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Pilot program helps students explore faith, community Staff Reports, Apr 2, 2010
COURTESY PHOTO
Student participants in Catalyst, a pilot program of the United Methodist non-profit Young Leaders Initiative at Wayne State University, learned about issues facing the people of Detroit, Mich.
DETROIT, Mich.—A new model of United Methodist student ministry at Wayne State University is helping students explore their faith through service to the community.
Joshua McKamie, a senior at Wayne State University and an intern for the United Methodist non-profit Young Leaders Initiative, began recruiting students in 2009 to take part in the “Catalyst” pilot program, which he leads in conjunction with the initiative’s director, Carl Thomas Gladstone.
The program began in the fall with a core group of 10 students who met together weekly to explore issues facing Detroit and also to research the churches and non-profits that are working to address them.
The students studied problems relating to healthy food access, health care, race relations and poverty through discussions with local guests from the community. Field trips to a local produce market and free clinic rounded out the experience. Participants also read and discussed Shane Claiborne’s book, The Irresistible Revolution.
Visiting the free clinic, freshman Rhiannon Lewis said, “It was really inspiring to see how much they’ve done with just the help and kindness of individuals.”
The second phase of Catalyst began in January, with each student receiving $100 to use in individual projects. The money, made possible in part by a “Kingdom Assignment” grant from Ypsilanti (Mich.) First United Methodist Church, was designated to fund a project or organization or as seed money for a larger endeavor.
Students were encouraged to design projects around an issue discussed in phase one, and to invite friends who are not in Catalyst to take part in their projects. The projects are still under way.
“We’re hoping Catalyst will turn out a network of missionally entrepreneurial students with a passion for Detroit each semester,” said Mr. Gladstone.
“Before becoming a part of Catalyst, I didn’t really understand the dynamics of Detroit life, and I especially did not understand its residents,” said freshman Samantha Scannell. “Joining Catalyst presented this much more hopeful and active side of Detroit to me.”
Mr. McKamie has already observed changes in the group’s members. “It’s been great seeing how reading and discussing Shane Claiborne’s book and hearing from local guests has dramatically changed many members’ opinions about Christianity and Detroit,” he said.
Leaders hope the pilot program will help re-establish a United Methodist campus ministry presence at Wayne State University.
For freshman Timothy Pugh, Catalyst changed his view of Christianity.
“As Christians, we should do more and take more action in being God’s hands and feet to further the kingdom of God and show His love to those around us,” he said.
COURTESY PHOTO
The second phase of Catalyst began in January, with each student receiving $100 to use in individual projects. The money, made possible in part by a “Kingdom Assignment” grant from Ypsilanti (Mich.) First United Methodist Church, was designated to fund a project or organization or as seed money for a larger endeavor.
