Alumni
Did you know that over 600 pastors in Mennonite Mission Network-connected churches are alumni of our service programs? It’s true!
Those numbers are no accident.
As an alum of our service programs, you already know the impact that a service experience can have on the life of a participant. Putting your faith into action, experiencing life from a different perspective and forming community with others are not easy things to do. They are, however, experiences that help us grow. They allow us to experience God in formative ways. They strengthen our bonds to our communities of faith.
Alumni newsletter
In Alumni Connections, you’ll find uplifting stories from Mission Network’s service programs. As you read, think about how your service experience has affected your connection to your faith community.
- What was changed?
- What was strengthened?
If your service experience was formational for you, consider sharing your story with your congregation. Going by the numbers, your pastor may be able to relate!
Alumni Stories
Alumni Perspectives
Serving as an environmental advocate for the greater Madison community was more than just a year-long commitment. It was an experience that helped shape my vocation.
- Mikhail Fernandes
- Mikhail served with Mennonite Voluntary Service at the Audubon Society in Madison, Wisconsin.
What I would say to somebody on the fence about MVS is you get to live in a cool place. You get to live in community with other people — built-in friends, in a way. And, it’s a way to explore who you are. And, have a break before you go into your major career or whatever else you want to do in your life.
- Schyler Entz
- Schyler served with Mennonite Voluntary Service in Tucson, Arizona
The leaders in South Africa were awesome, as well as our leaders from Mission Network, the U.S. leaders. And our group has been wonderful! I’m just really thankful that I’ve had this chance to be a part of this pilgrimage.
- Betty Hollsinger Shenk
- Betty participated in the racial justice Just Peace Pilgrimage in South Africa
My year of serving with RAICES through the MVS program strengthened the idea of the importance of helping populations that need assistance as well as my desire to go into law. I became more aware of both the rewarding aspects of the work and the arduous, difficult parts in a legal position.
- Neal Brubaker
- Neal served with Mennonite Voluntary Service at RAICES in San Antonio, Texas.
For all the other things we learned and unlearned and remembered and re-membered, reading the Bible in another context just, had the biggest impact on our [Just Peace Pilgrimage] group.
- Arloa Bontrager
- Arloa is the Regional Director for North America (Short-term service) at Mennonite Mission Network
I applied to colleges and was accepted into several great opportunities that I don’t think I would have if it wasn’t for Service Adventure. I was able to get scholarships because it’s about offering something different. How do you make your college application stand out? You do a year of voluntary service!
- Austin Troyer
- Austin served with Service Adventure in Albuquerque, New Mexico
We came face to face with some harsh realities in South Texas. Every day, we met people who are working hard to quench thirst, clothe, and provide shelter and dignity to people who desperately need it.
- Kris Shenk
- Belmont Mennonite Church, Christ at the Borders Just Peace Pilgrimage
I remember hearing about Service Adventure all throughout high school and at my church. I thought it was a cool idea, but for the longest time, I thought I had to go straight to college after high school or I would be considered a failure. I am so glad that God called me to change my plans and that I decided to follow through with Service Adventure
- Mindy Marinko
- Mindy served with Service Adventure in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Service Adventure is a good way to explore your own faith apart from your parents, and kind of like, what they’ve built for you. It’s really good to explore that and make your faith your own instead of just being you living your parent’s faith.
- Anna Millsap
- Anna served with Service Adventure in Jackson, Mississippi
Tucson, is an intergenerational community. The Shalom Fellowship, especially, is intergenerational. It’s something that I want to continue being a part of. I think it’s important to have community with people who are the same age as me and doing similar things, but also to be in community with people who are younger than me and people who are older than me. Both sides have a lot of wisdom to share and I have things to share with everyone else as well.
- Cade Fisher
- Cade served with Mennonite Voluntary Service in Tucson, Arizona
