{"id":26047,"date":"2015-11-18T12:24:55","date_gmt":"2015-11-18T17:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=26047"},"modified":"2015-12-03T16:50:53","modified_gmt":"2015-12-03T21:50:53","slug":"a-team-approach-regular-worship-nights-in-residence-halls-benefit-from-leadership-of-pastoral-ministry-assistants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2015\/a-team-approach-regular-worship-nights-in-residence-halls-benefit-from-leadership-of-pastoral-ministry-assistants\/","title":{"rendered":"Prayer, discussion, fellowship, fun: weekly Worship Nights benefit from leadership of pastoral, ministry assistants"},"content":{"rendered":"

Making s\u2019mores over a campfire, going out for milkshakes, praying for each other, reading scripture, or conversing about the complexities of life: students in 91大神\u2019s residence halls are often ministering in relationship.<\/p>\n

These relationships are formalized in Worship Nights, a weekly event in each of the residence halls on campus. The four groups meet on different nights of the week, depending on the schedules of the student leaders. And activities vary: On Tuesday nights in Cedarwood, the gatherings alternate between a study of 1 Peter and a prayer time.<\/p>\n

\"Maplewood<\/a>
Maplewood’s Worship Nights are Thursdays at 7:17 p.m., a “strange time,” according to pastoral assistant Amanda Helfrich, “but hopefully people remember.” From left: Bekah Mongold, Madalynn Payne, Amanda Helfrich and ministry assistant Da’Jahnea Robinson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Worship Nights have been a part of campus ministries<\/a> for several years, undergraduate campus pastor Lana Miller<\/a> has made significant changes to the program\u2019s focus and foundation. In previous years, residents in the halls alternated the planning of events for the others.<\/p>\n

Worship Nights are now \u201cfocusing on creating and entering into relationship and intentional conversation,\u201d according to Miller. The goal for student leaders is to respond to the group who comes.<\/p>\n

Ministry assistants and pastoral assistants<\/h3>\n

Now specially trained students<\/a> within each residence hall, called Ministry Assistants (MAs), plan programs for and with their fellow residents, Miller says. They are also enrolled in a ministry exploration class led by Miller, which asks \u201chow are you listening to God, to each other, and to yourself.”<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s MAs are<\/p>\n