June 14, 2010 issue
Growing up with service, they've returned to it
By Hannah Heinzekehr Mennonite Mission NetworkPage:
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ELKHART, Ind. — For Joey Miller and Leah Rittenhouse, entering the Service Adventure program was like coming home.
Miller and Rittenhouse had each been members of a Service Adventure unit as children while their parents were leaders. Both were shaped by their parents’ commitment to service.
Miller, a member of Walnut Hill Mennonite Church in Goshen, is serving as a maintenance worker at Johnstown (Pa.) Christian Schools and living in community with two other young adults and a family in downtown Johnstown.
Miller will likely stay in Johnstown after his year of service is over and is exploring options for employment in the area. He has built connections with people at the six Mennonite churches that support the unit.
Miller’s parents, Brent and Roma, have been passionate about Service Adventure since its inception 20 years ago, when Roma Miller was a staff member in the Christian service department of the Mennonite Board of Missions, a predecessor agency of MMN.
“When Service Adventure developed, I resonated with that vision right away,” Roma Miller said.
The Millers’ commitment to the mission of the program and a desire to give their children experiences beyond Elkhart County, led them to serve as unit leaders in Albany, Ore., from 2000-2002.
“We never wanted to be selfish about our parenting,” Roma Miller said. “We know that other adults can help. We’ve done what we can do, and now to have the greater church community and adults in Johnstown step up and help parent Joey is a great feeling.”
Joey Miller looks back on his time in Albany as a growing and learning experience.
“At first I had many problems making friends, but I learned to have fun with the participants,” Miller said. “I have since grown up and realized what that time did for me and I’m glad my parents chose to do it.”
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