Missionary Scott Nicholson, a friend to many at Casas Adobes Congregational UCC, passed away recently. He led many tours for their members across the border and inspired their ministry, Needlework for Nogales Children (N4NC).
Rev. Angel Rivera Ogosta, Executive of Global Ministries for Latin America, wrote the following tribute:
It was with deep sadness that we received the news of the passing of our colleague and dear brother in Christ, Scott Nicholson. Scott was a member of the University Congregational, United Church of Christ, Missoula, Montana. He was assigned to be a Global Ministries’ Long Term Volunteer to serve at the Community Center sponsored by Home of Hope and Peace (HEPAC), Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. His service consisted in providing food and primary education to the children of uprooted people that arrive in Nogales on their quest to cross the border. Also, he collaborated on the efforts to interpret the reality of migration to US and international visitors to the Center. Previously, he had served as a Short Term Volunteer working with Social Organizations of Arauca, Colombia, as a consultant in the administration of productive projects in rural communities. His commitment with Latin America and the Caribbean goes back to other experiences, aiding in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras, adding up to 25 years of solidarity and presence throughout the continent.
A friend recently shared that, “there have always been people like Scott on the planet, and they have always been rare. He walked the talk in a way that inspired those who knew him. We could not match Scott, but he helped make us better people… Scott was brave. Not only was he brave in how he [was present in the life of] other people out in the desert crossing the US-Mexican Borderlands. But, before that, he accompanied communities in Colombia, and before that in El Salvador. It is really extraordinary, what he did consistently since the 1980s. Scott was brave also in how he was willing to share his feelings. I saw him angry in the face of injustice, I saw him cry when he felt sad, I saw him smile when he was happy.” Certainly, that was Scott: sincere and honest about his feelings and thoughts.
We thank God for his life and vocation, for his passion, tireless dedication, and love that he always put into his ministry of accompaniment and solidarity among the “poorest of the poor” through his short but fruitful life. Global Ministries and its two co-executives – the Rev. Julia Brown Karimu and the Rev. Dr. James Moos, ask for your prayers at this time of sorrow, particularly for Debbie, his beloved sister, Robert, his father as well as friends and loved ones.
update: To send messages of condolence to Scott’s sister, mail them to: Debbie Nicholson, c/o Friends of HEPAC, P.O. Box 1334, Nogales, AZ 85628.
Rev. Julia Brown Karimu, President
Division of Overseas Ministries
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada
Co-Executive, Global Ministries
Rev. Dr. James Moos, Executive Minister
Wider Church Ministries
United Church of Christ
Co-Executive, Global Ministries
Rev. Angel L. Rivera-Agosto
Area Executive, Latin America and the Caribbean
Global Ministries
Many of us were compatriots in the struggle with Scott. We each have incredible memories, stories. He was a teacher, mentor and learned we always learned so much together in our work. For those who did not get to work with Scott here is a brief bio of some of his work. Not at all complete but