ABHMS announces hiring of new personnel to advance strategic ministry plan
From left-to-right: Rothangliani Chhangte, Sarah Strosahl-Kagi, Stephanie Rivera and Jeffrey Haggray
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 10/26/16)—Today American Baptist Home Mission Societies’ (ABHMS) Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Haggray announced the hiring of several new employees in the areas of priorities and relationships, emerging leaders and finance to further the organization’s “Connect, Cultivate, Change” strategic plan.
The Rev. Rothangliani Chhangte joins ABHMS as special assistant to the executive director for Strategic Priorities and Relationships. As such, she will assist the executive director in developing, clarifying and communicating objectives, goals and action steps related to advancing the “Connect, Cultivate, Change” strategy with staff, along with cultivating and managing relationships during highly strategic and critical outreach to historic American Baptist partners. Chhangte has served Baptist World Alliance as director of Baptist World Aid and, before that, had been ABHMS’ liaison for Burmese refugees. She earned a Master of Divinity from Palmer Theological Seminary, St. Davids, Pa.; a Master in Business Administration in Economic Development from Eastern University, St. Davids; and a bachelor’s degree in business from Bethel University, St. Paul., Minn. She earned diplomas from the Oxford Graduate Summer School of Theology; the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Switzerland; and the Mennonite Central Committee. In 2013, she received American Baptist Churches USA’s (ABCUSA) Luke Mowbray Award for outstanding contribution in ecumenism at the local, national and international level.
Sarah Strosahl-Kagi has been named national coordinator for Emerging Leaders and Scholarship Programs. In this capacity, she will lead ABHMS’ developing strategy in cultivating emerging leaders, including American Baptist undergraduate and seminary scholarship recipients. Working closely with ABHMS’ executive director, Leadership Team and staff, Strosahl-Kagi will design a comprehensive scholarship program that includes a fellows program, internships and immersion experiences. Strosahl-Kagi served with International Ministries, where she aided in coordinating mission immersion trips for young adults. Previously, she served with the City Mission Society of Boston and the Episcopal Urban Intern Program. Strosahl-Kagi earned a Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, Mass., where she received the Herbert Gerzork Social Ethics Award. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of New Hampshire. She is pursuing ordination with ABCUSA.
Stephanie Rivera is welcomed by ABHMS’ Financial Services team as staff accountant for Accounts Receivable and Collections. She will be responsible for processing and reconciling all payments received, including lockbox deposits, checks, cash, credit card transactions and other electronic payments. She will also complete daily bank deposits, assist with month-end closing and function as the Accounts Payable backup. Rivera was a staff accountant for ABCUSA’s Office of the General Secretary and had previously held accounting positions with several organizations in Fayetteville, N.C.; Camden, N.J.; and Philadelphia. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from La Salle University, Philadelphia.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on leadership, discipleship and healing communities.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.
