By Chris Yingling | Echo
A new living-learning community is coming to the Taylor campus in the summer of 2014, and the innovative process brings new opportunities to students from different backgrounds.
The LLC concept is practiced by universities around the country and is making its first appearance at Taylor with a twist. The new program is geared around the study of orphans and vulnerable children and will be lead by Taylor faculty members Scott and Jennifer Moeschberger.
The intention of the LLC is to combine Scott Moeschberger's class Orphans and Vulnerable Children with a summer practicum and a year in which participants live together.
"In the field of practice, there is a felt need for a greater bridge between scholarship and ministry," Jennifer Moeschberger said. "We hope to help step into that gap by providing students who have a heart for vulnerable children with a practical 'next step.'"
The program will be piloted next year in Haakonsen Hall. Students will have the opportunity to live with their fellow students during their practicum. The students will be focusing on orphan studies during the summer through completion of the class followed by programing and publications throughout the fall semester.This program provides Taylor with an opportunity to minister to a world populated by 168 million orphans. In addition to World Opportunities Week and Lighthouse trips, this initiative brings the subject of orphans and vulnerable children closer to home.
Dean of Students Skip Trudeau has high hopes for the program and what it may bring for not just the students participating in the program, but for Taylor's place in the collegiate community.
"We've always had student ministry groups centered on the concept of orphans," Trudeau said. "A goal I see for this is seeing people contacting or coming to Taylor when it comes to orphan studies because we are the world experts."
The program provides students with an ability not only to have a passion for the subject of orphans and vulnerable children but to get practical experience on this topic.
"Students and faculty have a passion and respond to this in incredibly meaningful ways," Trudeau said. "We have some unique abilities to help and deal with this notion."
An informational meeting will be held December 6 in the Breuninger Hall lobby for students interested in getting involved with the program. Any questions can be emailed to Jennifer Moeschberger.
