Summer Staff Preview! Meet Tanner.

When a Church signs up to go on a mission trip with YouthWorks, they are signing up for a whole lot more than just a place to stay and some food. We provide a host of other invaluable resources that make a YouthWorks trip truly transformative. We’ve talked about many of these resources on the blog in the past and today I want to highlight what is certainly one of our most treasured parts of the summer – our summer staff.

 

Our summer staff are the ones that truly guide Church Groups through the week. They stay up late getting breakfast ready, go the extra mile to make sure ministry schedules are set up and deliver programming that will help participants critically engage in what is happening on a mission trip. 

 

For the next couple of weeks we will be highlighting a few of our fine summer staff in an attempt to introduce you to them and give you more of an idea of what a summer with YouthWorks looks like. This week… Meet Tanner.

 

Where you’re from/where you live now?

I was born in Kansas City, MO, but spent most of my life living in Shippensburg, PA as a Pastor’s Kid. I am currently attending Mount Vernon Nazarene University and with the exception of breaks I live in a six person apartment on my campus which is in Mount Vernon, OH.

 

What your major/where do you work?

I am majoring in Youth Ministries in the Ordination track. I am also taking electives in sociology and intercultural studies classes to further benefit my future ministry. I currently am employed at the school cafeteria and when I am home on break at Jack and Jill Daycare as an assistant aid to the school age program.

 

What leadership/volunteer opportunities do you participate in?

Ever since I have arrived at MVNU, I have immersed myself into the college experience. I am currently a small group leader for transfer students. I volunteer at the ministry related events at our campus, such as the Middle School Only All Nighter, which I will be helping plan this year. Since the beginning of last year I have been interning at Shepherd’s House Church of the Nazarene and I have currently been working with their youth. I am the chaplain and soon to be co-leader of One Way, a traveling music and drama ministry team. In January of 2013 I spent the month in Belize helping teach the primary schools simple economics, providing water purification devices to the schools, and setting up savings programs to help students save up for high school. For my spring break this year I have traveled to Cascade Pichon, Haiti to help build a school.

 

Why did you choose to do YW this summer?

I chose to do YW this summer because I had an amazing experience working last summer. Missions and empowering teenagers are a passion and calling of mine and YW is the perfect place to live those out. It has provided me with great experiences working with many different denominations, working in a church, and serving and empowering a local community. I have found that YW challenges you, but it also helps foster lasting relationships. I am someone who thrives off of being in community, empowering others, and doing service; all of which are fulfilled at YW. I am excited for another life changing summer.

 

What are you most looking forward to about being on staff?

There are so many things that I am looking forward to about being on staff, but if I have to choose one I would say the community building. I am looking forward to bonding with my staff team and living communally with them. I am also looking forward to getting to know a new community and creating lasting connections. I am looking forward to striving to get to know each teenager and adult leader that I meet.

 

What’s your favorite song/band?

There are far too many good songs out there to choose a favorite and mine is always changing. I would say my current favorite band is Rend Collective Experiment tied equally with Mumford and Sons. However, I generally like any band that has a similar sound to both of those bands.

 

If you could visit any country other than the USA where would you go?

This question is one that I often ponder because there are so many places that I would like to go. I have already been to Belize and after March will have been in Haiti, so I will pick the next country that I would like to visit. Recently I have been thinking of wanting to travel to Moldova or Ireland, but ultimately I would love to visit any country.