Goshen College students awarded ministry undergraduate fellowships

GOSHEN, Ind. – This summer Goshen College student Krista Ehst is spending her time leading worship, preaching, attending meetings and visiting church members as a pastoral intern in the Ministry Inquiry Program at Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Gainesville, Fla. At the same time, student Timothy Showalter is riding across the country on his bicycle with other Mennonite young adults, stopping along the way at Mennonite churches to have conversations about the future of the church, in a journey they are calling Bikemovement.

Both of these Goshen College junior Bible and religion majors clearly have a passion for faith, the church and ministry, which is why they were among 70 undergraduate students awarded this year with a ministry fellowship from the Fund for Theological Excellence (FTE). The award included a $1,500 stipend for educational expenses, $500 in funds to obtain mentoring for their vocational discernment and support to attend the FTE Conference on Excellence in Ministry, which took place June 21-25 at the Austin (Texas) Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

The Fund for Theological Education is an ecumenical organization, working to boost the number of capable young candidates for ministry by offering fellowships and supporting exploration of ministry. The June conference offered participants the opportunity to discuss issues ranging from the decision to go to seminary to the role their Christian faith plays in making life choices.

“It was a very ecumenical setting, with a broad range of denominations represented,” said Ehst, who is from Bally, Pa. “It is designed to be a space where young people can meet with peers who are also sensing a call into the ministry and exploring what this call might mean or where it might take them.” Ehst is the daughter of Tim and Sheryl Ehst. She graduated from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School in 2004 and attends Perkasie Mennonite Church.

Showalter, from Harrisonburg, Va., is enjoying his summer of being part of a new model of ministry. He said on the Bikemovement Web site (www.bikemovement.org/), “There are very few things I get more excited about than the Mennonite Church and adventure cycling. When I heard young adults were considering bringing them together in the name of church maturation, renewal and growth, I set aside other plans to take part in the venture.” Showalter is the son of Harry and Nancy Showalter; he graduated from Turner Ashby High School and attends Community Mennonite Church.

FTE is a leading ecumenical advocate for excellence and diversity in Christian ministry and theological scholarship. It supports the next generation of leaders among pastors and scholars, providing more than $1.2 million annually in fellowships and a network of support to gifted young people from all denominations and racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Applicants for the FTE undergraduate fellows program must be juniors or seniors during the next academic year, possess a GPA of 3.0 or higher, be considering ministry as a career and possess exceptional gifts for ministry including love of God and church, imagination, creativity, compassion, a capacity for critical thinking, leadership skills, personal integrity, spiritual depth, dedication to a faith tradition and an ability to understand and to serve the needs of others.

“The church and the academy face a growing need for talented and diverse leaders,” said the Rev. Ann Svennungsen, president of FTE. “Too many students with gifts for ministry and teaching are choosing other vocational paths. FTE fellowships are designed to encourage those who want to explore these fields, but often do not find the social or financial support to do so.”

Since its 1954 founding by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Atlanta-based organization has awarded more than 5,700 fellowships in partnership with others committed to quality leadership for the church. For more information on The Fund for Theological Education, visit: www.thefund.org.

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 four-year 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.