By Jessica Griggs for Mennonite Church USA
Lea la versión en inglés aquí. ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Church USA) — The Mennonite Church USA Church Vitality office encourages college students and churches to participate in the Ministry Inquiry Program, which pairs students from Bethel College, Bluffton University, Eastern Mennonite University, Goshen College and Hesston College with MC USA host congregations across the country for ministry internship.
Each year, MC USA and its affiliated colleges are able to support 14 college-age students through the MIP. Students participating in the program set their own ministry goals, with the guidance of their supervising pastor and college administrator. Participants spend 11 weeks, usually during the summer, at a host congregation, where they put their gifts to the test and participate in hands-on ministry. The program culminates in a short final reflection paper and evaluation.
“MIP is one entry to ministry for pastors,” said Rachel Ringenberg Miller, MC USA’s denominational minster of ministerial leadership.
“It’s unique in that it is a collaboration among churches, Mennonite colleges/universities, area conferences and the denomination. And it’s a unique opportunity for students to earn money for school, while testing their call to ministry. For congregations, it is an opportunity to walk alongside someone considering ministry. For the college, it is an opportunity to support and encourage the leadership skills of their students. For MC USA, it’s an opportunity to promote the option of congregational ministry.”
The program is designed for students who have at least a 3.0 GPA and have completed two to three years of college or seniors who plan to attend a Mennonite seminary. Students who come from any faith tradition are welcome to apply, as long as they are attending a partner school.
A host family from the placement church provides lodging and food for the duration of the student’s ministry term. Students participating in the program also receive a $750 stipend for living expenses and a $3,000 scholarship to be applied to the student’s tuition expenses at an MC USA-affiliated college or seminary the academic year following the conclusion of their MIP term. The scholarship is funded by a combination of MC USA, the student’s home congregation, the college or seminary the student attends, and the home and receiving area conferences. Some schools also offer college credit for completing the program.
Cindy Voth, pastoral team leader at Waterford Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana, and former MIP participant, said, “I encourage anyone who is considering a congregational ministry role to consider doing the MIP. I believe it would be a valuable experience, whether you are anticipating exploring full time ministry, bi-vocational ministry or even if you just want to offer your gifts to the church in a lay leadership role. The MIP invites young adults to open themselves to new experiences, new ideas, new learnings and new ways of encountering God in themselves, in others and in the local church.”
Interested students should contact their college’s MIP administrator for an application and more information. The deadline for applications each year is Jan. 31, but students are encouraged to speak with their college administrator early, in order to find the best placements. The MIP administrators are:
- Bethel College: Michael Unruh, at munruh@bethelks.edu.
- Bluffton University: Chalsi Campbell, at campbellc@bluffton.edu.
- Eastern Mennonite University: Courtney Joyner, at joyner@emu.edu.
- Goshen College: Jen Shenk, at jshenk@goshen.edu.
- Hesston College: Michele Hershberger, at hershberger@hesston.edu, or Nick Ladd, at nick.ladd@hesston.edu.
“Now, as a pastor, I also see the great value of the MIP for our congregations,” said Voth. “Interns bring their gifts, their passions, their experiences and, together, we are enriched during the shared season of our lives. The MIP is just like that … offering gifts to both the congregation and the individual engaged in the MIP.”
Interested churches can begin the process of becoming an MIP placement congregation at any time by filling out this form and contacting a college administrator or conference leader directly.
Mennonite Church USA is an Anabaptist Christian denomination, founded in 2002 by the merger of the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church. Members of this historic peace church seek to follow Jesus by rejecting violence and resisting injustice. MC USA’s Renewed Commitments state the following shared commitments among its diverse body of believers: to follow Jesus, witness to God’s peace and experience the transformation of the Holy Spirit. Mennoniteusa.org