Ten Goshen College students participate in Ministry Inquiry Program;

Summer program allows Goshen College students to test call to ministry

 

GOSHEN, Ind. – As the Mennonite Church continues to call young people to ministry, 10 Goshen College students are examining God’s call in their own lives by participating in the Ministry Inquiry Program (MIP) over the summer.

The summer 2007 Goshen College MIP participants include:

Sara Becker-Hoover, a sophomore social work major from Goshen, is spending the summer at College Mennonite Church in Goshen. Becker-Hoover, the daughter of Merlin and Eileen Becker-Hoover, is a 2005 graduate of Bethany Christian High School and attends College Mennonite Church.

 

Jess Buller, a junior Bible and religion and sociology/anthropology double major from Goshen, is spending her summer at Iglesia Menonita del Cordero in Brownsville, Texas. Buller, the daughter of Jim and Jane Buller, graduated from Bethany Christian High School in 2004 and attends Walnut Hill Mennonite church.

 

Nathan Grieser, a sophomore music major from Goshen, is spending his summer at East Goshen Mennonite Church in Goshen. Grieser, the son of Michael and Beth Grieser, graduated from Bethany Christian High School in 2005 and attends East Goshen Mennonite Church.

 

Caitlin Helmuth, a sophomore social work major from Harrisonburg, Va., is serving at Harrisonburg (Va.) Mennonite Church. Helmuth, the daughter of Les and Sylvia Helmuth, graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School in 2005 and attends Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.

 

Peter Koontz, a junior history major from Goshen, is spending the summer at Oxford Circle Mennonite Church in Philadelphia, Pa. Koontz, the son of Ted and Gayle Koontz, attends Assembly Mennonite Church and is a 2004 graduate of Bethany Christian High School.

 

Morgan Kraybill, a sophomore social work and peace, justice and conflict studies double major from Harrisonburg, Va., is serving at Manhattan (N.Y.) Mennonite Fellowship. Kraybill, daughter of Ron and Meribeth Kraybill, graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School in 2005 and attends Community Mennonite Church.

 

Laura Leischner, a junior interdisciplinary major from Harrisonburg, Va., is spending her summer at First Mennonite Church of Denver (Colo.). Leischner, the daughter of Mark and Lynn Leischner, graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School in 2004 and attends Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.

 

Nathan Ramer, a junior communication major from Harper, Kan., is serving at Shore Mennonite Church in Shipshewana, Ind. Ramer, the son of Heber and Cheryl Ramer, graduated from Chaparral High School in 2003 and attends Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church.

 

Amy Showalter, a junior Bible and religion major from Harrisonburg, Va., is spending her summer at Raleigh (N.C.) Mennonite Church. Showalter, the daughter of Harry and Nancy Showalter, graduated from Turner Ashby High School in 2004 and attends Community Mennonite Church.

 

Hillary Watson, a sophomore Bible and religion major from Seattle, Wash., is spending her summer at Salem (Ore.) Mennonite Church. Watson, the daughter of Jill Watson, graduated from Roosevelt High School in 2005 and attends Seattle Mennonite Church.

 

The Ministry Inquiry Program is a joint effort of Mennonite Church USA and the five Mennonite colleges in the United States. The 20-year-old program enables students from Mennonite colleges to test their calling and gifts for ministry by serving as pastoral interns. Under close supervision from host pastors, students take on various worship, pastoral care and administrative roles during their 11-week terms, including preaching, leading worship, youth ministry and hospital and home visits.

“We see it as a wonderful way for young adults to explore their vocational interests and inquiries, but also a great way for development of their leadership skills,” said Bob Yoder, campus minister, and director of the inquiry programs. Goshen College has had a total of 149 students take part in MIP.

 

For the first time this year, participation in the inquiry programs included the opportunity to take a one credit-hour May term course that explored vocation, goals for the summer, prayer methods and a blessing ceremony with President James Brenneman.

 

Participants continue to find the program essential to vocational exploration. “There is no more important factor in my decision to answer the call to ministry than the Ministry Inquiry Program,” said one past participant. “Being placed in a caring, understanding and healthy congregation, with an equally competent, caring and wise pastor, enabled me to test my gifts for ministry.”

 

The Samuel Project, which examined the denominational leadership gap, reports that the number of seminary students has decreased by half since a 1983 peak and about a third of credentialed pastors are age 55 or older. By encouraging young people to scrutinize whether God is leading them to ministry, the college hopes to help increase the number of called, trained leaders for the future church.

 

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

 

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.