Echo Spring 2024 - 31

Recent Grad Calls Refugee
Work at Bethany Christian
Services an 'Incredible
arriving in Lancaster County as they learn the culture and build
their lives within the community.
" You see a lot of people who have come in from other
countries and made a life for themselves, " Richard said, " so I
think it's the community's responsibility to accept them in
because they're just going to add to the community rather
than take away from it. "
Hannah Mathews, who took Greek language classes at LBC,
serves in an administrative support role at Bethany's Lancaster
office. Her faith, she said, plays a significant role in staying
motivated in the nonprofit and social work space that can
sometimes be difficult.
" To be in an organization where, presumably, we're all
motivated by our faith, I think makes it a bit easier to stay
engaged and motivated, " she said.
Kathryn (Miller '65) Scott volunteers with the team in a role
that she said has been one of the most appreciative jobs over
her long career. Following " a leading of the Lord, " she attended
the college back when it was known as Lancaster School of the
Bible after a young woman she met who was already enrolled
at LSB couldn't stop raving about the school.
Though these LBC alumni took different paths to LBC, they
all found their experiences to be transformational. While
Steve benefitted from the sense of community in his Tuesday
night in-person classes, John appreciated the " self-paced "
independent study of the online courses. For Richard, it took
overcoming the mentality that it was too late in life to pursue
his degree to truly experience the benefit of what LBC had
to offer.
" It was always Lancaster Bible College, " Richard emphasized.
" I don't know why-it was just a God thing. It changed my life. "
To learn more about becoming involved in Bethany Christian
Services' Refugee Resettlement or the Safe Families for Children
programs, visit bit.ly/lbc-echo-bethany.
Blessing'
K
arissa Weaver ('24) walked across the stage at
LBC's May Commencement ceremony, putting the
(graduation) cap on her Bachelor of Social Work
degree. For the past year, she's worked alongside
the team at Bethany Christian Services' Lancaster office-
first in fulfillment of her social work practicum, then as part
of a 420-hour internship placement, during which she was
hired at Bethany in a temporary role.
When looking for an
organization where she
could complete her
requirements, Karissa
had an initial interest in
refugee resettlement
work, which turned
out to be a seamless
fit with Bethany.
" The really rich multicultural
environment is
an incredible blessing
to have, " Karissa said of
working with the local
refugee population. " You get to meet people from all over
and engage with people who speak different languages
and see the world in very different ways than you. "
Karissa's initial responsibilities included completing
various tasks and running errands, transporting clients
to appointments, answering phones and helping shop
for supplies so new arrivals to the area could set up their
homes. She took on more case responsibilities in her
current role and was also assigned a client case within
the resettlement and placement program.
" One of the things that I love the most is being able to
work in such a resilient population, " Karissa explained.
" The refugees have been through so much, and I learn
from them and am inspired by them every day that I go
to work. "
- Catherine Hogue
ECHO 31
http://bit.ly/lbc-echo-bethany
Echo Spring 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Echo Spring 2024
