Introducing The General Board of Church and Society 2025 Summer Interns

Throughout the summer, these interns will receive professional development from Church and Society staff and engage in programming that will deepen their understanding of justice, nurture spiritual growth, and strengthen their commitment to faith-based social justice.

We’re excited to journey with them this summer, and we invite you to get to know each of them through their written bios, and please keep them in your prayers as they engage in the work of Church and Society!

Meet Odyssey Heredia (Ethnic Young Adult Chaplain and Theology Intern)

Hello! My name is Odyssey Heredia. I am a pastor’s kid, meaning home has been many places for me. I have connections to the Rio Grande Conference, the New Mexico Conference, and the Great Plains Conference. I would consider my home church to be Del Valle UMC in Mesquite, New Mexico.

I graduated from El Paso High School in 2020 and went on to attend Southwestern College, a Methodist-affiliated college in Winfield, Kansas. There, I earned a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion with a minor in Music. I am now entering my third year at Yale Divinity School, pursuing a Master of Divinity (M.Div.), and I’ve recently begun the ordination process as a deacon in the United Methodist Church.

I’ve been involved in the United Methodist Church for as long as I can remember. At the local church, I served as a worship leader and participated in our tech team and youth leadership. At the conference level, I was a team leader for CCYM and served as the youth vote representative in high school. In college, I remained active in campus ministry through discipleship and worship outreach initiatives.

The experience that most prepared me for this internship was my sophomore summer with Micah Corps, a program in the Great Plains Conference focused on faith-based social justice work. Through hands-on ministry, I saw the practical ways faith and justice intersect. That summer included a trip to Washington, D.C., where I first encountered GBCS’s mission. I knew then that I wanted to return.

At Yale, I continue to stay engaged in community and advocacy. I serve as a Graduate Assistant at La Casa Cultural—Yale’s Latinx Cultural Center—and as Vice President of the Yale Divinity School Student Government.

I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities God has given me to prepare for this summer under the supervision of Aimee Hong, Assistant General Secretary of Programs.

I have always had a big heart for justice and mercy. I believe that “faith without works is dead.” It is not enough to proclaim faith; we must live it out. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors and envision a world where everyone is celebrated for who they are and loved as children of God. Jesus showed us what it means to love boldly and to speak truth to power.

Meet Kudzaishe Faith Tariro Muchanyereyi (Ethnic Young Adult Intern)

My name is Kudzaishe Faith Tariro Muchanyereyi, and I was born and raised in Zimbabwe by United Methodist clergy parents. My passion for justice was shaped by growing up in both rural and urban communities as we moved with their pastoral appointments. I am a member of Ehnes Memorial Church in Old Mutare, part of the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference.

I’m currently pursuing a degree in Social Work at Africa University, where I expect to graduate next year. On campus, I’m involved in the Praise the Lord Choir, the Volunteers in Mission Club, and interfaith dialogues that bring together youth from diverse traditions to address shared community issues.

This summer, I’m serving as a virtual intern at the General Board of Church and Society under the supervision of Rev. Kendal McBroom, Director of Civil and Human Rights. My focus during this summer is a project to facilitate a Global Faith Dialogue on the Decolonization of Education in Zimbabwe.

I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world challenges—integrating faith-based perspectives with evidence-informed approaches to better serve marginalized communities. I also look forward to building meaningful relationships with fellow interns and staff as we grow and serve together.

Meet Lucas Chung (Ethnic Young Adult Intern)

Hi! My name is Lucas Chung, and I attend Arcola Methodist Church, which is part of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. I’m a rising junior at Boston College, majoring in Political Science and minoring in International Relations. This summer, I’m excited to serve as an EYA Intern in the Department of Peace with Justice under Colleen Moore, the Director of Peace with Justice.

One of the most impactful experiences that prepared me for this internship was a mission trip to Bolivia with my home church. I was nervous—being the youngest on the team and unfamiliar with the language—but I was quickly humbled and transformed by the love and joy of the children we served. We hosted a free Vacation Bible School in a rural area, and despite language barriers, our shared faith connected us in powerful ways.

This trip not only deepened my gratitude and sense of purpose but also sparked my passion for social justice. On our last day, we witnessed a city-wide protest in La Paz sparked by political corruption. It was a startling but eye-opening moment that helped me understand the importance of public unity and advocacy.

I am excited for this internship because it brings together my faith and professional interests. As someone pursuing a career in political science, I’ve often struggled to reconcile my work with my beliefs. This opportunity allows me to explore how faith can guide and shape social justice work in a meaningful way.

My main hope is to challenge the notion that faith and work must exist separately. I want to learn how to live out Methodist values through social justice advocacy—and to contribute meaningfully to the mission of the General Board of Church and Society.

In a world marked by division and uncertainty, I’m inspired by the Church’s commitment to peace and justice. I look forward to being part of the mission and making a real impact this summer.

Meet Tafadzwa Chikawa (Ethnic Young Adult Intern)

My name is Tafadzwa Chikawa, a recent graduate of Africa University (June 2025) with a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Social Work. My academic journey has been shaped by a deep desire to serve others and engage with my community’s political, economic, and social challenges.

Growing up as an only child in Mutare, Zimbabwe, I learned early on the value of community. At Hartzell High School, I served as Vice President of the Leo Club, leading donation drives for orphanages and senior homes. My passion for service deepened through my involvement with King David United Methodist Church in the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference, where I’ve held various leadership roles in the United Methodist Youth Fellowship, including Secretary and Vice President.

Our fellowship not only strengthened my faith but also led outreach efforts like supporting local children’s homes and ministering to inmates at Mutare Remand Prison. These moments have affirmed my belief in the power of faith-driven service.

Working remotely, I’m thrilled to join the Ethnic Young Adult Internship Program at the General Board of Church and Society, working under the mentorship of Jeffrey Corey, the Senior Executive Director of Communications.

Through this internship, I plan to develop my public communications and storytelling skills, particularly through digital media, to share transformative stories from communities in my region, that include youth leaders, and social work projects that can influence public opinion and policy. This opportunity allows me to connect faith with action.

I look forward to growing as a communicator, advocate, and servant leader, creating meaningful change in both the church and society.

Meet Jenna Hopgood (Ethnic Young Adult Intern)

My name is Jenna Hopgood, and I’m an undergraduate at the University of Michigan studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN), with plans to become a nurse.

This summer, I’m interning with Rev. Camille Henderson-Edwards, Senior Executive Director of Advocacy, whose work focuses on economic, gender, and health justice.

I was raised by an immigrant Korean mother—an ordained elder in the Michigan Annual Conference—and an adopted Korean father. Growing up in both Korean American and cross-cultural United Methodist churches, I developed a deep appreciation for diversity and a commitment to advocating for the vulnerable.

Over the past year, through prayer, fasting, and studying the Gospel of Luke, I’ve been especially moved by Jesus’s heart for “the least, the lost, and the left out.” That spiritual journey has helped me see my passion for justice and service as a possible calling from God—one I feel compelled to follow. As Acts 4:20 says, “For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

This internship is an opportunity to listen closely to God’s voice and join in the work God is doing in the world. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how Christians can expand their witness and respond to the world’s needs with compassion and conviction. More than anything, I pray that what I learn this summer becomes part of my daily life moving forward.