Makenzie Speakman has become one of the pastoral assistants on the Campus Ministries team.
Junior Makenzie Speakman. Photo provided by Makenzie Speakman
Speakman is a junior pursuing early childhood education, intervention specialist and psychology as her majors. Other than Campus Ministries, she is a student ambassador, president of the Bluffton Education Organization and also participates in Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Speakman has been part of Campus Ministries for two years as a ministry assistant. She began in the spring semester of her freshman year when Bluffton’s Campus Pastor, Stephen “Tig” Intagliata, contacted her about becoming a ministry assistant.
At first, Speakman was hesitant to apply for this position when she was approached as a freshman because of the amount of responsibility, but with some support from Intagliata, she accepted the position after the interview.
“Ministry assistants are placed throughout campus to help answer student’s questions about life, God and anything else that comes to mind,” said Speakman. “Their main role is to make connections with their fellow residents and let them know that they are there to support the Bluffton Students in every aspect of their lives.”
One of the pastoral assistants graduated in December of 2019, leaving this position open and needing to be replaced. Intagliata approached Speakman again as a junior, asking her to become that replacement and step up to the role of pastoral assistant.
“Being a pastoral assistant is a great leadership opportunity, as well as a strong team-building and cooperation opportunity,” Speakman said.
Speakman described a pastoral assistant as being similar to the “hall directors” of the Campus Ministries team. Pastoral assistants work very closely with Intagliata to set up events around campus but also need to work closely with the ministry assistants, answering their questions and supporting them.
“I am so glad that I decided to accept the pastoral assistant position because it has helped me to grow closer to God, my fellow campus ministries team and my fellow students,” said Speakman. “Being part of Campus Ministries has changed my life for the better.”
Speakman explained that in high school she went through a rough time when she thought all hope was gone and all she felt was darkness until she found the bible verse John 1:5, which she lives by now.
“The verse John 1:5 is, ‘The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it,’” said Speakman. “This verse helps to remind me every day that even though there is darkness in the world, there is still light in the world and no matter how hard the darkness tries to cover God’s light and hide His face from us, God is still there, living through this darkness with us.”
When Speakman began college she was nervous that the feeling of darkness would return and waiver her faith; however, she said Campus Ministries has helped her find her faith for herself and stay strong.
“Becoming a part of the Ministry team has helped me to grow as a person, as a Christian and helped me to gain confidence in my faith and share it with others,” Speakman said.
