Shirley Turner

     Raised in our warm, friendly small town of Glasgow in the middle of nowhere, in my younger years, I was surrounded by a close-knit community and nurtured by the people of the Glasgow Evangelical church. Jesus graciously drew me to himself at a young age and gave me a desire to share His love with people near and far. This foundation of faith and service led me to Pennsylvania, where I attended Bible School and earned a teaching degree, preparing me for a life dedicated to following Jesus and inviting others to join me in the journey.

     In 2012, I moved to Zambia in partnership with Operation Mobilization. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of serving in ways that support the mission of sharing Jesus’ love and hope with those in least-reached areas. My current focus is on developing and facilitating training programs that enable local believers to use their skills to engage with least reached people groups and communities in meaningful and sustainable ways.

     Personally, I also love connecting with my local community through basketball, which provides a fun, informal way to build relationships. I regularly visit women from a least-reached people group who are currently refugees in Zambia, offering support, companionship and friendship as they navigate challenges and make a home away from their home.

     Every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and serve. I am inspired by the resilience and faith of those I serve and I’m excited to continue this journey of reaching out to the least reached, empowering others, and making lasting connections in the heart of Africa until all have heard. You can contact me at Shirley.turner@om.org if you’d like to connect.