“We are God’s handiwork”

Young people and “good works.” That’s the heart of a new trades program at Rosedale Bible College in Irwin, Ohio. The first set of 11 students, through a partnership between the college and Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), completed six weeks of service with MDS during their winter term.

Titus Beitzel, director of the new program, said that he hopes students recognize that they are masterpieces created by God. “In Ephesians 2:8-9, we learn that we are saved by grace through faith and don’t earn salvation by our good works,” he explained. “But verse 10 states, ‘We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ ”

Beitzel, who has always enjoyed creating things, wanted to help students learn hands-on skills and discover “good works” at the same time.

“I am excited to help students recognize that they are masterpieces created by God, and that He has good works with their names on, waiting for them to do,” said Beitzel. “I am also excited to help them develop the necessary skills to do these good works in a way that honors God.”

On-the-job learning

Students spent six weeks with MDS responses in Selma, Alabama; Amory, Mississippi; Merced, California; Penitas, Texas; Port Charlotte, Florida, and Wynne, Arkansas. They earned scholarships and gained many new skills that will lead to an introduction to trades certificates from Rosedale Bible College.

“We are introducing them to electrical, carpentry, plumbing, and mechanical over a two-year period,” explained Beitzel. “The idea is to let them get a feel for what those trades are to see if they  want to pursue them further.”

The students reported to Beitzel that the MDS service got them out of their comfort zones, and that they were glad to experience it.

“They said how much they enjoyed meeting the people in the houses and how much they enjoyed the MDS leadership they were under. Also, we heard how they also enjoyed learning on the job sites”  he said.

Approximately 50 students—led by their peers in the trades program—also participated in a Rosedale Bible College event called “Deadline Weekend” during which teams built as much of a storage shed as possible between the hours of 6 pm Friday and 11 am Saturday. The sheds will be sold, and the proceeds split between MDS and the Rosedale trades program.

“I pray that Rosedale Trades will be a place where students will come to develop solid foundations for their journey through life,” concluded Beitzel.