Field Education Spotlight: Manna Christian Fellowship

Manna Christian Fellowship is a chaplaincy at Princeton University that helps students think about how their relationship with Christ informs every part of their lives, from academic work to relationships and their future vocation.

“Much of our weekly programming includes Bible study, and because Princeton Theological Seminary students have been studying Scripture and theology, they enrich our ministry and help students that may be wrestling with biblical texts or concepts," says Elizabeth LeLievre, senior ministry fellow at Manna.

During his field education internship at Manna, Adam Lyons, MDiv '18, helped the Manna leadership team with its open small group meetings. These are geared toward people who are not involved with Manna, yet want to learn more about Christianity and its relationship to current world events. Though the leadership at Manna is more conservative theologically than he, Lyons says that Manna fosters mutual respect that allows for meaningful conversations.

“It was great to be in an environment that was different from my PTS classroom experience, because it broadened my understanding while giving me free reign to follow my interests,” he says. “I also had a great group of students to work with who did what was asked of them and followed through with their ideas. A high bar has been set.”

LeLievre notes that Lyons was “particularly adept at helping people from a variety of backgrounds and was sensitive to their differing levels of Bible knowledge,” skills that will help him in his future endeavors. He plans to become a college professor and stay involved with college ministry, working with students.

His advice to Seminary students heading into their first field education experience is to “make it your own and work with your supervisor to figure out how the experience can help you and your ministry.”