Madison Routledge Pettus: SHOWING CHRIST TO THE WORLD
COURAGE Esther 4:14b
The willingness to act in faith despite fear, danger, or uncertainty. Courageous women in the Bible such as Esther, Deborah, and Abigail took bold steps, often at great personal risk, to defend righteousness, protect others, or follow God’s call.
As a state-side missionary kid, Madison Routledge Pettus appreciated IWU’s strong community of international students and its global focus. Majoring in intercultural studies at IWU, she was regularly reminded of the Great Commission and its importance. At the time, the university was helping launch a center for victims of human trafficking, and it was through her work with that program that Pettus first met Jo Anne Lyon. Though the center existed only briefly, Lyon’s investment in Pettus continued.
During the summer between her sophomore and junior years, Pettus was invited to intern with World Hope International in Sierra Leone. That experience led to additional trips with Lyon on behalf of World Hope. Through those opportunities, Pettus’s passion for serving people in need around the world deepened — as did her commitment to creating positive change.
After graduating from IWU in 2018, Pettus worked on a farm while searching for a more permanent job. Although the position was seasonal, her time there sparked a deeper interest in farming and the idea of faithfully stewarding creation. She later transitioned into a role with Samaritas, a nonprofit dedicated to caring for vulnerable individuals, where she worked as a case manager in transitional foster care for unaccompanied immigrant children and helped coordinate family reunification.
“I loved my time working with immigrants,” Pettus said. “Regardless of your position on immigration policy, I would encourage everyone to see how you can partner with this population. I grew in my empathy, love, and understanding of the issues facing immigrants globally.”
She also continued to work with immigrants volunteering for Immigrant Connection, which provides low-cost immigration legal services through a distinctly Christian worldview. After several years at Samaritas, Pettus realized she needed to grow in her skills to work more effectively in the spaces and topics she was passionate about. This led her to pursue a law degree, eventually focusing on international environmental law — an area that blended her legal training with the passion she developed while farming.
“I love environmental law, especially in the international arena, because it forces you to acknowledge that this is our Father’s world,” Pettus said. “It provides such a humbling opportunity to love my neighbor across national borders. Especially when it comes to issues like climate change, pollution, or even how we farm, environmental law is a way that I get to participate in stewarding creation, loving my neighbor, and loving God.”
“ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IS A WAY THAT I GET TO PARTICIPATE IN STEWARDING CREATION, LOVING MY NEIGHBOR, AND LOVING GOD.”
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MADISON ROUTLEDGE PETTUS ’18
JD Candidate at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
Pettus has combined her love of international issues and legal expertise through her internship with the International Council for Environmental Law (ICEL), which holds consultancy status with a sub-body at the United Nations. In this role, she worked with countries on submissions to the International Court of Justice regarding environmental issues.
That experience led to a further opportunity at the United Nations, where she served as a speechwriter and legal advisor to Ambassador Maritza Chan at the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica.
“I’m a huge international relations nerd. I’d dreamed about working at the United Nations since I was a small child but never imagined it would be a reality,” Pettus said. “Sitting in the General Assembly and watching an ambassador of a country read your words about nuclear disarmament in front of the iconic, green-marbled wall is overwhelming.”
Pettus described her time at the UN as deeply meaningful, citing the level of expertise she encountered as humbling. Ambassador Chan was a gracious mentor and boss who was intentional about teaching, challenging, and exposing her to new forums and ideas.
For Pettus, one of the greatest challenges she has faced in these global spaces is grief.
“Man is capable of such great evil, and there is so much suffering. Dealing with such heavy topics every day can certainly cause burnout. Meaningful and effective advocacy requires high emotional engagement. I am thankful for the Psalms and the gift of lament. We serve a God who knows our sorrows,” Pettus said. “Not many people get to see the Lord hold the world in His hands, and I praise God for the opportunity to see His sovereignty in such a profound way. The Lord has been unbelievably good and gracious to me.”