IMS hosted 20 pastors on Friday, October 12th for our Clergy Appreciation Day. Students invited clergy from their churches to join us for breakfast and a special chapel service honoring them. They were greeted by principal, Tony Miller, board member and pastor at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite, Don Patterson, associate pastor at Lower Deer Creek, Steve Nelson, and director of enrollment, Candi Schmieder. Our students come from 23 different churches and at least 8 different denominations including Mennonite, Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, non-denominational and Evangelical Free.
We were happy that 13 churches were represented in the clergy who joined us on Friday. During breakfast our Bible department teachers, Lee Ebersole and Pam Gerig-Unruh, described the Bible classes taught at IMS. They also asked for input from our church leaders in how we can continue to work at and improve in this area at IMS. There were very good discussions over these topics. The clergy present expressed a willingness to come and talk during Bible classes and chapels at IMS.
For chapel, students shared a video they made explaining what they appreciated most about their pastors and churches. It was a fun and insightful look into how important our pastors are to our youth. We hope to make this an annual event and to include more churches in the future. October is Clergy Appreciation Month. Don’t forget to thank your pastors for all they do for you and the church.
IMS Videos