Getting to Know Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer

If you don’t know Fabiola Grandon-Mayer, you are missing out! She is a proud Hispanic woman who was born and raised in Chile.  Her father was a Methodist pastor and bishop so, not surprisingly, she has always been immersed in Methodist Church activities and ministries. While in high school in Chile, she played soccer and basketball and was a fencing champion. She says that, ultimately, she had to choose between fencing and church because of the time commitments for each.  Fabiola chose church.

Fabiola first told her parents about God’s call on her life at age 17, when she graduated from high school. She wanted to immediately go to seminary, but her parents insisted that she first go to college, get a career and work in a professional career. They told her that, “if it is a true call, God’s call is forever.” 

So, she went to college. Becoming a Certified Public Accountant seemed like a natural path because of her love of numbers, office work, and her strong organizational and administrative skills. Five years later, at her college graduation, Fabiola’s parents again told her to keep working – “if God’s call was on her heart, it was forever”.

Fabiola did corporate work until she was elected as national president of youth and youth of the Methodist Church in Chile. Later, she worked as the “Youth in Mission” Coordinator  for the Council of Methodist Churches in Latin America (CIEMAL). She was then selected to be the Youth Coordinator for the World Methodist Council. She also served as the coordinator for Volunteers in Mission Teams in Chile, promoting and bringing teams from the United States to Chile to build temples and parsonages. Fabiola says that serving in all these roles affirmed her call to ministry.

Finally, when she was 30 years old, she received a scholarship to attend seminary at Asbury Theological Seminary and moved to the United States. Her plan was to go back to Chile, but she got married, started a family, and stayed. 

Her husband was pastor in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference and together they moved to the Northern Illinois Annual Conference where he was appointed to serve El Mesias United Methodist Church in Elgin. About the same time, Fabiola got to know better El Plan (then called the National Plan for Hispanic/Latine Ministries) and began the Lay Missioner program. After completing all the modules, she became a Lay Missioner and later served as a Lay Missioner facilitator.

Fabiola was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference in 2016.  She has been a dependable leader in the Conference – serving as a Hispanic/Latinx Ministry Committee Chair, District Superintendent and, currently, as the Director of Connectional Ministries.    

Fabiola says some of her most rewarding leadership in the church was serving in Latin America and the Caribbean. She is a proud Hispanic/Latina woman and, while serving there, had the opportunity to learn about different countries, cultures, and expressions of being church. 

Fabiola is a passionate and committed advocate for the Hispanic community. She leads a Cohort for Hispanic pastors in process of candidacy and supports the Spanish Lay Academy.  She feels strongly about giving back and wants others to have the opportunities she has had – a seminary education, training, mentoring, and leadership opportunities. She frequently works with others to mentor and help to ensure they achieve their goals. 

Fabiola looks forward to her role on the Steering Committee of El Plan as another opportunity to intentionally support Hispanic ministries across the Connection.