Missionary in Tennessee
Jubilee Project, Inc.
Steve and Diantha Hodges are serving in Tennessee as United Methodist missionaries, assigned to the National Division of the General Board of Global Ministries. After three and a half years of mission work in Korea and North Carolina, they began a new mission project in 1991 in Hancock County, Tennessee -- just south of Virginia, on the border. Jubilee Project is a mission project begun, in the spirit of the Jubilee Year of Leviticus 25, to help community residents gain the skills, experience and hope necessary to provide for the needs of one of the lowest-income areas of Appalachia.
Diantha is the granddaughter of missionaries to Mexico, and the daughter of a retired United Church of Christ minister. She grew up in Indiana and Connecticut. Diantha's work at Jubilee includes building the capacity of Jubilee Project and community members to build a better community, conducting leadership development programs, assisting with the development of collaborative community projects, especially those involved with health or concerns about youth. She also shares with Steve the work of speaking in churches and other administrative duties. She is currently involved in “Achieve Your Dreams”, a project whose aim is to help young women in Hancock County develop life skills, and their interest in college and careers. Within Holston Conference she works with special camp sessions at Buffalo Mountain Camp for people with special needs. Previous to working with Jubilee Project, she was an occupational therapist, childbirth educator, and a trained midwife. Now she has a special interest of making herbal salves and products from the abundant plant life found in the Tennessee mountains.
www.JubileeProject.Holston.org
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