Asbury orientation offers new program for incoming students

Published 10:37 am Thursday, June 14, 2018

From staff reports

Asbury University is offering a brand-new pre-orientation experience for incoming students focusing on how service and story-sharing through Christians can help bridge the divide in today’s society.

Prior to welcome week at Asbury University, Students will be able to participate in two optional pre-orientation experiences, Archways and The Bridge.

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The Bridge is a new program featuring a community-service trip to Lexington and Central Kentucky. The cost for the program is $350, with registration available online. Spots are limited, and while it is a new program, Asbury anticipates the program will fill up quickly.

Students who participate will be able to accomplish a variety of projects including serving local soup kitchens, as well as light construction work and street clean up. Each day will consist of devotions, service activities, story sharing and a time for worship.

“Students will have the opportunity to serve alongside partner service organizations of Asbury,” Assistant Director of Spiritual Life and Assistant Chaplain Jeannie Banter said. “Our hope for students is that these partnerships would spark an interest of service they could continue over the course of their journeys at Asbury. One goal of ‘The Bridge’ is for students to become connected and familiar with not only the layout of the community but the needs and people of the community.” 

The program will be facilitated by recent graduates and the evening teaching will be led by the spiritual life team of the Rev. Greg Haseloff, Banter, Kaylyn Moran and John Morley.

“The Bridge metaphor is really two-sided,” said Moran, resident director and coordinator of community service and social justice initiatives. “It certainly represents each incoming student and his or her transition to a new season of life, but it also represents the way in which we want our students to function in the world. We want our students to be connectors, helping to connect people with God and one another.

“We believe everyone has a gift the community needs through their story and their service. No matter who you are, where you come from or what you’ve done, your presence is important in the kingdom. We want students to show up, share and serve. When we do that we also become ‘bridges’ by being people who are able to break down some of the divides that our broken work imposes upon us.”

To learn more about The Bridge or to register, visit asbury.edu.