The 2011 Jubilee Fellows
This past semester of my college career has been challenging and stretching and wonderful. I was selected as one of 12 juniors to participate in an excellent and exciting program at Calvin College called Jubilee Fellows. This program seeks students who are interested in church ministry or Christian leadership and through classroom learning and hands-on experience helps them to explore this call.
The twelve of us, working under the mentorship of three pastors and their wives, read about, discussed, and meditated on Christian leadership throughout the semester. The Lord was clearly working in and through each of us. The support and perspectives of leaders and peers as we all worked through this information was invaluable.
The Lord's hand was clear through this class. His perfect timing and constant guidance prepared my heart for the lessons I learned week after week. The times I was faced with an issue or a concept that was particularly hard for me to grab hold of, God provided the means for me to wrestle with it and the strength to continue pursuing this call. In January, my thinking about ministry was not very deliberate or significant, but because of the encouragement, lessons and conversations I had throughout the semester I am now seriously considering a commitment to ministry as a vocation.
Perhaps the most exciting part of the program is still to come, however. This summer, for 10 weeks, I will be working as an intern at Wellshire Presbyterian Church! I am very excited to learn even more about the role of church leaders in this setting. I will be working closely with children and youth, especially by leading a youth group mission trip to Texas, organizing youth group summer events, and planning VBS. My mentor has also arranged many learning opportunities in various areas of church ministry. I hope to gain experience in pastoral care, teaching and participating in worship services. The internship begins on June 7th and I will periodically post updates about what I have been doing.
I am so blessed to be a part of this program. The Lord is calling me to amazing, important, and challenging things. I would love if you would be in prayer for me over this summer! Please pray for boldness and perseverance for me to fulfill every task I am asked to do. Pray also for the ability to love the people of Wellshire with Christ's love and serve them the best I can. Pray for me to have an open heart and listening ears as I seek answers from the Lord about his plan for my future, and, for the times when His voice is not very clear, pray for me to have the ability to live joyfully in the process of an uncertain path.
