Serving In: Uganda
SAMS Role: Cathy is serving in Uganda as a Mental Health Educator.
Home Church: Christ Church Anglican, Savannah, Georgia, USA
Starting year with SAMS: 2021
Calling to Ministry:
Cathy Clevenger, M.Div., MSW, LCSW went to Rwanda, Africa in 2018 for her first short-term mission trip. She did not realize how this experience would change her life. She had always wanted to go to Africa on a mission trip, so this seemed to be the opportunity to fulfill that desire. During her time in Rwanda, she heard about the need for mental health workers, especially trauma specialists. Cathy is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked with abused and traumatized clients for twenty-seven years. She also has a passion for prayer and the desire to be obedient to the Lord. After returning to the United States, Cathy was trying to find a way to go on more short-term mission trips, but was not finding a way to do more than one trip per year. As she was thinking about this one day she thought, “Why don’t I just move there?” In February of 2020 Cathy went to Uganda, Africa, on another short-term mission trip to discern further if God was calling her into full-time mission work. While in Uganda she had the opportunity to teach on forgiveness and healing prayer. She met with church staff and learned about all their ministries. On her last day in Uganda, she was sent to a boys’ detention center, with another minister to translate between her and the boys. They counseled and prayed with twenty-three boys. Three boys prayed to receive Christ. The presence of the Holy Spirit was palpable throughout the day. The opportunities she had in Uganda to teach, consult, and counsel strengthened her desire to be there full-time. At the end of her second trip to Africa all she could ask herself was “how can I not go longterm?”
Mission and Vision for Ministry:
Cathy’s mission is to use her experience in mental health and trauma to treat and train others about the healing process from a Christian foundation. Her desire is to serve with her brothers and sisters in Uganda, to make known the love and healing power of Christ. She quotes Brennan Manning, “Our identity is ultimately found in knowing we are radically loved by Jesus Christ.” Cathy’s vision is to foster a community of people who know that they are God’s beloved and from this knowledge to live their lives accordingly. The Apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 5, “Christ's love compels us.” And further on, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as if Christ were making His appeal through us.” The love of Christ compels us to preach the gospel, heal the sick, care for widows and children, to be continually Christ’s ambassadors.
Personal Points of Interest:
Cathy graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in 1993. The following year she graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Master of Social Work. Since her years in Kentucky, she has been an avid University of Kentucky basketball fan. She also enjoys walking on the beach, embroidering, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Since her two trips to Africa, she has taken two classes on Global Trauma and has pursued further training in trauma and healing prayer.
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 84:10
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the house of the wicked.”
