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by Melody Martins

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Students Agree: Required
Church Ministry Good

Jacob Moran tutors a boy at Mt. Olivet Urban Education Center
as part of his ministry there. --Shannon Kelsay, photos

In a poll of MBC students, more than half said the student ministries department should continue to require students to spend one year of their student ministry in a church.

MBC's student ministry manual states: "Graduating students must earn at least one year of their student ministry credit by serving in or through a local church."

When asked, "Do you think church ministry should be a requirement of student ministries for MBC students?" 54 percent of students were in favor of required church ministry, 38 percent said students should have the option of what their ministry will be and 8 percent said they have no opinion on the matter.

Nearly every student interviewed was in full support of the student ministry program at MBC. Most students said that required ministry is beneficial.

The majority of students interviewed said that church ministry gives them the opportunity to practice the things they are learning in their theology classes.

Laura Fesler, junior, wholeheartedly agreed with the church ministry requirement and said that the school should require even more church ministry.

Sophomore Kyle Tyson said, "I think it is good to be involved in the church because that is where growth occurs -- with a body of believers who will hopefully support you."

Gerry Graves, freshman, said church ministry gives students good hands-on experience in the midst of all their academics.

Sophomore Andrew Vodder said that he thinks church ministry should be required because if it were not, he might not participate.

"We are learning about ministry; you need to have that experience to see if God is calling you into church ministry," junior Amy Frey said.

Sophomore Joel Swan said fellowship of the body is serving in the church and is an important part of the Christian walk.

Nineteen of the 50 students interviewed said church ministry should be optional. Most of these students have had to give up their preferred ministries to fulfill the school's requirement.

Janette Biggs, sophomore, said, "I have a ministry that I love, and I am getting kicked out."

"Ministry is not about being in a church," junior Alan Gabel said. He said that if a student's desire is to minister outside of a church for four years, he or she should have that option. Gabel said that as a junior high pastor, he would rather not have students lead in his ministry who do not want to be there. Rebecca Robinson, senior, said many people are willing to work in the church, and there are not as many who will work in uncomfortable places.

Robinson said that by her sophomore year, she was leading a ministry, and now she is working in her church nursery to fulfill church ministry requirement.

Tim Alban, junior, said, "I am a Young Life leader, and I already have a group of five guys I am ministering to. I don't have time to go to school and have two ministries."

Seventeen of the 27 students who said church ministry should be required were lowerclassmen, while 13 of the 19 students who said church ministry should not be required were upperclassmen.

Jim Saemenes, director of student ministries, said that the purpose of required church ministry is based on MBC's preparation of students for ministry. He said that the school considers the church to be God's primary method of working in the world, and it is important for students to be connected to churches they will be serving in.

Professor Saemenes said, "You wouldn't want a doctor who had not spent any time in a medical clinic." He said students who minister in a church could also benefit from being in a community outside of MBC.

Full-time students must complete one student ministry credit each semester until they have met the requirement of six credits.

This requirement is different for transfer students depending on the number of credits transferred in. For the average student, two credits must be fulfilled in a church setting.

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