APPLY TO MESSIAH

Quarantine Connections

Student Ministries Quarantine Housing Outreach

 

Discipleship Team

Women’s Ministry

Men’s Ministry

Carolyn Kuz

Melea Irby

Ryan Althoff

Discipleship Director

Women’s Min Coordinator

Men’s Min Coordinator

ck1332@messiah.edu

mi1166@messiah.edu

ra1241@messiah.edu

 

 

Student Ministries strives to provide spiritual care to our student body. This year will bring new and unique challenges with community outreach regarding Messiah’s quarantine housing. This housing is necessary for the safety and sustainability of our campus but will probably be a time of isolation for the students who will be placed there. The following proposal outlines a few ways that we, as Student Ministries, can reach out and care for these students even amid physical separation. For additional information, please visit the Student Ministries website.

Virtual Game Nights

For students who would be interested in participating in a virtual game night, Student Ministries will be able to offer games such as Jackbox, Googlio, Fishbowl, Skribel.io, Pictionary, Chess, Scattergories, Virtual Survivor, The Game of Life, Words with Friends, and perhaps others at the suggestion of residents in the quarantine apartments. Some of these games will require students to download mobile or online applications on their own devices, while others will be provided by members of the Student Ministries Leadership Team and shared through a platform such as Zoom. These game nights will only be scheduled upon demonstrated interest from quarantined students, so if they would like to play games with other quarantined students or with Student Ministries personnel, they should contact one of the leaders at the top of this page and communicate their weekly availability.

Prayer

Quarantined students will have the option to submit prayer requests (anonymously or otherwise), request one-on-one prayer with a mentor in the Women’s Ministry or Men’s Ministry, or sign up for a small group prayer night with other students (quarantined students and/or non-quarantined Student Ministries leaders). Alternatively, Student Ministries may be able to include quarantined students in periodic prayer nights that are already being scheduled for the entire Messiah student body by our Prayer Director. The availability of this option would be dependent upon when students are in quarantine and when these prayer events are scheduled. Currently, the plan is to offer weekly virtual prayer meetings, but this is subject to change.

Mentorship  

The Women’s Ministry and Men’s Ministry teams both include a group of mentors who serve Messiah students, primarily through the organization of life groups. Although neither of these ministries intends to organize life groups among quarantined students to last only for the duration of the two-week quarantine period, both ministries would be willing to organize life groups for students in quarantine if they intend to continue meeting after they return to their original housing. When mentors are not assisting with life groups, they will also be available for one-on-ones with quarantined students at the request of said students. The Mentor Leaders on both the Men’s Ministry and Women’s Ministry Core Teams will be responsible for finding a mentor who is available for these one-on-one meetings.

Bible Study  

Student Ministries will also be offering a weekly virtual Bible Study through our Logos ministry. This will take place every Wednesday night from 7:00-8:15 pm and will gladly welcome any students in quarantine who would like to join. For more information, please contact Carolyn Kuz (contact information provided on previous page) to request the Zoom link that will be used when this study meets every week.

Individual Resources   

Our last option is a slew of online resources that can aid individual students in their personal growth even if they wish to remain anonymous. These resources will vary from links to eBooks and podcasts to devotionals and will be offered on our website, which will be linked in the email. If students would like to request specific resources that are not on the list on our website, they can reach out to Student Ministries leadership and ask for scanned copies of chapters from books contained in our Student Ministries library.

 

* The programming options listed above are being provided free of charge by Student Ministries. If quarantined students were to request resources that we do not own and would need to spend money to obtain, we would likely not be able to provide them.

** The assumption underlying these programs is that quarantined students are contacting Student Ministries FIRST, not the other way around. This will help to maintain the confidentiality of students who do not wish to make their quarantined status public. Student Ministries will provide information about these resources at the request of quarantined students, and the RAs/RDs (based on each student’s original housing assignment) will be passing along the contact information for the three Student Ministries leaders listed at the top of this proposal.

 

Resource List for Student Ministries Website:

Podcasts:

  • The Bible Project
  • The Porch
  • Fight, Hustle, and Hurry

Books:

  • The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
  • Abba’s Child by Brennan Manning
  • The Cry of the Soul by Dan Allender and Tremper Longman
  • Unwanted by Jay Stringer
  • The Shack by William Paul Young
  • The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
  • The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
  • Wild at Heart by John Eldredge
  • The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

Movies:

  • The Heart of Man
  • Just Mercy

 

 

Wellness

Virtual Group Exercise Classes—Available Twice per Week

These virtual group exercise sessions are fun and free to attend from your quarantine space. They are advertised through IMLeagues, and are a great way to get some exercise and stay healthy during quarantine

Fitness Center Instagram (@messiahfitnesscenter)

Check out the Messiah University Fitness Center Instagram page! By visiting the page, you can scroll through and participate in some quarantine workouts that have been posted on the page over the last several months. Additionally, at least one new workout will be posted each week that can be completed from a quarantine apartment or hotel room.

Minds Matter Instagram (@mindsmattermu)

Be sure to visit the Messiah University Minds Matter Instagram page for information on mindfulness practices, mental health resources, and Minds Matter campus program opportunities. This page is full of encouragement and helpful strategies to assist you during your time in quarantine.

 

 

 

Resources and Outreach via The Perch

Checkout The Perch, Messiah University Covid-19 connection point for various resources, information, and outreach opportunities. By visiting the “Resources and Outreach” tab, you can be connected to materials and resources that have been compiled and uploaded to the website to offer you support and encouragement throughout your time in quarantine.

 

 

 

SAB

Check out the Messiah University Student Activities Board (SAB) for access to some virtual programs throughout your time in quarantine. Currently, there are opportunities to attend Trivia Night and Coffee House programs virtually, and the team is excited to find new ways to make their programming accessible from quarantine housing. Take a look at their Instagram account @messiahsab to gather more information on the upcoming, virtual events.

Virtual Trivia Night Dates:

10/8, 10/22, 11/5 and 11/19

Coffee House:

You can view September Coffee House now by visiting the following link; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0kpixoVvg0 . Enjoy the smooth jams and creative vibes of your very talented, fellow Messiah University Students. You won’t regret it!!!

Additionally, October and November Coffee House links will be posted on the Quarantine Connections site on 10/24 and 11/21 respectively.