These relationships are formalized in Worship Nights, a weekly event in each of the residence halls on campus. The four groups meet on different nights of the week, depending on the schedules of the student leaders. And activities vary: On Tuesday nights in Cedarwood, the gatherings alternate between a study of 1 Peter and a prayer time.

While Worship Nights have been a part of for several years, undergraduate campus pastor has made significant changes to the program’s focus and foundation. In previous years, residents in the halls alternated the planning of events for the others.

Worship Nights are now “focusing on creating and entering into relationship and intentional conversation,” according to Miller. The goal for student leaders is to respond to the group who comes.

Ministry assistants and pastoral assistants

Now within each residence hall, called Ministry Assistants (MAs), plan programs for and with their fellow residents, Miller says. They are also enrolled in a ministry exploration class led by Miller, which asks “how are you listening to God, to each other, and to yourself.”

This year’s MAs are

• Elmwood: Sarah Boshart, Sarah Jennings, Luis Longo;
• Maplewood: Heyrin (Lynn) Cha, Da’Jahnea Robinson;
• Cedarwood: Megan Bishop, Perry Blosser, Seungkyoo (Peter) Han, Jessica Longenecker, Taylor Mirarchi;
• Northlawn: Jasmine Miller, Alexa Weeks, Megan Weaver, Oksana Kittrell, Anel Molina.

These students are mentored in their responsibilities by Pastoral Assistants, who are paid for their time. PAs include:

• Elmwood: Courtney Unruh and Jonathan Augsberger;
• Maplewood: Nathanael Ressler and Amanda Helfrich;
• Cedarwood: Rebekah York and Wes Wilder;
• Northlawn: Jolee Paden.

Miller sees this new focus as forming leaders “who then help others.”  The team approach “strengthens the core so that leaders are well- equipped to reach out with genuine care rather than an agenda,” according to Miller.

It also keeps student leaders from becoming discouraged if an event isn’t well attended. In the past, student leaders sometimes became “defeated and depleted if they worked hard planning something and then few people came,” Miller said. The new emphasis on relational leadership and intentional conversation “takes off the pressure to perform.”

New approach brings students together

Pastoral assistant Rebekah York, a senior major, also sees the benefits of the new approach: York, who shares PA duties with Wes Wilder in Cedarwood residence hall, says she’s noticed many changes over the past two years, and is energized by the new structure. “My crazy ideas are supported and I have people behind me, encouraging me to keep going. That makes the world of difference.”

One of York’s “crazy” ideas was to have a Bible study studying the connection between the gospel and justice (the events are called Jesus + Justice = “Jestice”) with students and faculty. Though it’s not going “exactly as planned,” York is confident because of the encouragement she receives from Miller, and because she is “given a space and time to see if [her ideas] could work.”

York also appreciates the relationships she’s developed with first-year and sophomore students. “We are much more involved in the spiritual lives of the underclassmen and I’ve been able to connect with people I would not normally have had any contact with,” she said. I think it is really important for the upperclassmen to be involved with the underclassmen. I loved the upperclassmen who took an interest in me and my life, and were willing to let me ask difficult questions.”

Miller says this new approach is being evaluated, with the idea that changes can be made to respond to new creative possibilities in guiding student leaders in campus ministry.

Heishman, a junior majoring in at 91����Ƶ, was part of the of . She spent 11 weeks at in a stately old church shared by three congregations and numerous ministries. She got a taste of what it would be like to be a pastor by participating in the day-to-day activities of church ministry.

Was Heishman still intimidated by the end of the summer? “No,” she said, “I was pleasantly surprised by how well we all got along.”

“Hanna brought new energy to our church office,” said Pastor Lorie Hershey. “She values self-awareness, listening and learning, and brought that into her tasks and responsibilities, such as facilitating a weekly women’s group.” Hershey, who is a 2005 graduate of 91����Ƶ’s , said she enjoyed her many in-depth conversations with Heishman.

Three other 91����Ƶ students participated in the 2014 Ministry Inquiry Program:

Nathanael Ressler, a junior major from Mount Vernon, Illinois, was a pastoral intern at in Goshen, Indiana. “My father is a pastor, so I had some idea of what to expect,” he said. His duties included visitation, planning and leading worship, writing for the newsletter, attending meetings and even preaching. “But I found that the life of a pastor is filled with miscellaneous jobs as well,” said Ressler, a transfer student from two-year in Kansas.

Chris Parks, a senior major from Philadelphia, was a pastoral intern at in Maryland, just outside Washington D.C. He spent time with the youth in their various activities, led worship and singing, preached, worked at a soup kitchen and met individually with members. One day a week he volunteered at the . “I learned that in order to truly follow God, I need to serve on my knees, live in God’s abundant gifts and grace, and ‘waste’ my life for the Kingdom,” he said.

Evan Knappenberger, a senior major from Charlottesville, Virginia, had a different kind of experience. He interned with the peace education director of and the peace/justice coordinator of Mennonite Church USA. He helped build a “prayers for peace” resource, worked on a Sunday school curriculum, wrote web content, and interviewed military veterans who are members of Mennonite Church USA or involved in the .

“This summer project was interesting both from a veterans’ community point-of-view and from a Mennonite point-of-view,” said Knappenberger, an Iraq War veteran who is now a pacifist. “My long-term project is the founding of the field of veterans’ studies.”

The Ministry Inquiry Program is typically funded by Mennonite Church USA, the participating colleges, area conferences, the students’ home churches and the host congregations. Heishman, Ressler and Parks each received a $2,000 scholarship for application to their fall semester. Their host churches provided housing and a $500 allowance. Knappenberger’s internship was funded differently, through Mennonite Central Committee, the peace office of Mennonite Church USA, and 91����Ƶ.

“Through this program, students experience first hand what ministry is, and they test their gifts and sense of call,” said , the 91����Ƶ coordinator of the program and instructor in the .