“My faith is extremely important to me and was the biggest deciding factor in choosing a college,” said Fitton, a member of Divine Unity Community Church in Harrisonburg. “I didn’t want to go to a big party school, but instead wanted to grow in my faith and use my testimony to inspire others.”

Fitton, who enjoys leading Bible studies, praying over people, and bringing others to Christ, said she’s excited to become a part of EMU campus ministries this fall. “EMU offers campus worship, Bible studies, and more opportunities that you can’t find on other campuses,” she said. “Many players on the volleyball team also openly express their passion for Christ, which is important to me.”

The volleyball star was named Region 1B Player of the Year and received honors as a first team selection at the All-District, All-Region, and All-State levels this past season. She will play for the Royals this fall and said Coach Casey Steinbrecher was another major reason for her choosing EMU. 

“I remember one of my first conversations with him, he just wanted to get to know me outside of volleyball,” Fitton said. “Other coaches wanted to know my interests and that kind of thing, but Casey stuck out to me by wanting to get to know what my family was like, my background, and more before getting to know me as a player.”

When she’s not on the court, she plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business management. She said she will graduate high school with a cosmetology license and plans to earn her esthetician license either during or after college. Eventually, she said, she hopes to own and manage her own spa. 

A ‘life-changing’ opportunity

Fitton said her decision to attend EMU “felt right.” When she visited the campus early last year, she was struck by everyone’s friendliness toward her. “Everyone I walked past asked me how I was, without even knowing me,” she said. “The atmosphere on campus is refreshing. It’s quiet and peaceful while also being welcoming.”

She said she looks forward to forming close connections with classmates and professors and taking advantage of EMU’s distinctive intercultural program. “I love to travel and expand my understanding of the world,” Fitton said. “I believe an experience to study abroad is life-changing and opens doors for opportunity. When I visited, I knew EMU was a place I could see myself for the next four years.”

Read more about Reese
: Fitton named Region 1B Player of the Year and headed to EMU
: Luray’s Reese Fitton used faith, love to lead team during special season

Two Eastern Mennonite Seminary alumni have created a blog and web magazine to provide a forum for young adults who are committed to staying in the institutional church but want to discuss what that means.

"Work and Hope: Finding Christ in the Church" was created by Jeremy Yoder, a 2010 graduate currently living in Baltimore, Md., and Laura Lehman Amstutz, a 2006 alumna, a Harrisonburg resident. Both completed the three-year master of divinity degree program.

Perspectives on faith, heritage and more

Their blog and quarterly online magazine will attempt to bring together various young adult perspectives about the church.

The first issue of the magazine was launched July 20 and focused on the theme, "Why am I [still] Mennonite" or in the case of one writer "Why am I [still] Brethren."

Six contributors address this question, citing family connections, ethical understandings and a commitment to a heritage and theology that makes sense to them.

Work and Hope

"We chose ‘Work and Hope’ for the blog’s title because are the words in the inscription on many editions of the ‘Martyrs Mirror,’ the historical account of Anabaptist martyrs," said Yoder. "It also signifies the perseverance we believe the church needs to survive."

"We feel like there’s been much emphasis on that segment of our generation who is leaving the church," Amstutz added. "We wanted to create a place for those of us who are staying to discuss what that means for us."

About the editors

Amstutz and Yoder are hoping to attract a wide cross-section of writers for the quarterly magazine from across the Anabaptist-Mennonite faith tradition and perspective.

The editors, Yoder and Amstutz, will also be blogging regularly about other topics related and tangential to their commitment to the church.

Yoder is currently looking for a ministry position within a Mennonite congregation. Amstutz is admissions associate and communication coordinator for Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

Sunday: sustainability panel

EMU President Loren Swartzendruber

Sunday, April 18 at 4 p.m., EMU President Loren Swartzendruber will be part of a area panel that will discuss "Four Views: Community Sustainability" held at Harrisonburg High School. Swartzendruber will speak about his climate change and creation care philosophy and the campus-wide sustainability effort initiated by him at EMU.

He will be followed by Kathy Holm on sustainable agriculture, Erik Curren of Blackfriars Theater in Staunton on business sustainability practices, and last, City of Harrisonburg Mayor Kai Degner will offer a viewpoint on sustainability progress and goals for Harrisonburg and surrounding area.

A question and answer period will follow the speakers forum.

Wednesday: Joe Stanley on moral energy use

Joe Stanley of Virginia Interfaith Power and Light

Joe Stanley of Virginia Interfaith Power and Light brings the voice of the faith community to the discussion of public policies that concern the environment, predominately on the state level. The group’s work largely focuses on climate change, energy production and energy efficiency.

Stanley will speak on ‘Energy Use and Its Moral Implications’ Wednesday, Apr. 21. in the Strite Conference Center on ground floor of the EMU Campus Center (see campus map).

Stanley is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in political science. During his college days, he served as a legislative assistant to Delegate Franklin Hall, former minority leader, and also worked in the Richmond office of Senator Jim Webb. He also served as a student fellow for Virginia21, an advocacy organization working directly with and on behalf of college students. While at Virginia21, Stanley was active in the successful effort to pass the Community College Transfer Grant in 2007.

The Goochland County, Va., native is a 2005 graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia and a member of the Greater Richmond Partnership for Smarter Growth’s Land Use and Transportation advisory board.

Admission to Stanley’s Wednesday speaking presentation is free. For more information, call April Banks at 432-4545.

Thursday: food and farms

On Thursday, April 22 at 5 p.m., Eric Bendfeldt of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and local farmers will discuss current issues in food, farms and community sustainability.

This event, held in the Strite Conference Center of EMU’s Campus Center (see campus map), is sponsored by the Virginia Cooperative Extension: Community Viability and the Creation Care Council of EMU. For more information, can call the extension office at (540) 564-3080.

Thursday at 7 p.m. there will be a showing of "Kilowatt Ours, A Plan to Renergize America." Children grades 3 to 9 are especially invited. Eldon Kurtz, EMU director of physical plant, will be part of a panel discussion after the film. For more information on the film, contact

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