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"All of my ministry has been in multi-ethnic, cross-cultural,
and multi-racial settings," writes Joe. "I have been
involved in mission, support for mission, and education for mission.
I was drawn to mission service by Christ’s invitation for
his disciples to join him in sharing the love of God through serving
the needs of people.
"I have been challenged to probe my own beliefs, experience,
and values to understand what I may be able to share, what contribution
I can bring. I have learned as we share of our strengths...of
that which defines us and makes us what we are.... We are enriched
and are able to validate and honor the life and grace of God contained
within each of us."
The Keeseckers were first assigned by the Worldwide Ministries
Division to serve a community development ministry in Columbia
in 1999, but those plans were changed as the church recognized
the growing unrest and violence in that country and reassigned
them to Guatemala.
Throughout his career Joe has worked for the PC(USA) and its
predecessor, the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. After
serving as a civil rights worker and community organizer in the
mid-1960s, Joe worked with UPCUSA as a "mobile minister"
in the San Luis Valley (Pueblo Presbytery) from 1970 to 1974.
He was director of San Luis Valley Christian Community Services
in Alamosa, Colorado, from 1974 to 1978. In 1978, the Keeseckers
moved to New York when Joe joined the national staff as associate
director of the United Presbyterian Hunter Program for UPCUSA.
After reunion in 1983 and until 1987 Joe was co-director of the
Presbyterian Hunger Program. From 1987 to 1998, Joe was director
of Ghost Ranch, the PC(USA)’s conference and retreat center
in Abiquiu and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
While at language school in Cuernavaca in 2000, Selena volunteered
in an after-school program as an English teacher, introducing
children to English through music, crafts, games, art, and books.
She also found the time to volunteer in a public school, at a
center for rehabilitation, and a rest home.
Selena was a teacher of pre-school, kindergarten, religion, and
music from 1991 to 1999 at John Hyson School in Chimayo, New Mexico.
She was certified as a high-school soccer referee in the 1990s
in order to work with youth across cultures, races, economic groups
within communities of large diversity. She also found time to
volunteer with the children’s program at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu,
New Mexico, where for two summers she was the coordinator of worship.
During the 1980s Selena directed the Global Village Children’s
programs at Stony Point Conference Center. In the 1970s she was
a child-birth educator and leader in the La Leche League in the
San Luis Valley in Colorado.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the College
of Emporia in Emporia, Kansas, and a master’s degree in musicology
from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. She completed
the certificate program in Christian ministry at New York Theological
Seminary and completed work for a teaching certificate in New
Mexico.
Joe has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology
from the College of Emporia in Emporia, Kansas. He holds a master’s
degree in social work from the University of Chicago and a master
of divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.
Joe is a clergy member of the Presbytery of Santa Fe. Selena
has served as an elder in their home church of El Buen Pastor
Presbyterian Church in Chimayo, New Mexico.
The Keeseckers have two children: Shandra Krystine Keesecker
de Rivero, and Joshua Dean Sterlinge Keesecker.
Birthdays:
Joe - April 4
Selena - December 18
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