what's next?

If you are graduating from Highschool and are unsure what is next for you it might be wise to take a year (or more) and experience something DIFFERENT.

College is waiting for most of us but thats just it... It's going to be there when we get around to it and being the first one across the finish line in the rat race doesn't  produce very many good stories...and I hear the trophy they give out is lousy. This page is here for you to explore some DIFFERENT options. Take a year to make new friends, learn to live on your own (kinda) and practice getting your hands (and boots) dirty in the name of your faith.

SO YOU ASK, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?  
(well here are some connected to the Mennonite Church to get you started)

Mennonite Disaster Service Yearlong Program (MDS)

A Yearlong Volunteer program at MDS provides a unique opportunity for young adults to enhance their leadership skills and to help bring people home after disasters. Yearlong volunteers serve in a cohort from August through July at various MDS projects across the U.S. & Canada building meaningful relationships with disaster survivors and other volunteers.

Service Adventure (Mennonite Mission Network)

Exploring a life of service and simplicity 
Service Adventure gives young adults a 10-month adventure in service, learning, and growing spiritually. Participants live in community with other young adults and a house leader at various locations around the country.

Together with a sponsoring church, participants and unit leaders have opportunities to see God at work in the world and to discover how they fit into that work.

Salt (Mennonite Central Committee)

Serving and Learning Together (SALT) is a year-long, cross-cultural service experience. Though SALT, Christian young adults from the U.S. and Canada serve internationally in a wide variety of positions in fields like education, agriculture, health care, information technology, peace and more!

During their assignments SALTers are immersed in another culture, living with host families or communal settings such as dormitories or teacher housing in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin and Central America and the Middle East.

By living and serving in a new setting, SALTers

  • Experience personal, professional and spiritual growth
  • Help foster international goodwill and understanding
  • Gain personal experience with, and commitment to, the global church

Radical Journey (Mennonite Mission Network)

Imagining ways to join God's work  
Radical Journey is a one-year formational experience in cross-cultural learning and service for young adults who desire to watch for where God is at work and imagine ways to join in.

Orientation
The first week is spent in a North American urban context, and is designed to set the background and expectations for living, learning and serving in the cross-cultural community. It is a time to introduce and explore topics of formation for further reflection and conversation throughout the year. 

Immersion
The next 10 months are spent in an international service location, joining with local missional Christian faith communities in building and creating mutually beneficial relationships.

Reorientation
Beginning with a few days of retreat back in the orientation location, participants are encouraged to integrate what they have learned back in their home congregations or community.