A Bluffton University senior from Troy, is serving this summer in a Kokomo, Ind., church as part of Mennonite Church USA's Ministry Inquiry Program (MIP).

Participating in the program at Howard-Miami Mennonite Church is Jessica Deeter, a youth ministry major at Bluffton and the daughter of Roger and Stephany Deeter of Troy. Her home church is First United Church of Christ in Troy.

The MIP enables students from Mennonite institutions to test their calling and gifts for ministry. Supervised by host pastors, they take on various worship, pastoral care and administrative roles during the summer term, including preaching, leading worship, youth ministry and hospital and home visits. Deeter's supervising pastor at Howard-Miami church is Sarah Schlegel.

Each student receives a $2,000 scholarship to be applied toward college tuition, along with a $500 stipend. In addition to the Mennonite institutions and Mennonite Church USA Denominational Ministry, funding sources include host churches and the students' area Mennonite conferences and home churches.