UKirk kicks off spring semester

Amanda+Coleman+and+Tim+Adkins%2C+The+Directors+of+Harmony+House+and+The+Burrito+Riders%2FReBicyle+spoke+to+the+UKirk+ministry+about+their+call+to+work+with+the+homeless%2C+January+19%2C+2016.

Submitted Photo

Amanda Coleman and Tim Adkins, The Directors of Harmony House and The Burrito Riders/ReBicyle spoke to the UKirk ministry about their call to work with the homeless, January 19, 2016.

UKirk is a campus ministry that strives to reach across denominational borders to unite all students in fellowship and worship.

UKirk students started the semester with a Skype call from Marji McCoy, a 2015 Marshall alum who is working with the homeless in Hollywood, California.

Students also heard from Amanda Coleman, executive director of the Harmony House and Tim Adkins about their work beginning the Burrito Riders program in Huntington.

Marshall UKirk’s interim campus minister, Ellen Dawson, said she hopes the different guest speakers each week will inspire students in their daily lives.

“They [Coleman and Adkins] talked to students about how they never expected to end up where they are today,” Dawson said. “They said that you should always follow God’s calling for your life, no matter where it leads you.”

UKirk is scheduled to hear a variety of speakers in the coming weeks.

Adam Franks, Marshall Alum and M.D. professor of family medicine will speak to the club next week about crucifixion from a medical perspective.

Others scheduled to speak this semester include the Rev. Rob Laukoter, Laura Gilliam, Robin Blakeman, Todd Green, Chong Kim and Bill and Addie Likens.

The speakers are set to discuss a wide variety of topics, ranging from outreach and mission trip experiences, to faith’s relationship to the environment.

UKirk will team up with the United Methodist Student Ministry at Marshall and a ministry group from Potomac State University for a mission trip to Crisfield, Maryland later this semester. These students will be helping out with Hurricane Sandy relief in partnership with United Methodist Disaster Response Ministries.

UKirk meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Campus Christian Center. Each meeting begins with snacks and fellowship and end with worship and prayer.

Dawson said she would love to see this ministry grow on campus.

“We are a growing group,” Dawson said. “We’re trying to reach out to people of all denominations. I think we have some really interesting events coming up this semester.”

Nancy Peyton can be contacted at [email protected].