Kimberly Lynn “Kim” Lewis is a Global Missionary for The United Methodist Church, serving as co-director of Arbol de Vida Training Center at Give Ye Them to Eat in Puebla, Mexico. An NGO organized by the Methodist Church of Mexico, its mission is to strengthen the capabilities of marginalized people and communities to meet their basic needs, and to determine and sustain a just and integrated development process so people can achieve the full promise and potential of their life as children of God. Striving to be a voice for marginalized communities, Kim relies on 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV): “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” After earning a master’s degree in business from Pepperdine University in California, Kim served a three-decade career in the nonprofit sector, most recently as CEO of United Way of Yellowstone County. “My career has been guided by God, devoted to philanthropy and giving back to my community,” she said. “I have advocated, raised funds and connected resources to help alleviate suffering, empower youth, provide leadership opportunities, create safe environments, and deliver hope for medically fragile children and their families.” Describing her spiritual and professional journey, Kim said, “I once heard someone say that communities need a host of angelic troublemakers to pursue love, peace and justice. While I can’t change the world alone, I can contribute in a positive way.” When Kim met Patrick Lewis, her husband of 20 years, he told her he was going to be governor of Wyoming or a pastor. “Both felt so foreign to me that I didn’t believe him,” Kim said. “Two years into our marriage, Pat shared his calling for ministry with me, and within three months, we had moved from Phoenix to Denver for him to start theology school. During that time, God’s plan was very clear for both of us: love and serve all. In lieu of wedding gifts, we chose donations to help build a Habitat house. It was such a fun way to celebrate our marriage!” Her husband is an ordained United Methodist elder. Kim said, “I have been inspired by him, his colleagues and fellow parishioners with the commitment to serve Christ in everything they do. I became a deaconess with the UMC in May 2022.” She is a lay member from First United Methodist Church, Billings, Montana, related to the Mountain Sky Annual Conference. Asked about her faith journey, Kim replied, “I find great pleasure in being the hands and feet of Jesus. For example, I have built homes in Tijuana with Corazon and in the USA with Habitat for Humanity. I am a self-published author of ‘They’ve Always Been Nice to Me,’ a tribute to my Uncle Randy who is intellectually challenged, has cerebral palsy and lives a meaningful life. We also fostered eight children over 13 years, serving orphans with unconditional love.” When her first husband died unexpectedly, Kim’s faith was challenged. “I was mad at God, yet still trusted my journey,” she said. “Today I feel a call to love and support other young widows.” Kim is the bonus mom to twin daughters and her greatest joys are her grandsons and fur babies. She is excited for her missionary call. “I can think of no better way to round out my career in philanthropy,” she said, “than by serving in partnership with my husband in Mexico. “I have been discerning this call since I was a young adult, but wasn’t sure when the moment would present itself to serve as a global missionary,” she said. “I am excited to practice new ways of serving God in a different culture. I trust that God will lead me where I need to be to help others and to use my gifts of service to show people that God is alive and real.”

Rev. Patrick G. “Pat” Lewis is a Global Missionary of The United Methodist Church, serving as director of training, promotion and interpretation for Give Ye Them to Eat in Puebla, Mexico. A nonprofit organization created by the Southeastern Annual Conference of the Methodist Church of Mexico, Give Ye Them to Eat strives to combat hunger and poverty in the rural sector of south-central Mexico. In the past 40 years, the ministry has provided disadvantaged farming families with development opportunities to improve their lives and situations so they need not abandon their lands and leave their families by immigrating to the USA in search of jobs and a better income. Pat earned a Master of Divinity degree at Iliff School of Theology. An ordained elder, he most recently served First United Methodist Church, Billings, Montana, related to the Mountain Sky Annual Conference. Describing his faith development, he said, “I have been on this journey since I was young, first serving as an acolyte at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Laramie, Wyoming, which led to camp [attendee], camp counselor and youth group. “From youth camp, where we installed a septic system, repaired tent platforms and cleaned the hiking paths, I found myself drawn to service and mission,” Pat remembers. “My father would take me with him as a youth, and we would help families in need, shoveling walks, repairing houses or fixing vehicles. It has been in my DNA. “When I was 12, I had an encounter with the Divine during an operation that assured me I was being cared for and loved by God. During my college years, I drifted from the church but remained connected with God through prayer and conversations with those with whom I had a spiritual relationship.” After college, Pat worked with several nonprofits as part of his employment at a television station. “I learned about Habitat for Humanity,” he said, “and, within a few years, was the executive director for the central Wyoming Habitat for Humanity in Casper. Here I again felt connected with God and began to know my calling to serve.” On Habitat mission journeys, he helped build houses in the state of Veracruz. “We worked in the villages,” Pat recalled. “I forged friendships and grew to know the presence of God in the side-by-side work with those who were in need and who served each other to build homes and community. I heard a call from God to ‘make miracles happen.’ I did not know how I would do that, but found myself on a path to serve others and help them to see the miracles they were in the world and to become the bright light God calls each of us to be.” Within a few years, Pat married Kimberly Lewis. “We began working in our lives to serve God and be greater connected to helping others realize their lives in God’s kingdom,” he said. “I returned to school and completed a Master of Divinity degree. As an ordained elder, he served in Denver, Salt Lake City, the Grand Junction [Colorado] area, and Billings, Montana. “Through Habitat, volunteering with UMCOR and serving as a minister, I feel guided to grow in love and service each day so that others may know God’s grace and mercy in their lives. I feel God has particularly called me to serve those in Central America and has afforded me the opportunity to serve there on several occasions, growing my interests and abilities to break down barriers while lifting souls.” Pat’s favorite part about mission is witnessing the miracles unfold – “the changes in people when they realize that they are called to something more. The peace that comes over them as they begin to see God’s light and find God’s love in their life,” he explained. He is inspired by Isaiah 58:10 (NIV): “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” “I, too, am inspired through the teachings of John Wesley and the thought that we are here to earn all we can, keep what we need, and give the rest away to grow the world around us,” Pat said. “My wife and I have been blessed with the gifts God has shared with us, and we are blessed also to share of those gifts so the world we live in may be a better place.” Pat and Kimberly are the parents of twin daughters.