Ministry Work

Beaver Camp, Lowville, NY (Summer 2007) Co-led Wilderness Trips and Outpost camps with my wife Sarah
Weavers Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA, (2006-2007 school year) Ministry Intern- Preaching, teaching, youth work
Iowa Mennonite School, Kalona, IA (2000-2005) Teacher for Bible and Church History courses - Grades 9-12, Chapel Coordinator, Developed Bible Curriculum patterned after Hesston College's Biblical Literature Course, Sponsor of various student groups and classes, Organized and led backpacking trips to the Ozarks for Interterm experiences
Crooked Creek Christian Camp, Washington, IA (Summer 2004 and 2005) The "Do-whatever-needs-to-be-done guy," assisting my wife Sarah in program details, Maintenance responsibilities
Highland Retreat of the Mennonite Church, Bergton, VA Staff Chaplain and Maintenance work (Summer 2003) Co-Adventure Director, creating, planning and leading Adventure Trips and Wilderness Camps (Summer 2000) Counselor and Backpacking Trip leader (Summer 1999)

Interests

I find most life and energy in the outdoors - both working and in recreation. I particularly enjoy backpacking, canoeing, camping, caving and climbing. I also enjoy leading groups of people in outdoor experiences. Music as a great love of mine. I enjoy singing and leading worship and I like to play various instruments. Woodworking is a skill that I have not been able to use much recently though I would like to.

Honors

Ministry Leadership Award- EMS

Calling

Somehow, I've always known that God's call on my life was for ministry. I remember preaching in the kitchen as a kid. In high school numerous adults in my church encouraged me to consider ministry. At Hesston College I found a love for the Bible and friends and mentors encouraged and affirmed my ministry gifts. Experiences in Youth Evangelism Service (YES) and teaching at Iowa Mennonite School furthered and confirmed the call to ministry.

Ideal Ministry

I've realized that teaching will be an important part of whatever ministry role I have, even if it is not specifically named a teaching role. For example I have learned that my sermon style involves a considerable amount of teaching. An ideal ministry situation would include my love for the outdoors.

EMS Comments

My time at EMS has been stretching, challenging and a growing experience. As I look back over these past three years, I realize that I've learned a lot more than I thought I was learning in the moment.

Favorite Course

It is hard to say which course I enjoyed most because I enjoyed different parts of many courses. I enjoyed language courses because they gave my mind a different sort of challenge from the reading intensive courses. I enjoyed Gospel of John because of the in-depth study of a book I had not spent a lot of time in before. Though I often did not enjoy the amount of reading, theology courses have been very beneficial and rewarding, I'm glad I was challenged. Perhaps most enjoyable was Song of the Church, where we simply sat in a circle and sang all evening - what could be better?

Thoughts for Someone in My Position

Seminary is masters level work, expect to work hard. At times you will want to quit and at times you will wonder if it is really worth it - but I think it is. The professors, fellow students - the community as a whole is an important part of the experience.

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