The Team

Mission Team Leader & Events Coordinator

Vicky Bunting
I am from Spain and I have been a member of Sion Community with my husband Andy for the past 16 years. I have worked in every aspect of Sion’s mission work but my real passion is helping young people to meet Jesus and to grow to their full capacity. I love nature, the beach and having fun with my friends. My favourite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

Mission Team

Isabela Galbiatti
Oi! Hola! My name is Isabela, I am from Brazil and also from Spain. I love music, spending time with my friends, traveling and sleeping. We have the call to be missionary disciples, and I am here in Sion because I want to respond to that call, I want to live the Kingdom of God on earth and share it with others. One of my favorite verses from the Bible is Isaiah 43:

But now, this is what the Lord says--
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;

Jakov Žitković
Hvaljen Isus i Marija! My name is Jakov and I come from Croatia. I visited my friend Toni in SION Community in February of 2019 for 2 weeks, during my university break, and ever since I got back home I felt like something was missing. I couldn't believe I would ever miss that place after all the vacuuming, cleaning and scrubbing toilets I did there. On the last day of my visit I was passing through the house and just looked at the place and the people I was leaving there. It truly broke my heart. So by the end of university, and after a couple of months of prayer and thinking, I realised God wanted me here to do the work He had prepared for me, to worship and glorify His name through songs and evangelisation. I know this year is going to be a year of sacrifice and difficulties, but ever since I got here I have felt more and more blessed every day, filled with God's love, which pushes me forward. God has a plan for everyone and wants to be present in our lives at every second, no matter how small or silly the thing we are doing might be.

And even when we might seem weak we are strong, because at those times God can truly show His strength and the love He has for each of us.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Henar Valentín
Hola! My name is Henar and I’m from the beautiful Spain. I’ve been part of the Sion Community for the last three years and my life has been full of excitement and blessings since I arrived. I like drawing and crafting, reading and foreign languages. I’ve studied four languages so far, and my favourite is Japanese! I also enjoy spending time with my friends.
One of my favourite bible verses is Js 2:14-17 (“How does it help, my brothers, when omeone who has never done a single good act claims to have faith? Will that faith bring salvation? If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, 'I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty', without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that? In the same way faith, if good deeds do not go with it, is quite dead.”) I believe this is a challenge for all Christians to really be salt and light to the world and bring salvation to the ends of the earth.

Monika Trubačová
Hi! My name is Monika and I come from Slovakia. I studied interpreting and translation in Bratislava. I love nature, spending time with my friends, reading the Bible and listening to podcasts. My passions are painting and reading, and though I find it difficult to start, once I've started I find it difficult to stop. I think the main reason why I chose to join Sion Community is that I wanted to hear God's voice more and I cannot live without the support of other people. I know that the Formation year is what God wanted me to do this year and I can't wait for all the things that God has prepared for us. An interesting fact about me is that I love saints and one of my favourite saints is St Francis of Assisi. I have many favourite Bible verses but John 17, 20-23 always cheers me up: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [...]”

Zuzana Komendová
My name is Zuzana and I am from Slovakia. I spent my childhood living in a block of flats, sending private mail messages to my friend through the balconies, playing puppet theater on the staircase, writing my own magazine called Yeti and playing hide and seek. In my secondary school I was learning how to saw, drill and solder as I was training to become a goldsmith. I studied at two different universities at the same time - Applied Art and Mission and Charity Work. I love reading books, going for long walks in the middle of nowhere and spending time with God.
My favourite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11-14:"I know what plans I have in mind for you, Lord declares, plans for peace, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. When you call to me and come and pray to me, I shall listen to you. When you search for me, you will find me; when you search wholeheartedly for me, I shall let you find me..."

Toni Čop
Ćaoo! My name is Toni and I come from the capital of Croatia. After finishing my high school studies for fixing domestic machines (like washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, boilers...), my Croatian community (Nanovo Rođeni) asked me what I would think about the idea of going to England for a year. I was amazed with this and I stayed one year in the hospitality team of Sion and that was the best year of my life so far, because of the great people I was with and the great opportunities to grow spiritually but also to grow in many different ways... During this year I discovered my vocation to be a full-time missionary, so one day when I was helping with a youth mission I knew that I was where God wanted me to be, so I made the decision that I was going to come to Sion to be on the Youth Mission Team. I am a very open person and enjoy spending time with other people, sharing faith, joy and fun... Also one of my favourite things to do is worship, especially through music and together with other people. One of my of my favourite Bible verses is:

"and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. 31.The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12: 30-31

Luke Theobald
‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’ My name is Luke and this promise made by Jesus to all who follow him is the anchor for my faith. Previously I worked as an investment banker for several year, but in response to God’s invitation I am now discerning the priesthood. Outside of mission you’ll likely find me early morning going for a long run or cycle!

Associate Members

Morgan Mitchell
Hiya! I'm Morgan, 22 years old and I am originally from East London but am living in Nottingham as a student. I met the community first of all during a mission week at my school in 2013, I went on to attend Summer Camp and then the Ascent in the years following. I then joined as an associate member of the Sion Community 2 years ago, after having done a year of full time ministry with the Youth Team 2015-16. I have a passion for football (and most sports!), good food (namely hummus) and of course, Jesus! Not necessarily in that order.
I live out my commitment to the evangelise through my role on my university's Catholic Society as secretary where I help to create social spaces for students to discover and develop their faith - and continuing to be involved in the children's and youth ministry of the community.

Oscar Talavera
Hello! My name is Oscar, I’m from Spain and I’ve recently finished my studies in economics in the University. God has done so many things in my life that I felt it was the moment to take an additional step in order to make every person know that Jesus loves them, and that’s why this year I’ve decided to come to England to join the Mission Team in Sion Community. Here He continues to show me how great He is through his enormous family, and I’m finding a place where I can develop and discover the talents that God has given me. I like reading, running in the park and I’ve recently developed a passion for cycling. My favourite verse in the Bible is Romans 8, 28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Amanda Silva
Hello! My name is Amanda Silva and I am originally from Brazil, I graduated in Criminology at the University of Southampton and I decided to take a chance on God and allow Him to show me His plan of happiness for me through a mission year here in Sion. I like football a lot and I love playing the guitar. I also love spending time with God, my friends and family, for me these are the most important things in life. I like many words of scripture but my favourite scripture verse from the bible is (Is 43, 2) "Should you pass through the waters, I shall be with you; or through rivers, and they will not swallow you up. Should you walk through fire, you will not suffer, and the flame will not burn you". In my life I know that with God on my side I can do anything.