Nancy McGaughey
Nancy McGaughey

Nancy was appointed in January 2009 as a mission co-worker to serve as health coordinator with ACROSS, the Association of Christian Resource Organisations Serving Sudan. She serves at the invitation of the PC(USA)’s partner in southern Sudan, the Presbyterian Church of Sudan.

This is not Nancy’s first appointment as a PC(USA) mission co-worker. She was first appointed in 1987 to serve in Jumla, Nepal, in tuberculosis and leprosy care, in mother-child health care, and in vocational education. She served until 2002 in that capacity. She had previously worked in Nepal in child health education with the Peace Corps from 1977 to 1980.

In her position in Sudan, Nancy is charged with building the capacity of ACROSS’s field staff who work in health, HIV/AIDS, and household food security. She provides training, technical advice, guidance, and support. She is also charged with working on long-term strategies and policy development.

Letters from
Nancy McGaughey

Letters from Sudan

• November 2009
• October 2009
• June 2009

Letters from Nepal

• January 2002
• January 2001

In the broader context of developing southern Sudan after many years of war, Nancy is also building and fostering relationships with government departments, church and community leaders, and other NGOs and stakeholders. She oversees the program staffs, including the staff for development and training

During the war, which began in 1983—and was basically a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War from 1955 to 1972—approximately 1.9 million civilians were killed in southern Sudan, and more than 4 million southerners were forced to flee their homes. The conflict ended with the signing of a peace agreement in January 2005. Due to the military superiority of northern Sudan, most of southern Sudan was decimated.

“I worked in Nepal for 15 years,” writes Nancy, “most of the time living closely with Nepalies. I learned how intelligent the ‘uneducated’ really are, how people of a different culture can become just like your own family, how to worship God in different ways, and how to depend upon Him for everything—for protection from insurgents, strength to continue, tickets. Nothing is too big or too small. I made friends from many different cultures—Canada, England, New Zealand, as well as Nepal. I went into mission service thinking of the difference I would make in the lives of others, but returned realizing that the biggest difference was made in my own life.”

Nancy resigned from mission service in 2002 to return to Indiana for family medical reasons. During her time in Indiana, she worked at St. Clare Medical Center in Crawfordsville, Indiana, until her service with PC(USA) began again in January 2009. While at St. Clare, she served in the birthing facility there, assisting women deliver babies and doing post-partum and nursery work.

A registered nurse, Nancy holds as associate degree in nursing from Indiana University School of Nursing. She holds both bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, the former in vocational home economics, the latter in vocational and technical education. Nancy also holds a certificate for teaching secondary education in Indiana.

Nancy is a member of Russellville Community Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ in Russellville, Indiana, and a frequent attendee of the Harvest Fellowship in New Market, Indiana.