ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Mission Network) – After graduating college, Marc Schlegel-Preheim began confronting the epiphany that a lot of 20-somethings face once they have a diploma in hand. Though he had learned much during the previous years at Goshen (Indiana) College, there was much more that he didn’t know – such as what his life’s calling would eventually be.
Driven by his faith, Schlegel-Preheim knew he wanted to initially do voluntary service, which led him to become a Service Adventure unit leader in Philippi, West Virginia, from 2003 to 2005.
"I was interested in a position where I worked with a small group of people and where I lived in community," he said.
As a unit leader, Schlegel-Preheim lived in a house with young adults he mentored, while working part-time in the local community. At the time, it seemed "like normal life in many ways – just a different type of life," he said. But reflecting on the experience now, it was in many ways a training ground for his current calling – pastor of Hyde Park Mennonite Fellowship in Boise, Idaho.
"It helped to build my relational and pastoral care skills," Schlegel-Preheim said of his unit leader experience. "It helped me to hold problems and crises in perspective."
Service Adventure is a program for individuals ages 17 to 20 who spend a year living together and volunteering in the community. It provides an opportunity to grow holistically and to figure out life’s next steps, such as attending college or beginning a vocation. As a unit leader, Schlegel-Preheim was another present, older voice to help the younger adults find their paths. The experience also helped him to discover God’s plan for his life.
"My work as a leader was to be in relationship with the participants, to help broaden their worldview, to begin to consider new ways of thinking about life, faith, and work, to answer questions that arise …" said Schlegel-Preheim, who is now 37.
In other words, the unit leader role is one that a pastor can certainly relate to.
As she co-leads the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, unit with her sister, Leah, Krista Rittenhouse is not necessarily thinking about entering the pastorate. However, having studied peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University, she is certainly passionate about conflict resolution work. She has applied those skills to help the unit house residents to co-exist harmoniously.
The sisters share the role of taking care of house details, such as maintenance, trip planning, unit finances, and checking in with the participants’ work placements.
"These things are important for the unit, but the relationships are what feels like the meaningful and impactful work," Rittenhouse said. "Our monthly check-ins with each participant are something we have started to describe as ‘sacred spaces,’ and is one of the highlights of the job. It’s a unique time of honest and deep connection with participants, and I always feel honored to be a part of their journey."
Rittenhouse said the experience has already helped her grow to more effectively maintain her own inner peace in times of conflict with others.
In Colorado Springs, Meg Smeltzer is seeking a master’s in public administration at the University of Colorado, Denver, while co-leading the local unit with her husband, Daniel. Smeltzer, who plans a career in the nonprofit/public sector, said the experience of living at the unit house has already been personally transformative. She has become much more "Christ-like" – more understanding, and selfless, she said.
"Without this experience, I would have less grace and patience for others around me," Smeltzer said. "I would have a more limited ability to comprehend others’ thought processes and understandings of the world."
Schlegel-Preheim said that he anticipated having a transformational experience as a result of interacting with others, but that he was still pleasantly surprised. He had arrived as a mentor and became a mentee of the local congregation, Philippi Mennonite Church.
"I think more than anything I did as a leader, the time that a few key people in the church spent with me continued to form me and kept slowly moving me toward pastoral ministry," he said. "I was at a place in life of still needing mentors, and they mentored me. They walked with me, exploring many questions of faith, life and vocation. Though I was the unit leader, the folks of the Philippi congregation invested a lot of time and relationship into me."
