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Kingdom Living is a practical theology course at LMS, and the Capstone Project is an experiential learning assignment. Students work at discovering how to use their gifts, abilities and interests in a 20 hour volunteer setting in the local community. Projects and settings vary widely. Part of the learning is the student making connections with a location and mentor that they would like to work with. During class students do Bible studies and reflective essays that focus on core values and ethics.
A Capstone Presentation is given at the end of the course by each student and is the culmination of the semester-long experience. Capstone projects have led to summer job offers, clarity of career path or college major, and building self-confidence.
Janaysia Costello
Core question: How can I use my gifts, abilities, and interests of having a connection with kids to help them feel loved and make an impact on their lives at 10 Hour LLC Daycare Center?
Responsibilities:
- I will watch the kids while they are waiting to go home
- I will also help clean the daycare center for the next day
- I will help change diapers and pull-ups
- I will also try to help to teach the kids good behavior
- I will also help with snack as well
It taught me that I am loved by kids and that I am actually a good person. And it showed me what impact you can make on a kids’ life when you show them love, and they love me back. With my faith it showed that God gave me the gift to connect with kids and to show them love because sometimes you will never know what is happening at home.
With me having this experience it showed me my gifts and helped me with my future. I will be majoring in nursing and getting my Masters degree in pediatrics in college. I hope to work at a children’s hospital and help children feel love and kindness when they are having a hard time. I received a job from this capstone experience at the place I volunteered at.
Lily Kratz
Core question: How can I use my gifts, abilities and interests of Speaking Truth, Organizing, and Teaching to explore helping with horses and farm work, team building as a barn, and learning from an experienced event trainer at Erin Sylvester Eventing?
Responsibilities:
- Tacking up horses for Erin
- Cleaning/mucking out the trailer
- Helping set jumps and courses
- Going along to events as an extra hand
- Helping to organize the trailer
- Switching around/turning out horses
This experience made me understand the idea of finding one positive thing to be happy about instead of focusing on all the negatives and trying to remember to push forward through setbacks and looking to God and my community for support.
2 Corinthians 12:10, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”.
Declan Hersh
Core question: How can I use my gifts, abilities, and interests of athletics and peacebuilding to explore the behind the scenes work of athletic events with Mr. Sanders, the Athletic Director of Lancaster Mennonite, and to explore coaching and mentoring younger kids with Coach Charlie Parker of Crunchtime Hoops?
I learned to stay patient while teaching, and I learned a lot about myself just by reflecting on my past. I also learned the value of serving others, and I learned how to adjust on the fly. I learned the importance of “ being somebody” and the impact that serving has on others.
The Capstone project grew my faith because I got a taste of what being a servant is really about. This project gave me a new perspective about serving, and a new drive to serve more whenever I can.
Celeste Ortiz
Core question: How can I use my gifts, abilities and interests of Encouraging, Mercy, to explore volunteering wherever needed at Hope.Inspire. Love?
Organization’s mission: Provide hope to the hopeless, inspire people to be world-changers, and provide an avenue for love and care to victims, so that we can put an end to human trafficking in our lifetime.
I understand that God gave everyone a purpose. This capstone project really opened my mind and gave me more knowledge and reason to believe that I’m on track with finding and transitioning into the work that God has planned me to do.
