Phone: +1 773 592 0951
Fax: +1 425 775 8262
Email: mmcgill@visionsynergy.net
P.O. Box 232
Edmonds, WA 98020, USA
Education
2009 PhD Candidate, Intercultural Studies: Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA (Plan to complete 2011)
2004 Began PhD in Theology: Oxford Centre for Missions Studies, Oxford, England (withdrew 2005 to pursue Fuller PhD)
2000 Masters of Arts in Counseling (including half a Masters of Divinity): Western Seminary Seattle (now Mars Hill Graduate School), Seattle, WA GPA 3.9
1998 Bachelors of Arts in Communications, minors in Philosophy and Sociology: Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, GPA 3.3
1996 Associate of Arts and Sciences: Whatcom Community College, Bellingham WA, GPA 3.7
2001 Child Play Therapy Training: International Association for Play Therapy, Portland OR
2001 Networking Training: Interdev, Seattle WA
Experience
I invested time in over 40 countries throughout Africa, Asia, North America, Europe and Latin America, including about seven months in Sri Lanka and a year in the UK. Throughout the last decade I have facilitated productive interagency partnerships, used passionate public speaking and writing to call others to specific actions on behalf of the oppressed, and shown commitment to reflective practice and evidence-backed action.
2006-8
- Organized and facilitated consultation of over 20 key peacebuilding leaders from around the world at the WEA General Assembly in Thailand. We worked with General Assembly participants to develop a plan to engage WEA in peacebuilding and reconciliation action. Resulted in: 1) strong commitment statement ratified by the WEA General Assembly, 2) 2 year action plan, 3) committed WEAPRI 20-member Working Group, 4) exceptional Executive Team.
- Conducted original research throughout Colombia on how to effectively engage youth in peace processes in developing nations impacted by armed intrastate conflict. Interviews and focus groups included 121 children and adults. I effectively collaborated with government leaders and ministries, church leaders, NGOs, and others.
- Explored a potential youth peaebuilding training and mobilization partnership in Colombia between the government, UNICEF, NGOs, church leaders, and FBOs
- Visited Cambodia, Burma and Thailand. I delivered aid, conducted organization research, explored organizational partnerships and potential church plant.
- Continued PhD research on youth participation in peacebuilding at FTS.
2005
- Organized, and held in England, the 2nd international consultation for Christian organizations addressing child sexual exploitation and trafficking.
- Initiated PhD research at Oxford Centre for Mission Studies on children in nations impacted by war
- Organized, and held in Chiang Mai Thailand, II Asha Forum Asia Training & Consultation, addressing child sexual exploitation and trafficking in Asia. There were approximately 100 participants from at least 17 countries with over 16 speakers leading workshops in the areas of Education and Awareness, Advocacy, Resource Development, and the Restorative Process.The consultation reviewed and adjusted previous regional and local plans to include new participants and increase impact.
- Produced a high quality child sexual exploitation and trafficking awareness video for partner agencies.
2004
- Guest speaker at the Southeast Asia Conference on the Trafficking in Children for Sexual Purpose (SACTCSP), MEDAN, INDONESIA, 28-30 March
- Organized and facilitated the 1st Asha Forum Asia Consultation, which developed a coordinated strategic action plan for the region with the participation of over 50 leaders working to address sexual exploitation and trafficking in Asia.
2003
- Participated by invitation in the USA State Dept. International Conference of Activists, “Pathbreaking Strategies in the Global Fight Against Sex Trafficking”
- Partnered with The Salvation Army to organize working meeting, before and after the Pathbreaking Strategies conference, which included nearly 30 leaders from 5 continents.
- Developed, through a partnership, a video awareness lesson pack to mobilize churches to address child sexual exploitation, and piloted it in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.
2002
- Organized and facilitated the 1st ever international gathering of Christians to address child sexual exploitation together. Leaders gathered in Holland from Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America, Europe and Australasia.
2001
- Organized and facilitated Asha Forum development meetings at The 2nd World Congress Against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Yokohama, Japan
- Developed a pilot program for Save Lanka Kids to work among the beach slum communities in Sri Lanka, to prevent the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children, reduce racial tension, and help bring healing to those abused. The pilot used art and play therapy techniques.
2000
- Worked with several institutions and practitioners on the formation of a new graduate degree program on Children at Risk Studies. It is now being implemented in several institutions around the world, including in the US, Canada, Scotland and Malaysia.
- Developed and piloted in Sri Lanka a child sexual exploitation (CSE) research model to be used by small research teams to gather and document findings, develop a local network, and equip local leaders with a model for empowering local church involvement in addressing CSE.
Professional
2008-present Peacebuilding & Reconciliation Advisor, World Evangelical Alliance (worldevangelicals.org)
2002-present Founder & Owner, The Stewardship Corporation -conducting real estate purchases, sales, renovations, rental management, new construction, & consulting (TheStewardshipCorporation.com)
2001-2002 Mental Health Therapist at a residential child treatment facility, Chicago IL. In group, family, and individual settings, I treated sexually exploited, neglected, &/or abused children who were homicidal, suicidal, violent &/or severely depressed (lydiahome.org)
2000-2005 Founder & Director, The Asha Forum, a movement working to link and enhance the Christian response to child sexual exploitation worldwide
Recent Publications
2007 Understanding God’s Heart for Children: Toward a Biblical Framework: Children Seeking Family in War and Sexual Exploitation, Edited by McConnel, Douglas, Jennifer Orona, and Paul Stockley.
2008 Children and Violence in Developing Nations Impacted By Armed Internal Conflict (DNIAIC). The Other Journal
