Kristen Walling (American University, Shaker Heights, Ohio) will be in Madagascar by the end of July for a two-year stint in the Peace Corps.

Merillat Pittman (TCU, Broken Arrow, Okla.) has joined Teach for America and will be teaching math in the Nashville, Tennessee, public school district.

Katie Johnson (TCU, Nashville, Tenn.) works in the public relations and marketing office of Nashville-based Captain D’s.

Georgia Kuss (Kenyon College, Indianapolis) works with Boston's Partners for Youth with Disabilities, recruiting and training adult mentors and pairing them with youth with disabilities.

Lynda Brooks, a second-year student at Columbia Theological Seminary, is creating The Mone’ Institute, an educational program that aims to provide training in personal finance, fiscal responsibility, and stewardship to youth and young adults. She is a member of God’s City of Refuge Christian Church in Atlanta.

Brite Divinity School’s Jayme Harvey traveled to China as part of Global Ministries’ People-to-People program. She is a member of Park Avenue Christian Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

Trey Flowers, a student at the Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt, will spend a month in Costa Rica learning Spanish and Latin culture with the goal of leading a weekly Disciples Hispanic worship service. Trey is a member of Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis and currently serves on the staff of Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville.

The program is supported by the Hughey-Peery Fund, in partnership with the Pension Fund of the Christian Church. The first round of grants, issued in 2009, supported travel-studies, curriculum research and writing, and the creation of an online church community.

Chaplains and church relations staff gather at Barton College

Front row, from left: Larry Grimes and Scott Thayer, Bethany College; Nancy Brink, Chapman University; Stephanie McLemore, Lynchburg College; back row: Dave Carr, Transylvania University; Brent Reynolds, Culver-Stockton College; Jeremy Albers, Texas Christian University; Cisa Payuyo, Chapman University; and Hollie Woodruff Duncan, Barton College.

Disciples colleges and universities are spread across the country, creating challenges for networking and coordinating programs such as General Assembly. However, a June gathering organized by Barton College and funded by a College/University Grant from HELM and by Week of Compassion, brought representatives from seven colleges and HELM to the Barton campus. “Chaplains and church relations staff at Disciples schools bridge the gap between youth pastors and adulthood,” said Barton College chaplain Hollie Woodruff Duncan, the event’s key organizer. “Everybody has a different take on recruiting and working with Disciples students, so it’s really helpful to gather for several days to share those ideas and to focus on how we can best serve students and our church.”

Arrington Foster: Transition into reality Arrington Foster prides himself on his organizational skills: always being on time, remembering responsibilities, and knowing what to do next. It's that last one, the future, that's causing him problems these days. As an aspiring actor, Arrington realizes he faces an uncertain career, and it's a little scary to him. Gaining experience with a summer theater production and trusting God has a plan for his life help him trust his future is bright.
Katie Johnson: A time of endings and new beginnings This spring brought more changes than Katie Johnson had expected. Following her graduation from TCU, she planned to kick back in Fort Worth for a week before heading home to Nashville to start a new job. Those plans changed when her parents brought news that her grandfather was dying. Katie and her family hurried back home, and she arrived in time to say goodbye — a mere two hours before he died. His death opened the door, though, for a new, stronger relationship with her grandmother.
Stephen Hall: Seeking balance Life is full of opposites: electrons negate protons, every action has an equal reaction, and awareness leads to rest. Now that his freshman year is over, Stephen Hall is trying to restore the balance in life, balance disturbed by long hours of study, a lack of sleep, and the occasional neglect of soul and spirit. This is easier to do during the lazy days of summer; the trick will be remembering that balance when school resumes in the fall.
Allie Lundblad: Love too big for words Allie Lundblad is spending this summer counseling at Christmount, the North Carolina camp where she first understood how big God's love really is. During her down time, she's reading the poetry of early Christian mystics who struggle for the right words to describe God's expansive, unlimited love. Fascinated by the idea that God and love are inseparable, Allie enjoys the challenge of using words to describe such an indescribably large concept.
Courtney Waters: Heavenly intervention Courtney Waters has achieved every teenager's dream: independence. She has her own apartment, handles her finances, and controls her life. Well, almost. Working two jobs piled on so much stress, a panic attack stopped her in her tracks and made her realize she'd been working so hard, she couldn't enjoy life. Courtney believes her meltdown was a message from God: Slow down, breathe, be healthy, and preserve your spirit.
Virginia White: Women of the world Attending the UN's Conference on the Status of Women was an eye-opening experience for Virginia White. In cramped, overheated meeting rooms, she heard horrific stories of inequality and abuse — but also inspiring stories of justice and courage. As she reflects on the role of women in the world, she draws on her own experiences watching her mother serve as a pastor in a denomination that lifts up women. Much has been done, Virginia believes, but much remains undone.
Allison Enari: A HELM Leadership Fellow's commencement speech Allison Enari has her diploma from Occidental College, and she has completed her time in the HELM Leadership Fellows Program. Before she moves on studying for her M.Div., Allison has advice for students on the transition from home to college, plans changing unexpectedly, the value of parents and mentors, and savoring those moments in college while keeping your mind on the future.
Tom Calvert-Rosenberger: C is for chemistry, challenge and a change of mind When a midterm test came back with a failing grade, Tom Calvert-Rosenberger knew he was flunking chemistry. Hour after hour of studying wasn't helping, and the stress piled up. He came close to giving up, taking an F, and trying to retake the class. A postcard from home, reminding Tom "nothing is impossible with God," helped him adjust his priorities. It also helped him pass chemistry and gain a new perspective on challenges.
Cambria Findley-Grubb: Together we Can The food bank at Cambria Findley-Grubb's home church has served its community well for years, but the recent recession hit closer to home, leaving some of the church's own members hungry. As she created her HELM Leadership Fellows covenant, Cambria realized that asking members to bring a can of food to every church meeting would keep the shelves stocked. A few months after starting the program, "Together we Can" has made a difference in her church and in her community.
Jesse Stephenson: Time to move on A routine conversation with his parents became a life-changing moment when Jesse Stephenson's parents told him they planned to leave his hometown in Georgia for a new congregation in Ohio. Spring break found Jesse packing up his belongings, seeing life-long friends, and visiting childhood landmarks. The experience has helped him realize the special relationships between friends and congregations don't have to be left behind.
Kristen Walling: Lessons in leadership As her college career winds down, Kristen Walling reflects on what she's learned not only in the classroom but about herself, her interests, her vocation, and her views on leadership. She's learned leadership is about more than titles and involvement. Leadership involves delegating responsibilities, knowing your limits, and that saying "no" doesn't mean you've failed.
Sarah Cheon: Learn to be grateful In the movie "The Way Home," an impoverished grandmother in the countryside takes in her city-raised, rebellious grandson. Despite insults and disrespect, the grandmother sacrifices and cares for him. Eventually, the boy watches her care for others despite her own needs and grows to respect and love her. As she watched the movie, Sarah Cheon drew parallels between this story of unending love and God's love for humanity in Jesus' death and resurrection.
Alison Simon: God defined "What would you say if you were asked to define God?" When this question was posed to Alison Simon, she had answers, but they were trite answers that seemed vague and inadequate. The answer came to her during a 45-minute simulated bicycle ride. Determination, loneliness, exhilaration, peace, and tranquility — Alison's new definition of God involves all of those while leading her to an unconventional comparison.
Sabreena Rodriguez: Making the right college choice This is the time of year when students are choosing their colleges, submitting applications for housing, and getting a sense of where they'll be studying and living in the fall. As Sabreena Rodriguez's freshman year at Chapman University winds down, she reflects on why Chapman was the perfect choice for her. It's a mix of a great education, opportunities for growth, good friends, and a strong faith community. Good luck to all the seniors pondering the next step in their lives!
Melissa Hall: The challenge of team leadership A new student-led ministry at Barton College gave Melissa Hall and other students the opportunity to put their leadership skills to the test. After getting off to a great start, different leadership styles emerged, creating conflict and confusion. The ministry nearly collapsed, but after reflection, the leadership team has resumed working together, leaving Melissa and others with a lesson in leading.