Four people from the Diocese of Atlanta completed training and were awarded certificates as Diocesan Global Mission Agents recently at the Episcopal Church's World Mission Conference in Baltimore.

They are John Mark Parker, St. Francis, Macon; Debbie Betsill, St. James', Marietta, Terry Franzén, Christ Church, Norcross; and Reid Peterson, St. Matthew's, Snellville.  

The four represented half of this year's graduating class, and this brings to six the number of certified Diocesan Global Mission Agents in our diocese. Mary Brennan (All Saints', Atlanta) completed the program in 2006, and Gini Peterson (St. Matthew's, Snellville) completed it in 2005 as part of the first group to graduate.

The GEM Formation of Diocesan Global Mission Agents Program consists of an intentional course of study, fieldwork, reading and attendance at GEM Educational Institutes.  Training includes participating in regional, diocesan or other mission events, as well as planning or taking mission trips.

For more information on the program visit www.gemn.org or contact Gini Peterson, coordinator of the GEM Formation of Diocesan Global Mission Agents Program at ginireid@bellsouth.net.

The Global Episcopal Mission (GEM) Network gathering was held during the Everyone, Everywhere World Mission Conference.