Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebekah Etyang.
Hi Rebekah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in Nashville. After graduating high school from CPA, I took a gap year and spent 8 months volunteering in Jinja, Uganda. I fell in love with the culture and people of Uganda. I returned to Nashville and went to Belmont University for college. I graduated with a bachelor’s in Social Work, and after graduating I moved back to Uganda where I started working full-time with Heal Ministries. Heal is a nonprofit that aims to empower vulnerable women and children in Uganda through Christ centered programs that teach sustainability and family preservation.
I began as an intern at Heal in 2014, then returned in 2019 as a social worker, and today I am the Executive Director of Heal Ministries. I got married in 2020, and my husband John and I have 2 children– Eden and Eli. John works alongside me at Heal as our Operations Director. I love that together as a family we can help empower other families.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ministry is never a smooth road. Tina, the founder of Heal, passed away from cancer in 2021. There was a lot of reshaping that had to take place within the ministry, but I’m so thankful that it is a thriving and flourishing ministry today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Heal Ministries is a non-profit based in Nashville but works in Jinja, Uganda. We have 52 full-time staff, 50 of which are Ugandan. We empower vulnerable, abandoned women and children in Christ centered programs that teach sustainability and family preservation. We have a childcare and preschool program to educate and equip children, and we have sustainability initiatives for vulnerable women so that they can learn skills to provide for their families.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I love quality time with friends and family, making a difference, coffee, and making my kids smile.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heal-ministries.org/
- Instagram: @healministries
