Joe Mertz Center to host Service Emphasis Week
FOR RELEASE: Monday, February 4, 2008
Huntington, Ind.-Huntington University's Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service will host Service Emphasis Week during Feb. 11-15. The event will include two keynote speakers in addition to workshops led by area community leaders. "The purpose of the week is to help university students make the connection between faith and service and provide practical steps to put faith into action," said Adam Shoemaker, student director of the Joe Mertz Center.
On Feb. 12, sessions at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. will feature Daniel Wallace, the executive director of Gull Lake Ministries, a youth camp for families in southwestern Michigan. Wallace will give presentations titled "What's love got to do with it?" and "The power is in the truth."
Pastor Phil Mortensen
Pastor Phil Mortensen of Love Church in Fort Wayne will lead sessions at 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 13 and 10 a.m. on Feb. 14. He earned a Master of Christian Ministry degree from Huntington College in 1989. In 1985, he planted Love Church where continues to pastor. Mortensen will speak on the topic of "Lies that hinder the poor and needy."
Community leaders will share their perspectives, experiences and insight regarding service during workshops at 11 a.m. on Feb. 13. Session leaders include the following:
Dr. Gary Newton, pastor of St. Peter's First Community Church in Huntington and professor of discipling ministries and director of the Master of Arts in Discipling Ministries for the university's Graduate School of Christian Ministries
Richard Strick: Youth pastor of St. Peter's First Community Church
Sandy Hartle, executive director of Love INC
Jimi Staton, pastor of New Life Fellowship Church, which runs a meal ministry involving Huntington University student volunteers
PRIME students (PRIME, or Practical Research and Immersion through Ministry Effectiveness, is a program for ministry and missions majors at Huntington University that immerses seniors into field ministry for seven months, from typically May to December.)
Heath Pearson, pastor of Spring Water Church in Huntington
Students leaders involved in service through the JMC's programs
Sessions at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 and at 9:30 p.m. Feb. 13 are free of charge and open to the public. These sessions will be held in the Zurcher Auditorium of the Merillat Centre for the Arts.
Founded in 1992, the Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service has become an integral part of Huntington University campus life. During the 2006-2007 academic year, students, faculty and staff volunteered for more than 12,397.5 hours, serving more than 50 families, organizations and programs.
The JMC's theme for the 2007-2008 academic year is "Wade right in," which comes from Romans 15:1-3. The Message version says, "Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter. That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out."
