Campus Co-Pastor and Outreach Chaplain Laura Kraybill joined North Park鈥檚 University Ministries staff in March, sharing duties with Co-Pastor and Athletic Chaplain Terence Gadsden.
Kraybill, a missionary and pastor鈥檚 kid who moved frequently but considers Elkhart, Indiana her hometown, began at North Park just before the pandemic hit. With remote learning beginning shortly after her arrival, she didn鈥檛 have a lot of time to get to know students.
鈥淚t was a strange way to begin my job, but especially a job that is as relational as a campus pastor,鈥� Kraybill said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been good to be back in person this fall and meet students, although I hear the hustle and bustle isn鈥檛 the same as pre-pandemic days.鈥�
Kraybill was previously the Chaplain Resident at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She received her bachelor鈥檚 degree from Goshen College, a master鈥檚 in theatre education from Emerson University, and a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Kraybill was attracted to North Park because of its commitment to being Christian, city-centered, and intercultural.
鈥淭he opportunity to minister within a community dedicated to God鈥檚 call in Jeremiah to 鈥榮eek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile,鈥� resonates with my understanding of loving our neighbors.鈥�
She credits University Ministries with being creative in how they are able to minister despite social distancing and other limitations imposed by the pandemic.
鈥淣one of us could have figured out how to minister well alone, but together we are discovering God鈥檚 call to new ministry initiatives that might not have occurred had things stayed 鈥榥ormal.鈥欌��