Peer Ministry :: Adult Facilitator Support

Student Interviews of Churches that are Using Peer Ministry

#14 Interview April, 2005

Wittenberg University Springfield, OH

Interview with Elizabeth Eshelman

By: Emilie Kusler

Elizabeth in a junior at Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH where she is studying English. Elizabeth has been part of the Peer Helpers troop on campus for almost a year. Emilie is a Social Work major and Youth and Family Ministry minor at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN. The interview was conducted on April 18, 2005.

Emilie: Tell me a bit about Wittenberg University.

Elizabeth: Wittenberg has a little over 2,000 students, mostly undergrad with the exception of a few graduate students in Education. The university is affiliated with the Lutheran church.

Emilie: Could you explain why your group chose to change the title from peer ministry to peer “helper”?

Elizabeth: As far as I’ve been told. The original group didn’t want the “ministry” title to scare away anyone who may have a problem. Peer “helper” seemed a bit more inviting to those who may need to talk about some serious issues.

Emilie: Why do you think the Peer Helpers group is needed by your community or college?

Elizabeth: The skills you gain as a peer helper can be used in any situation. College life can offer some fairly difficult situations: classes, roommates, and romantic lives, for example can cause many students stress or confusion. Being able to use the peer helper skills in those areas can be valuable for everyone.

Emilie: Why did you want to get involved with the Peer Helpers group?

Elizabeth: First of all, it just sounded like a really neat program. I though it would be a good opportunity to volunteer. Further, as a scholarship recipient here at Wittenberg, I thought it would be a good way to “pay back” the college for everything they have given to me. The peer helpers group is also on campus, so it makes it easier to be involved.

Emilie: Tell me about the logistics of your group.

Elizabeth: Our group meets every other Sunday for an hour. We like to keep that time restriction as a form of respect for all “helpers”, especially on a busy Sunday night. Attendance hasn’t been so great at those meetings, but we’re hoping to enforce some sort of attendance policy next year, so things should improve. At first, our meeting weren’t structured. They were just a time to get together and talk about various experiences over the past couple weeks. Now, the meetings seem to have more structure, and we take turns leading the group through a discussion surrounding various topics (alcohol, depression…). Sometimes guest speakers will come and talk to the group as well. For example, a psychology professor came to talk to the group about depression. These discussions help us to gain more information on various topics that may come up in our discussions outside of the group. They help us to be a valuable resource to others.

Emilie: What about training?

Elizabeth: Training usually takes place at a nearby camp with bunk-beds and all! The training in condensed into one intense weekend where we go through all the peer ministry sessions.

Emilie: How do you invite involvement in the peer helpers group?

Elizabeth: For the first group of peer helpers, teachers and coaches were asked for recommendations, and letters were sent out inviting these students to the group. If a student is interested in the group, he or she must apply, write a short essay, and interview for the spot. Like faculty members, current peer helpers will recommend students they think would be good in the role, and then those students will apply as well. We try to get students from various activities and group to make the group more diverse and able to reach different areas on campus.

Emilie: What do you think are some of the struggles in your group?

Elizabeth: Like many other groups, it is sometimes hard to measure and asses your effectiveness. Rarely will students formally contact us with a question or a problem. You have to be aware of those around you and listening for situations where you can be of assistance because they won’t always ask you for help.

The group has “contact logs” where we write down various peer helper conversations we’ve had over the weeks to share and turn in at our meetings. Sometimes it’s difficult to draw the line between casual advice to a friend and an official “peer helper conversation”.

Emilie: Can you think of a specific story that you feel illustrates peer helpers?

Elizabeth: I’ve heard many from others, but I’ll give you one of my own. A friend that I had known since freshmen year started to instant message me one night. He seemed to have a negative attitude toward himself and his lack of having a girlfriend. I thought this would be a good opportunity to put my peer helper skills to use via the internet. I offered to meet with him or call him a few times, but he declined, so we kept instant messaging. As we talked, I offered various options for meeting girls and various approaches he might take when asking girls out. Over the next few months, I saw his confidence boost and his attitude about himself change. Though I may not have been the only influence in his life, I felt as if I contributed to the positive change.

Sometimes it helps to obtain the advice and help of another peer helper. For example, I was having a choir struggle, and asked for the help and encouragement of a peer helper. It is important to remember that even peer helpers need advice sometimes.

Emilie: What helpful information would you pass on to a new peer group?

Elizabeth: I think it is important to consciously make an effort to put your peer helper skills to use. Don’t be afraid to talk to people, look for a need, to help out, and to be a friend. It is easy to get distracted, so you must make it a conscious effort to help.

Emilie: Where do you see your own personal growth through your involvement with peer helpers?

Elizabeth: I think I am more likely to openly talk to people. I also have a better understanding of how to help people. It is so easy to say, “Do this” or “Do that”, but I have learned to offer options and let any decisions be done by the person with the dilemma.