Missionary Kid Accepts Mission Corps Assignment

"Being an MK was one of the most positive things that has ever happened in my life," Liz recalled. "I had opportunities to be surrounded by amazing missionary role models in my developmental years."  Elizabeth Joy (Liz) Hollenberg is an MK (missionary kid) born in Swaziland, Africa, where her parents Greg and Mary Beth Hollenberg served.  Liz later moved with her parents to Papua New Guinea.  Today she is serving as a Mission Corps volunteer for Asia-Pacific World Missions Communications in the Philippines.

Liz remembers learning how to share the Gospel while visiting the hospital wards with her parents in Papua New Guinea when she was only 9-14 years old.  She remembers her high school years as a student studying in a multi-cultural and multi-language environment where her mother served as principal.  “We were the only Americans in the school, but there were students from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, China, and Australia.”  All her MK experiences led to her Mission Corps volunteer assignment.

Liz graduated from Olivet Nazarene University with a degree in Intercultural Studies. She felt its focus on understanding people from different cultures with its mixture of anthropology and communications with religion classes would prepare her to be a missionary.  Her minor in Christian Education included discipleship training and developing programs to help in ministry.

When asked about her passions, Liz replied, "I’m really passionate about discipleship.  One of my professors described Christian education as "the image of someone sitting along the side of the road reading a Bible.  She has just been saved, and she’s sitting there all alone trying to figure it out.  And then you sit down beside her, put your arm around her, and say ‘Hey, can I help you understand this?'"  That’s what God has called me to do."

  Liz serves as the Resource Developer for WMC and coordinates donor development and maintenance for WMC.  She is also creating a workshop series to improve technological training for the regional communication staff and others interested.  Her desire is to be appointed as a full time missionary.  "I would personally love to go back to Papua New Guinea and work in communications," Liz states, "but right now I’m a Mission Corps volunteer."

Liz has already served 10 months in the Philippines and will be going to the States in October to speak at churches, and hopefully raise at least another year of support in order to return to the Philippines.  When asked about how to pray for her, Liz answered, "My biggest need right now is finding ways to connect with those who feel God calling them to partner in ministry with me.  First, I definitely need prayer support.  Second, I need financial support.  As a missionary volunteer I'm not paid, and so all my support for housing, insurance, food, and transportation has to come through people partnering with me to fulfill God's call in my life."

Liz is not worried about the money because being a missionary has taught her to have faith in God to supply all her needs. She believes that most people think they must give large amounts to partner in ministry, but she believes it's a matter of asking people to just give the amount God lays on their heart, whether it be $10 or $50.  Liz asks us to pray for her to connect with those who feel God calling them to partner with her in ministry.

this post was filed under Press Releases on Jun 30, 2008