Venissa is Alberta's first Summerbridge participant. Summerbridge is an Mennonite Central Committee program that strengthens leadership capabilities within young adults while nurturing a commitment to service. (more info here: MCC Summerbridge)

My name is Venissa Tumbay. I attend Holyrood Mennonite Church and have been my whole life. Growing up, I never thought I’d be this involved in my church community and would be making such an impact as I am now. But I’m honestly very proud of how far I’m coming, and I pray that I continue to grow in this lavishing environment. 

When I was asked to do this Menno Minute, I honestly had no idea what I was going to say, and even now, as I write, I still can’t seem to wrap my head around it, but I will try my very best. When this Summerbridge program was first brought up to me I honestly thought I wasn’t capable of doing it. I doubted my ability to do something like this, and I wasn’t sure I was the best fit. I never did much public speaking unless it was scripture reading. It wasn't until I started doing mini sermons that my confidence slowly started to grow. Through those experiences, I began realizing that God can use ordinary people in ways we don’t always expect. Sometimes all it takes is being willing to step out in faith, even when we feel nervous or uncertain.   

One thing that really stood out to me about MCA’s priorities is the focus on calling, developing, and nurturing leaders. I think leadership isn’t always about being the loudest person in the room. Sometimes it’s simply about being willing to serve, encourage others, and grow into who God is calling you to be. 

It was brought up to me by my pastor and I guess in that moment it kind of struck me that I am worthy of experiencing such a thing like this because she saw something in me and believed I was the right person to represent our church. I always had a deep rooted faith and connection to the church ever since I was little and I always believed that someday I’d make an impact and inspire other people around me, so when this opportunity was brought up to me I knew I had to push my nervousness to the side and just go for it! And finding out that I am the first person to come from Alberta doing this is even more of an honour and something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. 

I am really looking forward to learning from others, building new relationships, and stepping outside of my comfort zone. I’m also excited to grow in my faith and better understand how God can use my gift to serve others. My hope is that through this experience, I can continue growing into a compassionate and faithful leader- someone who reflects Jesus through kindness, inclusion, and service. I also hope that this program encourages young people like me to recognize that we all have a gift and purpose, and that God can use each of us in different ways. 

I’m thankful for the opportunity to be part of a community that encourages young people to grow, lead, and live out their faith. I’m excited to see how God works through this experience and what He will continue teaching me along the way.