Devon Lengacher, a student at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS), was appointed the first ADNet Student Associate in July 2008 for the 2008-09 school year.

Originally from Shipshewana, Indiana, Lengacher studied previously at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana before continuing his studies at EMS in Harrisonburg, Virginia, as a Master of Divinity student with a concentration in pastoral counseling.

Devon served during the 2008-09 school year as a pastoral intern at The Table as well as at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC).  The Table is an informal Mennonite congregation that meets on the Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) campus. He found that his presence in the congregation as a quadriplegic who uses a wheelchair provided a natural way to raise awareness of the needs of people with disabilities.

Devon chats with Joan Beck, a member of Olive Mennonite, following Devon's presentation at Topeka (Indiana) Mennonite Church

During his year volunteering with ADNet, Devon spoke on disabilities awareness and consulted with numerous congregations in the Harrisonburg community and in northern Indiana. An article by Devon is featured in the December 2008 issue of ADNet's Connections newsletter.

Though the Student Associate year is completed, Devon will continue to consider invitations to speak in the Harrisonburg area as he works to complete his Master of Divinity degree at EMS.

Devon shared reflections on his faith and call to ministry in a dialogue message with Paul Leichty at The Table on November 9, 2008.  Read the article based on that message.

Press release

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