Vy Nguyen called to Week of Compassion
Alumnus Vy Nguyen has been called as the next Executive Director of the Week of Compassion of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), effective September 1. An ordained Disciples minister, he now serves as Southwest Associate Field Director for Church World Service, one of Week of Compassion's largest ministry partners. With Church World Service, he has worked with congregations and volunteers throughout California and the Southwest to interpret the mission of Church World Service and to increase fundraising. Previously, he worked with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps in Berkeley, California.
"As a former refugee who came to the United States through the efforts of Refugee and Immigration Ministries and Church World Service, he has witnessed firsthand the life-changing work that Week of Compassion facilitates. Through his work with Church World Service and local congregations, he has sought to foster among communities a deeper understanding and awareness of both the challenges that individuals and families face in the world as they struggle for refuge, as well as the importance of building local capacities and movements towards sustainable development in international relief and long-term development work. His commitment to enhancing diverse community engagement with the mission and vital work of outreach organizations has led him to work closely with senior staff at Church World Service on researching why communities choose to become involved in and engaged with new causes and non-profit organizations. Their efforts have led to new and creative ways of engaging with communities and donors to increase fundraising as well as strengthening relationships with individuals and communities."
Vy earned a BA in religious studies with a minor in environmental sciences at Texas Christian University before entering the University of Chicago as a Disciples Divinity House Scholar and earning his MDiv from the Divinity School. He was ordained to the ministry at East Dallas Christian Church, the congregation that helped to welcome him to the U.S. as a refugee from Vietnam. He is "committed to giving back to the ministry that shaped him and to work to empower individuals and communities to build better lives."