Disabilities Associate Studying at EMS

Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADNet) announces the appointment of Devon Lengacher as a student associate with ADNet for the 2008-2009 academic year.

Lengacher, originally from Shipshewana, Ind., is continuing his studies this fall at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) in Harrisonburg, Va., as a master of divinity student with a concentration in pastoral counseling. During the coming year, his second at EMS, he will serve as pastoral intern at The Table, an informal Mennonite congregation that meets on the Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) campus.

ADNet created the associate program in 2008 to encourage college and seminary students across the country to pursue one-year projects that would benefit both the student's career path as well as ADNet.

Lengacher believes that his presence in the congregation as a quadriplegic who uses a wheelchair will provide a natural way to raise awareness of the needs of people with disabilities. During his year of service, ADNet will provide avenues for him to share more widely in the church what he learns through his ministry in Harrisonburg.

Recognizing that someone with his particular disabilities ministering within the Mennonite Church is something of a pioneer, Lengacher is "grateful to have the support of good mentors." He has a professional interest in chaplaincy work and anticipates graduation from EMS in 2010.

Lengacher sees the obstacles he has overcome as something God allows him to use in his ministry.

"If I can help my fellow believers because of my experiences, then I believe that is what God wants me to do," he stated. "Quite a few seminary students attend The Table. Bringing conversation about disability into this community will help future leaders be able to reach out to people with disabilities at all levels," he added.

Raising disability awareness and building support networks seem to come naturally to Lengacher. EMU's Virginia campus has presented its challenges.

"The campus is not as wheelchair-friendly as it might be because of the terrain. It has a lot of hills," he observed. "I get by very carefully," he grinned. He has found that entering a building at one level and exiting at ground level from a higher floor is one way to tackle the hills, but an older building that had only one automatic door presented another obstacle. Enlisting others to open non-automatic doors for him spread an awareness of the challenges facing students with disabilities.

In the process of advocating for an additional automatic door, he enlisted the seminary community to help him discern how to move forward while balancing the concerns of students with disabilities with the budget limitations of the university.

Lengacher is the first student appointed by ADNet in the newly-formed Student Associate Program. ADNet Student Associates develop an education or outreach project around a particular topic related to disabilities, through a period of study or outreach, integrating their studies with existing course work. Undergraduate or graduate students with an interest in disabilities may apply to ADNet for the program, which will award $500 scholarships to two participants annually. ADNet is accepting applications for the 2008-09 school year through Sept. 15. Apply online at www.adnetonline.org.

Organized in 2003, Anabaptist Disabilities Network is a national inter-Mennonite advocacy ministry dedicated to supporting families and equipping the church to include persons with all types of disabilities. Christine Guth and Rebecca Fast have previously served ADNet as Associates under an earlier configuration of its Associates program.

Posted 8/22/08

From release sent by Anabaptist Disabilities Network