Jim and Julianna Gieser
Jim and Julianna serve at the UCT YMCA Study Center at the University of Cape Town, South Africa (“the Y”). The mission of the Y is to cultivate a place of faith-life integration at the heart of South Africa’s best university in order to empower students for life, leadership and service. We help young people comprehend God’s story of redemption, identify their role within it, and learn to live as faithful Christ-followers amidst the academic and cultural pressures that surround them. We do this within the context of a post-apartheid society marred by a history of racial injustice and ongoing socio-economic divides.
Given our strategic location adjacent to the law school, hospitality is important to our mission. In our small hall we offer coffee/tea, wifi and a comfortable place to study throughout the week. The hall also hosts our Wednesday community lunches and Wisdom over Waffles on Friday afternoons. Bible studies and the Core Project are also foundational to our work. The latter is a year-long biblical theology course looking at how the Big Story of the God’s gospel is found throughout Scripture, Genesis to Revelation. We also host a mid-year conference focused on the intersection of faith with learning and culture. All of this provides myriad opportunities for life-on-life discipleship with students. We place particular focus on the eight students who are a part of our Living and Learning Community residence life program, and on our student leadership committee.
Jim joins a South African staff of six others as head of spiritual life and director of the Living and Learning Program. He also assists the Executive Director in establishing the financial sustainability of the organization. This role often entails conversations with Y alumni. Given that the Y was founded in 1946, there are many of them. Jim views these meetings as opportunities for ministry, too.
Jim has held administrative positions in both public and private institutions of higher education and worked in non-profit leader development and training in the Global South. Julianna has taught in high schools in Germany and South Africa, and at present is a full-time mother to the four Gieser children.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (Wheaton College, IL), a Master of Philosophy (University of Cape Town), and a Doctor of Education (Indiana University. Julianna holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Teaching (Wheaton College, IL). They love getting to know students, exploring new cultures and living cross-culturally – plus reading, being outdoors, cooking great food and engaging in whatever their children are interested in!
TO DONATE BY CHECK
TO JIM AND JULIANNA’S SUPPORT:
Make checks payable to The Antioch Partners, write “Preference for Gieser Support” on memo line and mail to:
7132 Portland Ave, Suite 136
Richfield, MN, 55423
