Exciting Pilot Program for FVL Students

This year, four students and two faculty advisors will be participating in a program that will enable them to conduct practical research in another country next summer. Through a new partnership between FVL and the Meros Center, students will have the opportunity to train for and conduct field research in a mission field.

Led by Executive Director, Jason Paltzer (FVL Class of ‘95), the Meros Center is a joint venture between Kingdom Workers and Wisconsin Lutheran College. They have research partnerships with universities in Zambia, Uganda, South Africa, and Malawi. They also partner with non-profit organizations that promote healthy youth in South Africa, conduct community health evangelism in Guatemala and Ghana, provide health care in Papua New Guinea, and integrate people with disabilities into community life in Malawi. They have partnered with congregations and organizations in various locations in the US. Now Paltzer is looking at including FVL students among that list of partners, through real-life research opportunities.

Read about Dr. Paltzer
in the March Fox Tales

This year will be a pilot-year for the program at FVL, but it may potentially be an annual opportunity for FVL students. These students will begin by taking three courses through Wisconsin Lutheran College: Theology of Health, Principles of Health Ministry, and Mental Health Ministry. Following their course work, there will be a three-week immersion, during which students will conduct research in an international setting with a Meros Center partner. Once the research is complete, the intent is to publish their findings in an effort to meet the health and spiritual needs of world missions.

The opportunity was first presented to FVL faculty and juniors last spring. Interested faculty members met with Paltzer, so that he could explain the role that both students and advisors would play moving forward. From the group of interested faculty, two (Mr. Tim Fischer and Mr. Brian Zunker) were chosen to serve as advisors for this pilot year. These teachers are taking courses over the summer, so they can serve as on-campus guides for the students throughout the year. Next summer, these faculty advisors will accompany the students to the mission field and will assist in guiding their research.

All juniors were invited to apply to participate in this program, and there was a terrific response from the class. Students first filled out applications. From the list of applicants, several students were interviewed for the position. Finally, the Meros team selected four students to participate: Jack Friemark, Evelyn Hanmann, Jonah Toppe, Hannah Uhlenbrauck, and Carys Wendland. 

These students have a lot of work ahead of them, doing coursework which will be above-and-beyond their full FVL academic schedule. The value of their participation and research, though, will impact many people for many years to come.

May God bless the Meros Center for their continued work and the FVL faculty and students as they prepare for this program.