What is the Sojourner Program?
The Sojourner program is a spiritual leadership program for students that is focused on two key aspects of discipleship. First, Sojourners commit to growing in their own journey as disciples of Jesus. Second, Sojourners come alongside their peers to minister to them and encourage them in their discipleship journey with Jesus.
Core Values
The Sojourner team is a worshipful, biblical, missional community. Here is what that means:
Worshipful – Sojourners are Christ-focused. We are dedicated to growing deeper in intimacy with Jesus Christ our King and Savior through prayer, worship, and personal spiritual disciplines/practices. (John 10:27, 15:4-5, Luke 24:27, Psalm 27:8)
Biblical – Sojourners are Scripture-centered. We recognize the Bible as our authority for faith and practice and engage with God’s word as individuals, as a team, and as we lead others on campus. (Matthew 4:4, 24:35, Isaiah 55:11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 15:4, Hebrews 4:12-13, 2 Peter 1:19-21)
Missional – Sojourners are ministry-minded. This means we look for opportunities to: Introduce unbelievers to Christ (Matthew 4:19), Establish believers in Christ (Matthew 28:19-20), and identify and Equip spiritual leaders for ministry with Christ. (2 Timothy 2:2, John 20:21)
Community – Sojourners abide in Christ as a team. We invest in our spiritual friendship together. Our team’s fellowship is marked by joy, honor, integrity, purity, encouragement, support, unity, and accountability. (Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 133, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Romans 6:19, Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Timothy 6:11-16, Titus 2:11-14, 1 Timothy 4:12, Galatians 6:1-2)
FAQs
Sojourners commit to serving for one year. Near the end of that year, they may choose to reapply to be on the team for another year.
Sojourners function almost like a student chaplain for their residence hall. Key aspects of the Sojourner’s ministry include leading weekly Floor Focus Bible Study times, leading monthly all-hall spiritual events, helping to facilitate occasional spiritual programs on campus, providing inspiring quotes and devotionals on the floor, and being willing and available to pray for, listen to, and minister to residents in the dorms as needs arise. Sojourners also participate in a weekly team lunch on campus, bi-weekly ministry coaching, and in-depth ministry training at the beginning of each semester.
We will train you! God does not call those who are already equipped, rather, God equips those that are called. We have a week of training before each school year starts to give you all the tools you will need to lead well. Along with that, every Sojourner receives coaching throughout the year from members of the spiritual formation team and campus pastors at Huntington University.
Because our Sojourners are spiritual leaders on campus, they are examples for others to follow (1 Timothy 4:12). Therefore, we have high standards for our Sojourners. However, we recognize that being a follower of Jesus is not about perfection, it’s about pursuit and direction. We are all on a journey and none of us have perfectly arrived. The program is about embracing the challenge and high standard of living faithfully to the call of Christ, while acknowledging areas of needed growth so that God can mature us in Him.
The selection process involves submitting a written application and an interview. Teams are selected before the end of each school year (for the following academic year). To learn more, contact us today!
