General Secretaries or Moderators in order to be considered for the roles. Pailing is a member of the London Road Congregational Church, UK, while Moloko worships at the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.
The CWM Internship Programme is a creative, hands-on, and innovative opportunity for 21-30-year-olds to explore, for 6-12 months, faith alongside work in an international mission organization.
“As CWM has Member Churches located across six regions (Pacific, Africa, Europe, Caribbean, East Asia, South Asia) with its main office in Singapore, the internship will involve opportunities to work in one or more of these locations. This is an excellent opportunity for our youths to explore, experience, and learn from a different culture,” explained Rev. Julie Sim, CWM Mission Secretary-Mission Programme and Partnership.
Through the programme, interns expect to develop valuable new skills through cross-cultural experiences and work settings as well as being given ample opportunities to experience working with various CWM teams from Programme to Finance to Communications.
They will also receive comprehensive and practical on-the-job training as well as a close mentoring relationship throughout their tenure, ensuring well-rounded support for their professional, personal, and spiritual development.
“I have an interest in international work and cultural exchanges; this position presents an opportunity to explore that interest further and combine it with spiritual development in a way that I have not done before,” said Pailing, who previously worked as an English teacher in South Korea. “The programme looks to be an exciting way to develop my career skills whilst working in a role and environment that aim to make a positive difference in the world through people.”
Moloko cited The Onesimus Project (TOP) as the catalyst that sparked her decision to apply for a CWM internship as a stepping stone towards realising her dream of establishing her own nonprofit in the next five years.
Launched in 2022, TOP is a CWM initiative to address the roots of racialised inequalities and injustices within the CWM family of churches and the wider world.
“I realized that CWM is an organisation that supports ecumenism beyond the everyday spiritual aspect of it. I love that the CWM programmes are not only there to improve the lives of previously disadvantaged groups but also to combat the various socioeconomic issues in the world. That is an organisation that I want to be a part of,” added Moloko.
Coming onboard as a CWM Consultant is Tahima Christophe, a member of Etaretia Porotetani Maohi.
As a Consultant, Christophe will be playing a key support role in the upcoming CWM Assembly in June, ensuring a smooth running of the event and the wellbeing of the delegates and participants.
“This opportunity will not only allow me to actively contribute to the mission of CWM but also bring an additional perspective to my church,” said Christophe. Reflecting on his role in the Assembly, he shared, “I am motivated by the desire to participate in the growth of ecumenism in a world where faith is not always prevalent.”