Joy in Serving
A College Student’s Summer at EdenRidge
Written by Shari Martin
Photo Credits: EdenRidge Staff
In our last Impact Story, we introduced you to John Pierce, a missionary photographer, and one of the many people who work quietly behind the scenes at EdenRidge. Today, we'd like you to meet another behind-the-scenes servant, RaeAnn.
A senior at Mount Vernon Nazarene University studying ministry and business, RaeAnn spent this past summer at EdenRidge doing everything from guest relations and housekeeping to landscaping and painting the globe at World Vision Park.
RaeAnn at World Vision Park
No two days were alike for RaeAnn, and every project became another opportunity for her to serve guests and learn from missionaries from around the world.
RaeAnn isn't new to retreat ministry. She’s a fifth-generation grain farmer, and her family operates Shekinah Retreat Center in southwestern Ohio near Cincinnati. She explained, "Shekinah is an agriculture ministry similar to EdenRidge in that its purpose is to serve pastors, missionaries, and the children of the King." After graduating from college, she plans to return home to help run both the retreat center and the family farm.
As part of her degree program, RaeAnn and her classmates were required to complete an internship between their junior and senior years in the ministry area they hope to pursue. While researching Christian retreat centers across the country, EdenRidge stood out to her. Conversations with Oliver Dossmann eventually led her to spend the summer serving as an intern.
RaeAnn and her parents, Robb and Renee, preparing to tackle another day’s work!
One of the biggest surprises for RaeAnn was the global reach of the ministry.
"Serving at EdenRidge, something that has surprised me has been just how global the ministry is. I never would have thought I would have met so many missionaries this summer who serve all over the world."
When asked how her internship influenced the way she thinks about missions and ministry, RaeAnn said:
"Even though I have been involved in missions for most of my life, this summer has changed the way I view missions, as I have learned a lot about mission organizations and mission opportunities I did not even know existed."
"This summer, I have learned in a new way just how vast the world of missions is, but at the same time, it makes you realize how small the world is."
"During my time at EdenRidge, I have had a lot of further confirmation that this is the line of ministry that the Lord is calling me into. I get so much joy out of working in every part of the ministry. People say to find a job you love so you never really work a day in your life. And that has happened to me. I genuinely love hospitality and creating places where guests feel at home and getting to see the body of Christ come together in such an incredible way."
RaeAnn plans to continue working toward ordination in the Church of the Nazarene and hopes to develop an agricultural education program at Shekinah Retreat Center.
We're grateful she chose to spend part of her summer serving at EdenRidge, and we wish her God’s continued blessing as she returns home to complete her college education and serve alongside her family at Shekinah Retreat Center.
The EdenRidge staff and volunteers surprised RaeAnn with a farewell celebration to thank her for serving at EdenRidge.
You can learn more about Shekinah Retreat Center and RaeAnn’s family ministry here.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Was your stay meaningful? We'd love to hear how God used your time at EdenRidge.
Email us at rest@edenridge.org and we'll schedule a short conversation with you.