ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network)–Nearly 160 young adults are participating in a year or two of service through Mennonite Mission Network’s service programs— DOOR Dwell, Mennonite Voluntary Service, Radical Journey, and Service Adventure.
While the total number of young people serving through Mission Network service programs has held steady since last year, two programs—Service Adventure and DOOR Dwell—have seen increases. Service Adventure filled every open position.
DOOR offers a variety of urban service experiences for groups and individuals. Dwell is DOOR’s yearlong service program that invites young adults to explore urban ministry and witness God at work in the city.
In DOOR’s Miami location, Heidi Aspinwall, the Miami Dwell director, has been shuttling across Miami-Dade County to support the program’s four service houses—two more than last year.
This year, the 16 Dwell participants were placed in houses based on their ministry interests. One house is devoted to finding ways to be involved in campus ministry, another with young adults, a third one with children, and one working with the Haitian community.
Aspinwall is particularly excited about the house located in Little Haiti.
“We’ve always thought that when the program grows, we’ll want to be in the Little Haiti neighborhood,” Aspinwall said. “As our short-term program has established so many more relationships there, it was a natural place to put the next house. The community was ready to envelop these young adults.”
Doing a year of service will shape and influence young people for the rest of their lives, according to Del Hershberger, the director of Mission Network’s Christian Service programs.
“I always get excited to see how many young people choose to serve for a year or more, because I know how transforming a year can be in their lives and how much they can benefit various ministries in neighborhoods around the world,” Hershberger said.
He expects those whose lives have been transformed will tap some shoulders in the future.
“I hope that people who know how much that experience meant to them will encourage the next generation to test their calling, try out their skills, and see how God can use them to heal a broken world,” Hershberger said.
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact Andrew Clouse at andrewc@mmnworld.net, 574-523-3024 or 866-866-2872, ext. 23024.