Spring 2009 - Lancaster Mennonite School

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STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT A NEW MINISTRY OPPORTUNITYA walk of prayerBy Rebecca Kraybill, LMS seniorWho would thinkthat God would usea group of highschool students tobless LancasterCounty?- LMS Bible teacherJ. W. SprungerThis past fall, LMS Bible teacher J. W.Sprunger watched an idea come to life rightbefore his eyes.Also serving as director of church relations atLancaster Mennonite, Sprunger had the opportunityto attend five regional “plunges” or prayerwalks. Introduced by Lancaster Mennonite Conference,each plunge was a day where church leaderswent into local communities and prayed,talked, and visited with the people. The hope wasthat testimonies from the experience could beshared with congregations, to show how God hasbeen working in people’s lives.Each plunge Sprunger attended produced interestingstories and moving testimonies which hethen began to share with his Kingdom Livingclasses.After hearing multiple stories, several studentsexpressed interest in joining the prayer walks.Realizing it would be a great way to involve LancasterCounty youth in the ministry, Sprungerdecided to pursue the idea.“The pastors were very excited, also,”Sprunger said. “They said, ‘Just call me up ifLMS Senior Devin Troy (left, in group of three), senior Kori Wenger, and LMS Bible Teacher J. W.Sprunger connect with an employee at La Dolce Vita Courthouse Bakery on Duke Street in downtownLancaster during the school’s December prayer walk.you plan to go!’”Getting approval from Principal Miles Yoderand a school council, Sprunger took the idea to hisstudents. After 57 students showed interest and 28gave firm commitments, walks were scheduled forDecember 12 and January 8.Both prayer walks started at 8:00 in the morningwith an orientation by Clair Good, a bishopand representative of Eastern Mennonite Missions.Students were then split into groups of two, witheach pair assigned to a pastor. The groups traveledto Lancaster City, officially starting the plungearound 9:00.In general, both prayer walks followed a veryrelaxed, go-with-the-flow system. The groupswere encouraged to find a business or building thatthey thought would benefit from the prayer—anythingfrom a bakery to a sporting goods store to abank. Then the group said a prayer for the business,whether going into the building or just stayingoutside. In other cases, the group encountereda person on the street and asked if they wanted tobe prayed for.Of course, when interacting with a large varietyof people, different reactions resulted.Sometimes people simply didn’t wantto be prayed for. Instead there was conversationor dialogue in which the studentswere able to get a glimpse into theperson’s life—what their family is like,what their job is, maybe a hardshipthey’ve faced.“Above all, it’s blessing the people,”Sprunger said about the walks.The combination of prayer, blessing,and dialogue provided the participantswith a moving experience. More thananything, the walk was a hands-onexperience of meeting new people andgrasping a sense of the humanity withinthem.Senior Solomon Rudy attended theDecember prayer walk. He ended up inLancaster’s Central Market, talking toa man about his views on religion.“It was a great experience,” Rudysaid. “It was just good to get out andtalk to people. It was an effective wayto share faith through dialogue.”After the hour and a half walk, thegroups returned to Lancaster Mennonitewhere they processed what they hadexperienced.4 BRIDGES • SPRING 2009
Since this new program has been such a success,there is a real possibility it will continue. Withover 30 students involved in these first walks andmany more expressing interest, the program certainlyhas caught the attention of students and faculty.■This story was adapted froman article that first appearedin the January 2009 issueof the Millstream, the school’sstudent newspaper. RebeccaKraybill is feature editor forthe Millstream.Prayer walkschange livesRebecca KraybillAt Lancaster Mennonite School the two“plunges” or prayer walks held this pastyear helped students view the people aroundthem through new lenses and gave them anew zest for service. For example:• This spring two students attended anorientation at the Water Street RescueMission to learn how they couldreach out to the homeless in LancasterCity. In May a third hopes toattend the orientation.• Another student excitedly toldSprunger: “I can do this anytime; Idon’t need special training!” His pastorasked him to share his prayerwalk experience during a Sundaymorning church service.According to Sprunger, students are learningthat they can bless the people they meetin their everyday experience by simply listeningand caring.“I’ve seen changed lives,” Sprunger saidabout his students. “This (way of doingevangelism and prayer) can feel so natural tothem. Who would think that God would usea group of high school students to bless LancasterCounty?”Reaching out, spreading the wordDue to the recession, the cost of television and billboard advertisingis greatly reduced as businesses cut back. This provides LMS withthe opportunity to advertise in these media while staying withinbudget. It also helps get the word out during a time when readershipof print materials such as newspapers is diminishing.Taking advantage of good rates and the availability of good locations,the school has purchased a package of five billboards that willfirst appear in mid-May. Watch for LMS billboards on Route 230 nearMount Joy, Route 30 and Dillersville Road near Lancaster, Route 272near Brownstown, and Route 23 in Leola.In addition, theschool has been runningads on FOX 43News at 10 (the mostwatchednews in ourarea) with 60 additionaldaytime spots thrownin for free. The adsbegan in April and willrun until the May 17open house.Although mediaadvertising is highlyvisible, the school recognizesthat word-ofmouthand personalcontacts are the mosteffective way to tellothers about the benefitsof our school.Thank you, our readers,for sharing the LMSdifference with prospectivestudents and familiesas you have theopportunity. ■OPEN HOUSEMAY 17Five LMS billboards—designed after feedbackfrom students, parents and staff—will sooninvite Lancaster County drivers to consider theLMS Difference. Reduced advertising rates anddiminishing readership of print media haveprompted LMS to consider new advertisingoptions. PHOTO: GARY HILLERALUMNI DINING HALLLANCASTER CAMPUS1-3 P.M.• Information about all four campuses • Campus tours• Program and scholarship information • Refreshments• High school spring concert follows at 3 p.m.BRIDGES • SPRING 2009 5
Page 1 and 2: LANCASTER MENNONITE SCHOOLwww.lanca
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Spring 2009 - Lancaster Mennonite School

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