Two Bluffton University students are serving this summer in churches in Pennsylvania and Kansas as part of Mennonite Church USA's Ministry Inquiry Program (MIP).
Participating in the program are Rachel Harris from Carey, at Neffsville Mennonite Church in Lancaster, Pa., and Shawn Yoder from Plain City, at South Hutchinson (Kan.) Mennonite Church. At the same time, both students-seniors and youth ministry minors at Bluffton-are also completing required internships, earning academic credit for meeting requirements for ministry contact hours, reading and journal writing.
The MIP enables students from Mennonite institutions to test their calling and gifts for ministry. Supervised by host pastors, they take on various worship, pastoral care and administrative roles during the summer term, including preaching, leading worship, youth ministry and hospital and home visits.
Each student receives a $2,000 scholarship to be applied toward college tuition, along with a $500 stipend. In addition to the Mennonite institutions and Mennonite Church USA Denominational Ministry, funding sources include host churches and the students' area Mennonite conferences and home churches.
Harris' home church is Memorial United Methodist Church in Carey, while Yoder is from Shiloh Mennonite Church in London, Ohio.
