Student Interviews of Churches that are Using
Peer Ministry
#11 Interview APR, 2005
Peer Helping: A Ministry of Wittenberg University
Interview with Bob White, Director of Church Relations.
Interviewed by Aaron Dowzak
Aaron: Is there a specific place that the group meets? Both Peer Helpers and the community with Peer Helpers?
Bob: Peer helpers are out and about and in your daily life and under the radar screen. So no the group does not have a specific place they meet with the community but Peer Helpers meet every other week to check in and talk about any issues they are having.
Aaron: How large of a group of peer helpers do you have?
Bob: There are currently 22 we are graduating 6 2 are going inactive because of being an Resident Advisor and we are training 13, next year we will have between 27-28 peer helpers. The reason that Resident Advisors cannot be peer helpers is that an R.A. must be a disciplinarian and some of their peers may not want to speak to them in fear of being in opposition of a college rule.
Aaron: How many group leaders are there?
Bob: There is me as the director and 5 other staff/faculty and a dean that are involved in training, not necessarily as a peer helper.
Aaron: Why are you involved with peer ministry through peer helpers?
Bob: I have been involved with peer ministry for 12 years trained by Lyle. I was a youth director at a church in Minnesota and the concept of peers helping peers is invaluable. I am also involved because I am called and we are called because we care.
Aaron: What needs do you see in your community?
Bob: The needs of college kids aren’t that much different than those of high school kids. When kids have issues they turn first to their peers then adults. If someone goes home for Thanksgiving break and finds out that their parents are getting a divorce and they come back and are expected to study. That’s where a peer helper can step in. Not to give advice but listen and think of ways to cope.
Aaron: What is the most exciting part for you as a peer minister?
Bob: When they get it. I hear stories all the time about how they are in situations and they realize that they are using the techniques and the light bulb goes on and they get it. I like to say two things: we don’t fix people, and we don’t "SHOULD" upon them.
Aaron: How do you see the elements of growth in faith and values, service to others shown in your group?
Bob: We close each meeting with a prayer to emphasize that God is involved here. That God uses other people and we are living Christ’s values. We use scripture to highlight situations. For service to others: they can be there for them, be supportive and be helpful listeners.
Aaron: What type of training do peer helpers go through?
Bob: The full peer helper training is going through 10 sessions in two days and this spring there was a Sunday afternoon training session about sensitive issues. At out meetings we have discussions and people come in to talk about topics and situations that pertain to college aged kids from rape, to abuse.
Aaron: How often is there recruitment for new members and what is the procedure to invite involvement?
Bob: There is recruitment Annually, we receive nominations from staff/faculty and we send them a letter of invitation and they reply with an application. This spring we had 55 nominations which we sent letters of invitation to, there were 16 that applied and 13 that were accepted.
Aaron: What are some highlights from your group?
Bob: A peer helper that is involved in choir was planning an event and there were some other members of the choir that weren’t fitting in and she was thinking of ways to welcome strangers and she developed the initiative to invite them.
The peer helpers ask the tough questions, and are vulnerable to each other which is part of the maturing process.
Aaron: Do you have any stories from a peer helper that deal with one on ones?
Bob: Well there was a young man that was talking with a young woman about some issues in her life and through his maturity realized that he could not help her by himself so they called me for a meeting and they came in and she shared her pain and he intently listened and that when he got it…He just needed to be a listener.
Aaron: What goals do you have for the peer helper group?
Bob: To be as diverse as the individuals at Wittenberg. To have kids in athletics, choir, band, academics, working and being where people are, to have different races and ethnicities. Another goal would be to be formally accepted into the safety net that other groups are welcomed into, so that if the dean or someone gets a call about someone falling through the cracks they could call me and I could hook a peer helper to that person to be there and be supportive and encouraging for them. To be accepted on campus where individuals seek out peer helpers not peer helpers seek out individuals.
Aaron: If I were starting a peer ministry group what information or advice would you pass onto me before I began, and why?
Bob: Planning, we spent 1 ½ years planning the peer helper group for this campus. Every situation whether it be a college campus, a church or wherever you are is a different situation and you need to sit down with a group of people and look for the needs and develop a working manual and decide what are the gifts of that community. Also once you train follow up, periodically check-in. They need oversight, support, nurturing, and encouragement.
Aaron: Do you have any comments or anything you wish to say about your group?
Bob: They are great and growing. We had an evaluation to talk about high lights and disappointments, a chance to point out successes and affirmation that this will help you out past your college years.
Aaron: Thank you Bob for the wonderful conversation and points of advice.
Bob: Your very welcome good luck to you, and take care. And tell Lyle “It’s good stuff” from me.
