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EBECA CLAY grew up in inner-city San Antonio, Texas, and
feels that she was blessed growing up because she was able to spend her summers
traveling around Mexico with her mother, who is from Mexico and was a full-time
missionary before she married, and two older brothers, as independent missionaries.
This traveling, according to Rebeca, instilled in her the understanding of the
example of Christ as one of social justice. “Being home-schooled until the fourth
grade by my mother, then being educated in inner-city schools, further helped
me in realizing that education and my faith were the only things in this world
that could never be taken away from me,” Rebeca says.
“Christ was always with those whom society would call ‘outcasts,’
working through social justice as a way to reach out with the gift of salvation.
Education is the basis for our young people to understand the ills of society
and realize their responsibilities in working for social justice, . . . so I
am here, serving as director of tutoring and scholarship for the 500 students,
500 volunteer tutors, the 27 members of the tutoring staff, and additional colleagues
with whom I work.”
Rebeca received a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University
in New Jersey, majoring in religion and obtaining a certificate in African-American
studies. Rebeca also holds a master’s in education from Harvard University in
Boston. She has been in her current position, director of tutoring and scholarship
for Partners in Education (PIE)—a nonprofit organization through the Fourth
Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago, Illinois—since this past summer. Before
this, Rebeca was attending the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University
in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
“I work for a nonprofit because nonprofits tend to be more
‘social justice’-minded than other entities,” says Rebeca. “I could be earning
more if I chose to work for a profit organization or company. But as I trust
God in all things according to His will in my life, I know that He will continue
to provide for me financially.”
Rebeca is grateful for the opportunities she has had to
serve, especially in helping students who are mostly from the Cabrini-Green
and Henry Horner housing projects in Chicago. “I am here,” she says, “as director
of tutoring and scholarship by title only. I have been placed here as a servant
of the Lord to be a Christian example. . . . God continuously opens doors to
witness, . . . and I pray that I represent Him well.”
Her advice to those considering nonprofit work is to “seriously
spend time throughout your life in prayer and reflection with God through Scripture.
Remain faithful to Him, and He will guide you in your life’s calling for His
continual honor and glory. Be open to wherever the Spirit leads you to journey.
Even if your paycheck is not as large as you ‘think’ you need, in the end we
will be greatly rewarded in heaven [Rom. 8:18].”
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