In 1999, we at Spring Valley formed a covenant relationship with Bill and Jerri Savuto through the United Methodist Church Global Ministries.
Jerri Savuto is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, and with her husband Bill, serves at Maua Methodist Hospital, Maua, Kenya. The Savutos previously served at Maua from 1998-2003 where Jerri was a tutor in the hospital RN program. Her responsibilities included teaching nursing students in the areas of anatomy, physiology, nutrition, pharmacology, medical and surgical nursing, pediatrics, and community heatlh.
In May of 2003, Jerri and Bill returned to the US to begin work as the Interim Regional Executives for Sub-Sahara Africa with the General Board of Global Ministries in New York City. February 1, 2004 they moved to the Dallas, TX area to begin their new jobs as Missionary Interpreters in Residence for the South Central Jurisdiction of the UMC. After serving in the US and overseas as well as their work with GBGM in New York, they know how important it is for United Methodist congregations to support missionaries and Advance Projects, the areas Jerri and Bill worked with in annual conferences, districts, and local churches.
Of her assignment as a nursing instructor in Kenya, Jerri says, "RN's are desperately needed throughout Kenya. I was able to train students to care for the health needs of the Kenyan people throughout the country while witnessing to the love of Jesus Christ."
Jerri, along with Bill, previously served as GBGM missionaries from 1982-1989. From 1982-1985 they served in Belize City, Belize in Central America where she established and directed the natinal breast feeding organization "Breast is Best League", and under Jerri's direction, breast feding increased from 18% to 52%. From 1986-1989 they served in Jos, Nigeria where she served as an assistant to Bill as well as doing school and rural health nursing.
A native of Santa Fe, NM, Jerri earned a BS degree in nursing from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX in 1968. From 1973-74, Jerri was campus nurse at the Navajo Methodist Mission School in Farmington, NM where she also taught health courses. She was commissioned as a GBGM missionary in 1982.
William (Bill) Savuto is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, serving at Maua Methodist Hospital in Maua, Kenya.
Mr. Savuto served at Maua Methodist Hospital, Maua, Kenya from 1998-2003 where his responsibilities included maintenance and installation of computer hardward and software as well as training of students and staff in computer use. Bill was also responsible for work teams, hospital construction, a Street Boy's Ministry, and worked closely with the AIDS Orphan Program of Maua Methodist Hospital.
In May 2003, Bill, along with wife Jerri, returned to the US to serve as the Interim Regional Executives for Sub-Sahara Africa for the General Board of Global Ministries in New York City. February 1, 2004, they moved to the Dallas, TX area to begin their new jobs as Missionary Interpreters in Residence for the South Central Jurisdiction. After serving in the US and overseas and with GBGM in New York, they know how important it is for the United Methodist congregations to support missionaries and Advance Projects, the two areas they will be working with in annual conferences, districts, and local churches. Bill shares, "To fulfill God's call for us as a Christian Church, we must be in Mission. Jesus said the the two Great Commandments are: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your strength; and love your neighbor as you love yourself. We must ground our faith in worhsip, prayer, Bible study, and reveal and practice our faith in mission throughout the world by giving the Good News of God's love to our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Faith and works go together in God's plan for our lives here on earth - we must do both."
From 1982-89, Bill was a GBGM missionary in Belize City, Belize, Central America, where he taught math at Wesley College, and then in Jos, Nigeria where he served as field treasurer for the Nigerian United Methodist Church. In addition, Bill taught high school math from 1973-74 at the Navajo Methodist Mission School in Farmington, NM. He was commissioned as a GBGM missionary in 1982.
Born in Edmonton, Canada, Bill earned a BS degree in photographic science from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY in 1968. He earned a Master's degree in education from the University of San Diego (CA) in 1978 and a BS degree in computer science from Eastern New Mexico University in 1992.
Jerri and Bill are the parents of one adult daughter, Corrie Lyn, and the grandparents of Lily and Ethan. The Savutos are members of Plymouth Park UMC in Irving, Texas.
Bill & Jerri are available for Covenant Relationship support in Central Texas Annual Conference, New Mexico Annual Conference, North Texas Annual Conference, Northwest Texas Annual Conference, Texas Annual Conference.
