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.
I really valued living with people my own age when I was in college. Doing MVS and living with peers who are doing the same kind of thing as me has been a really good experience. I think that doing MVS is good for your personal growth. I would highly recommend it. Just do it!
- Hannah Lehman
- Hannah serves with Mennonite Voluntary Service in Tucson, Arizona
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
The First Mennonite Church community of San Francisco is so amazing. They are very supportive of the MVS program and put energy into building relationships with us. The church is a beautiful place to think in new ways about my Mennonite faith and build connections with people.
- Ana Esperanza Neufeld Weaver
- Ana serves with Mennonite Voluntary Service in San Francisco, California
I think MVS is a good transition place, if you’re not quite sure what you want to do. It’s a place where you can really reflect with a community who’s behind you and wants to support you. Just do it!
- Sav Roth Walter
- Sav served with Mennonite Voluntary Service in San Francisco, California
We learn from our partners. And they are equal partners with us.
- Donald Kempf
- Donald is a Mission Network board member
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
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
I came into MVS because I needed a break between college and the career I was trained to do, which is education. Through MVS, I’ve determined that education is definitely my next step. And I never would have got there so confidently, and probably so excitedly, as I am now.
- Anna Lubbers
- Anna served with Mennonite Voluntary Service in San Francisco, California
