Goshen College students explore ministry calling during summer

Maria Byler, a senior social work major from Goshen, is working for Franconia Mennonite Conference in Souderton, Pa. Byler, daughter of Mark and Anne Meyer Byler, is a 2006 graduate of Goshen High School and attends Assembly Mennonite Church.

Jordan Delp, a junior English major from East Greenville, Pa., is working at First Mennonite Church in Denver, Colo. Delp, son of Bob and Nancy Delp, is a 2006 graduate of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School and attends Swamp Mennonite Church.

Lauren Derstine, a sophomore American Sign Language major from Blooming Glen, Pa., is working at Walnut Hill Mennonite Church in Goshen. Derstine, daughter of John and Sheryl Derstine, is a 2007 graduate of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School and attends Blooming Glen Mennonite Church.

Arienne Johnson, a junior history and Bible and religion double major from Herndon, Va., is working at Washington Community Fellowship in Washington, D.C. Johnson, daughter of Mike and Barb Johnson, is a 2006 graduate of Archbold (Ohio) High School and attends Zion Mennonite Church.

Scott Kempf, a junior peace, justice and conflict studies major from Libertyville, Ill., is working at North Suburban Mennonite Church in Libertyville. Kempf, son of Dale and Kay Kempf, is a 2007 graduate of Vernon Hills High School and attends North Suburban Mennonite Church.

Hannah D. Miller, a senior peace, justice and conflict studies major from Scottdale, Pa., is working at The Early Church in Harrisonburg, Va. Miller, daughter of Merrill and Cindy Miller, is a 2006 graduate of Southmoreland Senior High School and attends Scottdale Mennonite Church.

Annali Smucker, a junior art major from Akron, Pa., is working at Oxford Circle Mennonite Church in Philadelphia, Pa. Smucker, daughter of David and Judith Smucker, is a 2006 graduate of Lancaster Mennonite School and attends East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church.

Jennifer Speight, a junior English major from Cleveland, Ohio, is working at Friendship Mennonite Church in Cleveland. Speight, daughter of William and Karen Speight, is a 2007 graduate of Jane Addams Business Careers and attends Friendship Mennonite Church.

Ana Yoder, a junior music and Spanish double major from Elkhart, is working at North Goshen Mennonite Church in Goshen. Yoder, daughter of Kevin and Sharon Yoder, is a 2007 graduate of Rosslyn Academy in Nairobi, Kenya, and attends Olive Mennonite Church.

Greg Yoder, a senior music major from Perkasie, Pa., is working at Zion Mennonite Church in Souderton, Pa. Yoder, son of Beth and Jerold Yoder, is a 2005 graduate of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School and attends Perkasie Mennonite Church.

Crystal Zook, a junior peace, justice and conflict studies and history double major from Willow Street, Pa., is working at Philadelphia Praise Center. Zook, daughter of Gordon and Carol Zook, is a 2006 graduate of Lancaster Mennonite School and attends James Street Mennonite Church.

The Ministry Inquiry Program is a joint effort of Mennonite Church USA and the five Mennonite colleges in the United States. The 22-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.

For the third 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.

At the end of the summer, each student will receive a scholarship of up to $2,000 toward tuition costs for the next academic year, along with a $500 stipend from the host congregation.

-By Tyler Falk

Editors: For more information about this release or to arrange an interview, 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.