Student Opportunities

Student Opportunities

There are a multitude of opportunities for students at Messiah wanting to prepare themselves for a vocation of peacemaking, conflict resolution, and reconciliation.  We hope every PACS major or minor will participate in our student organization Peace Fellowship.  The Peace Fellowship core team plans a variety of events each semester including discussions, lectures, films, weekend trips, and a campus newsletter.

Practical experience is required for each PACS major either through an internship or practicum.  A semester abroad is strongly encouraged for PACS majors since it enables students to see the world from multiple perspectives. There are opportunities available both on and off-campus, in the state, in the country, and all around the world! 

• The Salvation Army- The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. 
  Salvation Army Breakfast- Serve breakfast and fellowship with the homeless.
  If interested, please contact salvarmybreak@messiah.edu
  Salvation Army After-School
  Volunteers lead club activities and work with kids to help them grow academically.
  If interested, please contact salvarmycoord@messiah.edu
   
• Refugee & Immigrant Services for Empowerment: RISE Day retreat is an opportunity for Messiah students to help empower high-school students to pursue higher education. These high-school students, coming from immigrant and refugee backgrounds, explore Messiah for the day, walking around on campus and experiencing a taste of university life.
  RISE Day Retreat- A retreat for middle and high school students from immigrant families to see university opportunities after high school
  If interested, please contact risecoordinator@messiah.edu
   
• New Hope Ministries- New Hope Ministries is a Christian social service agency that shows the love and hope of Christ by serving our neighbors in times of need and supporting their efforts toward stability. There is a food bank in Mechanicsburg, as well as many other locations in central Pennsylvania
  If interested, please visit the New Hope Ministries Website and email info@nhm-pa.net with any questions
   
• Habitat for Humanity- With Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area, you have the opportunity to transform your community and build a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Students have the option to volunteer for the positions of Americorps, Construction, or ReStore workers.
  If interested, please visit the Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area Website
   
• Restorative Justice Committee of Harrisburg, PA- The Restorative Justice Committee seeks to advocate and support criminal justice programs that focus on the needs of victims, offenders, stakeholders, and community through repairing, rebuilding, and reconciling individuals and relationships.  This can be seen in contrast to more punitive approaches where the main aim is to punish the offender or satisfy abstract legal principles.
  If interested, please contact Lisa Kessler at lisa@scsinc.org
   
• Eastern Mennonite Mission (EMM)- EMM is a global mission organization that offers a wide variety of programs, ministries, and regions for volunteers to chose from. In addition, opportunities vary from one week to over two years long.
  If interested, please visit the Eastern Mennonite Mission Website
   

Here on campus, programs of interest to PACS majors include the Agape Center, the Collaboratory, Reconciliation House, and the SALT residential program in Harrisburg.