Youth Ministry - Student Profile - Nicky Swain

Nicky Swain
Sophomore, Youth Ministry
Wauseon, Ohio

What drew you to Hesston, and to the Youth Ministry program?
I met Michele Hershberger during a summer visit, and that did it. She had so much life, energy, and passion for what she was teaching. She made you feel like you were welcome and not some stranger. I knew after meeting her that this was the place for me.

How challenging are the academics in the Youth Ministry program?
I don’t know how many nights and countless hours I’ve spent learning passages and speaking with others about real life questions that we as Christians need to wrestle with. So yes it’s very challenging, but in a way that’s engaging and collaborative.

What kind of hands-on learning experiences do you get in the program?
I’m doing an internship here at Hesston Mennonite, the college campus church. This program is pretty much all hands-on ministry experience. It’s a really great opportunity to test your passions and gifts in a supervised ministry setting. It’s more broad than focusing just on youth ministry, but it’s important in the sense of being in a church setting daily, building relationships with people, and learning how to use my passions and gifts within a more structured setting.

What are the professors like in this program?
All of my professors at Hesston have impacted my life, and the Bible professors have made a deeper impact. It’s so nice to know there’s always going to be someone there for you, at your worst moments, and at your best moments to share and encourage you. They’re always willing to spend the extra time with you if you want to connect at the different level.

What are some of your most memorable moments as a student at Hesston?
The late-night talks, the pranks, the ditch diving, and the phenomenal relationships that have formed and shaped me to be who I am today. These things have helped me to see the world with a more open mind, trained me in ways that books couldn’t, allowed me to explore who I am, and allowed me to have fun.