International Justice Mission (IJM) is a Christian-based, international organization that protects people in poverty from violence. Stratton is the point-of contact for 530 of the organization’s donors. She acts as a “face to the organization” by inviting donors to events, thanking them for recent donations, and informing them on recent updates. To keep track of donors and contacts, Stratton maintains an organized list of monthly tasks and reminders that help her effectively contact donors.
After working for a semester at IJM through the American Studies Program, Stratton was offered a remote position at the organization. While working remotely, she traveled to all 50 states as COVID-19 restrictions began to lift. Stratton said that she has loved watching her team at IJM grow from just two people in 2020 to over 20 members today. She has enjoyed getting to know each of them and creating connections during their 30-minutes of team prayer each day. This unique time of prayer is a result of the founder of IJM, who strives to implement the motto “God’s weight, our work, Jesus’ way” throughout the organization. Stratton explained that they take this daily time of stillness on zoom to pray over one another’s lives and work. She shared that it has been a blessing to see prayers being answered over time and grow closer to everyone on the team as a result.
Stratton said that one of her biggest challenges after graduating from Messiah was the uncertainty of what was to come. As she spent time in prayer and looked to God for answers, she explained “a large part of that was giving over my self control and letting God move in that space.” Once she did that, she watched as the Lord continuously opened doors for her to step through.
One of Stratton’s biggest recommendations for current Messiah students is to get involved. She explained that getting real-world experience played an important part in where she has landed today, so she cannot stress how important it is. She also mentioned that it is important to be comfortable with asking questions since that shows that you are interested and willing to learn. Finally, Stratton suggests that students should focus on listening to others. Making connections and listening to people’s stories is a key part of her job. By simply listening to someone like a professor, colleague, or friend, you can create lasting connections with mentors and peers that you can learn from.
-Chloe Howell Dec. ‘23