Sunday Morning Travel

With a multitude of Mennonite churches within minutes from the EMU campus, about 20 students are choosing instead to drive up to an hour to attend church. They are part of Y-church, sponsored by the Young People's Christian Association (YPCA).

Students Cheryl Heatwole and Matt Garber head up the Y-church program. Y-teams are currently attending Staunton, Crossroads, Beldor, and Big Spring Mennonite Churches. "There are many churches which are a little out of the way for the average college student. These smaller congregations need help with Sunday school, worship, song leading and fellowship." Y-church was started to help fill this void and allow students to use their gifts.

The YPCA started in 1921 and recently held a banquet to commemorate their 85th year. Y-church used to be a much larger program in its early years, even planting several churches. After some lean years, it recently has been on the rebound since 2002.

The Sunday morning service is not the most important part of church according to many members of the Big Spring Y-team. The fellowship that follows every service in the form of a meal hosted in someone's home is a favorite memory for many. Senior Betsy Fisher most loves "the laughter around the table and the chance to be a part of the lives of so many diverse people and the stories that make up their daily lives."

Favorite memories often come from activities outside of the normal service. The Big Spring Y-team has started a tradition of donut-making with a couple from the congregation. Beldor Mennonite Church hosted a fall festival in which their Y-team greatly enjoyed participating.

This is not to say these students dislike the services. On the contrary, most are very involved in the service, doing anything from leading songs, playing instruments, or planning services to teaching Sunday School, designing bulletins, or reading Scripture. The small congregations that host the Y-teams really appreciate the extra insight and participation from a generation that is typically missing from their ranks.

These churches have asked to have college students involved since they are generally congregations of about 20-50 people and are often comprised of mostly an older generation. The students choosing to attend a Y-church cite a variety of reasons. Daniel Miller is interested in ministry and sees Y-church as a "stepping stone to get more involved in a church. I'm given more leadership responsibilities than at a larger church. I think that's very valuable."

The small size of these congregations help students that want to become involved in ministry and explore other gifts, but also allow for good friendships. Jonathan Keener finds one of the biggest benefits is simply a "chance to get out of Harrisonburg and experience a different world by relating to adults on a deeper level. I see my professors every day, but I don't relate to them the same way because they're professors, but at Y-church I can really connect with the older generation." Betsy Fisher finds the relationships that are built are essential to her whole church experience. "They care about my life, where I am coming from, what questions I have, and who I am as a person."

Angela Dietzel considers it an honor to be involved in Y-church. "I've had the privilege of being welcomed into people's homes each Sunday and in the process I hear their stories which give me an insight into this area, but also into life in general."

Anyone can join, because though participation through teaching or leading worship are often by-products, they are not required skills. Many of the participants have been attending the same Y-church for several years and seniors lament the fact that they will no longer be able to attend their church because they're leaving the Harrisonburg area after graduation. To become involved in a Y-church, contact Cheryl Heatwole or Matt Garber.