PAUL REISSMANN
Michigan Communications
Olivia Johnson is one of the student leaders involved in her Wesley’s church visits and has found them inspiring.
Devon Herrell, Director of the Wesley Foundation at Ferris State University, says that the visits she and her students make to different churches around the Grand Traverse District gives students the chance to say “thank you.” Connectional churches are why Wesley exists, she said, and the grace they find at these visits encourages students to take on more leadership. The great cloud of witnesses is a different level of spiritual support that students are realizing through their visits.
Johnson is one of these encouraged leaders at Wesley. As a part of the Wesley Foundation, Johnson has spent three years of her time at the Ferris Wesley as one of its core leaders, taking on the role of Vice-President (this is an empowering role that seeks to assist in Wesley’s RSO status on Ferris’ campus), as well as helping to organize and play drums in the praise band that travels with Herrell to local churches in the Grand Traverse District.
Herrell said that visiting local churches that support the Ferris Wesley helps to plug young adults into churches that do not have young adults of their own. This fills congregants with hope because they see youth involved in their church and the young adults are filled with hope in return. It also gives the churches an idea of how integral they are in supporting campus ministry. This then empowers and creates passion for young adults to be involved in their local churches.
During one of these church visits on behalf of Wesley, Johnson visited First UMC in Big Rapids where she led worship as the liturgist of the service. It was her first time in this position at the church and she received support from the congregation. For Johnson, this support is everything, as it allows her to affirm her call to ministry and gives her hope for the future.
Johnson said that with everything the world is dealing with the church is still present and the people have the same thirst for Christ that you have; it is safety and security. Through her experience, Johnson sees herself working in the United Methodist Church.
This interest in church and her call to ministry led Johnson to attend the NEXT Conference in 2014, a conference held every two years in different parts of the United States to engage and empower young adults in the church. Johnson said that without the support of the local church she would not have been able to attend NEXT.
One part of Johnson’s ministry is her passion for children, where she is trying to answer the question of how to help children avoid harm in their lives and how to bridge the gap between early childhood and adulthood. More importantly, Johnson is trying to figure out how she fits into this need in the world around her. Herrell said that Johnson seeing the need for support in the community and in the world made her want to extend that support to others and be the hands and feet of Christ. She is excited about the church of the future.
Johnson is not afraid to pray and wants to know God’s will for her life. Herrell says that Johnson is not only passionate, but also lives worship, instead of just listening to worship. Similar to Johnson, Herrell said that many of her students are amazed by the network of the UMC and have connected with many of the leaders of the churches they have visited, even forging relationships, like those with District Superintendent Anita Hahn and Grand Traverse lay leader Dennis “Denny” Olin.
Herrell is surprised by the level of interest church visits arouse in her students, often requiring students giving up weekends just to travel. The students understand the power of covenant relationship and want to do their part to encourage and thank the people that make Wesley House possible.” Herrell said.
~This is the 4th in a series. Wesley: Making Disciples on Campus
Last Updated on November 2, 2023