Richard Williams has been named as the new Coordinator of the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He begins his ministry at the Presbyterian Mission Agency in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 1, 2012.
Williams will participate in the YAV Orientation event in late August and the YAV Re-Entry event in September. Current YAV Coordintor Shannon Langley has agreed to work closely with Williams throughout these events and will conclude her service to Presbyterian World Mission at the end of September.
Williams previously served as an international YAV in the Philippines, as well as a national YAV at Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville. He received his Master of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, served as a pastoral resident at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, and worked as the Director and Campus Minister at the Agape House Campus Ministry at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Since 2009, Richard has served as a PC(USA) mission co-worker with the Presbyterian Church of Colombia in South America through preaching, teaching, providing pastoral care, accompanying the church in their human rights work, and by interpreting the reality of Colombia and the church there to Presbyterians in the United States.
“We are confident that Richard will help the YAV program enter into a new chapter by building on the program’s considerable strengths and by listening to the passion and calling of young adults to serve Christ in the world,” said Hunter Farrell, Director of Presbyterian World Mission. “We look forward to welcoming Richard to the team and to working with him to build the YAV program. We ask Presbyterians for their prayers and continuing support of this vital program.”