Navigating spiritual and personal growth, pastoral roles, early mornings, late nights, and much more, four 91短视频 (91短视频) students are spending 11 weeks this summer exploring the ministry profession through the (MIP).
Of the four churches where Perry Blosser, Caleb Schrock-Hurst, Hannah Shultz, and Elizabeth Witmer are serving, one congregation is Spanish speaking and another is bilingual, two are located in urban areas, and one is a more traditional heartland congregation, said , MIP director and instructor of at 91短视频.
This summer, MIP participants have stretched their talents and learned new skills in a diverse range of experiences. Students 鈥渉ave preached in English and Spanish, led worship, helped design a Taize-inspired prayer service, led music for a peace camp, choreographed worship dance with church youth, worked in church gardens, visited patients in their last days of life, led a joint congregational choir, killed a chicken, visited senators on Capitol Hill, attended a protest around the Philando Castille verdict, led workshops on immigration and incarceration issues, and gotten up at 4 a.m. for prayer meetings with congregational leaders,鈥� according to Schrock-Hurst.
More than 300 91短视频 students have participated in MIP, a partnership that includes the student鈥檚 respective Mennonite college, local congregations and conferences, and .
At the end of the program, each student receives a scholarship of up to $2,000 toward tuition costs at a Mennonite college or seminary for the next academic year, along with a $500 stipend for living expenses from the host congregation.
A student鈥檚 placement depends on 鈥渉is or her own interests in size and type of congregation, the availability of a congregation and pastoral mentor, and a fit between the intern and the host congregation,鈥� said Schrock-Hurst.
Perry Blosser: Salford Mennonite Church
Senior Perry Blosser, from Blooming Glen, Pennsylvania, and Harrisonburg, is at Salford Mennonite Church in Harleysville, Pennsylvania. A and major, he has been preaching, leading music and working with other projects such as a summer choir, getting to know members and families over dinners in their homes, and balancing the responsibilities of a full schedule.
鈥淚 have been learning that there is no definitive pastoral style,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s exciting to encounter the living spirit within the story of scripture, and to guide people to insight through creative worship and meditation.鈥�
Caleb Schrock-Hurst: New Hope Fellowship/Nueva Esperanza
Caleb Schrock-Hurst, a senior major from Harrisonburg, is at New Hope Fellowship/Nueva Esperanza of Alexandria (Virginia). In addition to making pastoral visits, playing guitar in the church鈥檚 worship band, preaching, attending a young adult Bible study, 鈥渞eading a lot more scripture and theology than I do on a regular basis,鈥� and working on a variety of projects, Schrock-Hurst has traveled with pastor and supervisor Kirk Hanger to visit member congregations from Mexico to Philadelphia.
鈥淪eeing the faith communities of small rural villages puts my traditional worship experiences into much-needed global context,鈥� Schrock-Hurst said. 鈥淭rying to speak and write in Spanish in the context of ministry is much harder than simply getting by conversationally. Still, I’m overall pretty happy with how I’ve done with it so far and am happy to be learning new vocabulary on a regular basis.”
Hannah Shultz: Manatial de Vida
At Harrisonburg鈥檚 Manantial de Vida, Hannah Shultz, a senior major from Harrisonburg, said she is learning 鈥渟o much鈥� this summer, including 鈥渄aring鈥� to 鈥渟tep out in faith.鈥�
鈥淟istening to God is similar to a muscle in that it has to be exercised,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is fun to witness God using me to further His purposes.鈥�
Shultz鈥檚 responsibilities include sharing her testimony, praying, helping children learn about gardening and Earth care, leading children鈥檚 worship, translating documents from Spanish to English, choreographing worship songs for a dance ministry and preparing Sunday school activities for three classes.
She said she is also learning about fasting, deliverance, spiritual warfare, speaking in tongues and prophecy.
Elizabeth Witmer: Faith Mennonite Church
And at Faith Mennonite Church in Minneapolis, junior major Elizabeth Witmer, from Newville, Pennsylvania, who said she is 鈥渧ery much an introvert,鈥� is building her comfort level with being around lots of people.
鈥淚鈥檓 learning how to be myself in a place with no one I know,鈥� she said.
In addition to leading worship, visiting a terminally ill church member, preaching, planning and attending actions and workshops with a local immigrant-led organization, attending protests, and various other activities, Witmer said that she is enjoying being within walking distance of 鈥渁nything I want do鈥� and being 鈥渨ell connected to causes and actions I鈥檓 passionate about.鈥�
Maddie List: summer service with Coalition for Christian Outreach
Also gaining experience in ministry this summer is senior Maddie List, a Bible and religion major from Arlington, Virginia, who plans to become a campus minister. She is in a summer service program called in Ocean City, New Jersey.
As part of the program, run by the for students who want to develop further as campus leaders, List and 30 other participants live in a two-bedroom house (the bedrooms are 鈥済iant,鈥� she said) and attend classes, participate in Bible studies, lead worship, and engage in faith-based discussions in small groups. They each also have jobs in Ocean City, where they practice discussing faith with coworkers.
List is serving as co-director of the program鈥檚 Bible study program and in that capacity guides small-group leaders in creating and leading their studies. 鈥淚t has been fun to learn about my own gifts in this area,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd I have enjoyed helping others to grow in their leadership abilities, as well.鈥�