NEWTON, Kansas (Mennonite Mission Network) – Service Adventure is often described as a ‘gap year experience’ – a year after high school to gain perspective before diving back into school, a job, or whatever is next. This gap year is not a pause in education, but it is a shift in growth: from academic to personal, from sitting in the pew to leading worship nights.
Each year, new sets of participants come together in Service Adventure units across the country and meet one another as strangers, tasked with living life together. 10 months later, they’ll depart – their gap years filled to the brim.
Below are the new Service Adventure participants for the 2025-26 term.
Service Adventure is a service program of Mennonite Mission Network, designed for individuals ages 17-20. For more information and to apply for the 2026-27 year term, click here.
Samuel Abrahams
… will join the Colorado Springs, Colorado, Service Adventure unit. His placement is with Greccio Housing, a community housing development organization that provides stable, safe, and affordable housing to lower-income residents. His home church is Tabor Mennonite Church outside of Goessel, Kansas.
“I joined Service Adventure because I saw how meaningful service was when I went on a trip with MDS (Mennonite Disaster Service). I enjoyed it so much that I want to do it for a whole year.
I would like prayers for a smooth transition as I leave behind everything at home and move to Colorado.”
Michael Bergen
… will join the Colorado Springs, Colorado, Service Adventure unit. His placement is with Our House – Bright Futures, which provides a day habilitation program and residential services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. His home church is Ecclesia Bielefeld in Bielefeld, Germany.
“I joined Service Adventure because I wanted to take a year off and focus on my personal development and my relationship with God. I also want to get to know new people, experience a new culture, and get to know myself better and strengthen my relationship with God.
People can pray for me to get comfortable with the language (I’m from Germany), get the confidence to talk to other people, and that I can find people to spend my free time with.”
Adriana Duerksen
… will join the Anchorage, Alaska, Service Adventure unit. Her placement is with Hope Community Resources, which provides services and supports to individuals and families across Alaska who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, mental health challenges, and complex medical conditions. Her home church is Tabor Mennonite Church outside of Goessel, Kansas.
“I joined Service Adventure because service is something I really enjoy doing and it makes me feel closer to God in the service that I do. I hope to create good relationships with the other people in my unit and create new memories getting closer to God throughout my time.
People can pray for safe travels for me as I make my way from Kansas to Alaska and for my time of service to be a meaningful experience.”
Trilby Evans
… will join the Colorado Springs, Colorado, Service Adventure unit. Her placement is with RAWTools, which creates garden tools from decommissioned guns and provides nonviolence training, resources, and neighborhood development. Her home church is Zion United Church of Christ in Marion, Illinois.
“I signed up for Service Adventure because I love working with people and helping people — it seemed like a perfect opportunity. I hope to get new experiences and meet new people, and hopefully growing and learning about myself through that.
People can pray for me as I develop relationships and deal with being in a whole new situation.”
Ian Unzicker
… will join the Anchorage, Alaska, Service Adventure unit. His home church is Mennonite Church of Normal in Normal, Illinois.
“I joined Service Adventure to gain experience helping others.
People can pray to keep me safe and healthy in a new location.”
Ruben Veigel
… will join the Anchorage, Alaska, Service Adventure unit. His home church is Liebenzeller Gemeinde Hard, Linkenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
“I wanted to have a gap year after getting my degree and I always wanted to go to the US. I also think that it’s a great opportunity to serve others as well as God. I think I will learn lots of things for my personal and spiritual life.
I hope that I can help people that are in need. Further I hope that this year can teach me important lessons and that I can build a closer relationship to God.
People can pray that I quickly adapt to the new different culture, enjoy the work at my placement and connect well with the people there.”
