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Peer Ministry is growing on campus for Grand View University students. Sunday, November 13th, the Lutheran Memorial Church had hosted the Order of the Towel Ceremony.

The Order of the Towel is a commissioning service the participants are from the Peer Ministry on campus and are asked to serve in a particular way. This would mean they commit to the people around them, people that they may know and also for people they may not know.

Peer Ministry students that participant in the service are given a towel to symbolize when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and that represent that they are servant leadership.

Over 80 Peer Ministers have been trained on campus. Peer Ministry is training students listening, befriending and theology skills; teaching the students how to lead. Training is performed in a retreat style, then after training the participant in the Order of the Towel and follow up with monthly meetings.

Students are highly involved. There is a student Peer Ministry team with four students leading and planning the monthly meetings, lead strongly by Peer Ministry Coordinator Joel Timmons.

Involvement on campus includes just noticing when someone is having a bad day or when they are alone and providing comfort. Some students lead bible studies, helping at Viking Kids Club, or be involved in other student ministries on campus.

Peer Ministry focuses on doing life differently than it is about formal structure and actual jobs.

“Student ministries is now a large part of campus, something people know about, its not a thing on the side that’s done and I think the cultural across the campus has become more Christ centered,” Peer Ministry Director Angie Larson says.

Peer Ministry is welcome to anyone and not limited to only people of faith, nonbelievers are also included.

“It’s to connect with people on campus and to serve people in a loving way,” Timmons says. “To be leaders in our community in a serving and humble way. To give them God’s love and help them in times of need.”

If you’d like more information, visit peerministry.org

You are able to contact Angie Larson at alarson@grandview.edu and Joel Timmons at joel.timmons@grandview.edu