As a new college school year begins across the nation, SPO missionaries settle into their new homes or return after a summer of training & support fundraising. This school year, 15 Missionaries & SPO staff members are serving at Seton Hall University and Rutgers University. We also warmly welcome them into our Compass Young Adult Community. As they will be serving on these college campuses and being apart of our lives, let's meet them and get to know them a bit!
Missionaries at Rutgers University
Back Row (R-L): Emilie Miller (WA), Gretchen Behrens (IL),
Front Row (R-L): Joe Conroy (NJ), Evan Markel (ND), Jona Hamson (MN)
"TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF! HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SERVING WITH SPO AND WHAT IS ONE THING YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT THIS YEAR?"
"I'm Emilie, originally from Seattle, WA but attended Northeastern University in Boston! I'm starting up my 4th year serving with SPO, I am ready for what the Lord has at Rutgers this year- I think it will be a year of depth and growth, especially in bestowing missionary zeal unto our students."
"My name is Gretchen Behrens and I'm 22. I grew up in Oak Forest, Il, a southwest suburb of Chicago. I attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN where I majored in Political Science and minored in Catholic Studies. This is my first year on staff with SPO and I'm looking forward to investing in the community at Rutgers University and being able to expand it with the two new classes coming in."
"I'm Evan Markel, I’m 23, born and raised in Bismarck, NORTH DAKOTA! Went to school at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. This is my first year serving with SPO, and I’m very excited to get to know the Lord better-specifically through His people at Rutgers University."
"Hi! My name is Jona Hamson (soon to be Liebsch in January! Come Lord Jesus!) and I am from a small rural town in MN - population 75 people. My fiance and I went to the same college in Fargo, ND where I studied Natural Resource Management, History, and Political Science. This is my sixth year serving with SPO! It has been such a gift to serve the Lord in this way for the past five years, to see how He brings His children back to Him and how He desires for me to be a part of that work. I have gotten a front row seat to the amazing ways the Lord is working still today and I am excited about what He has for us this year at Rutgers! I know it's going to be good - so stay tuned!"
"WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT NEW JERSEY AND WHY?" (Returning Missionaries)
"What has most surprised me about my time in New Jersey is how beautiful the Jersey shore is, I really thought it was going to be a mediocre beach but it is so beautiful! On a more spiritual note I have been surprised by the Lord in countless ways, I was called to New Jersey to serve and be on mission but I have received so much from the Lord in these past 3 years, particularly a deeper encounter with His mercy and His tenderness. I am so grateful!" - Emilie
" That the Lord would have me find my vocation here!" - Jona
What is one thing you look forward to seeing/doing in New Jersey? (New Missionaries)
"I've heard there's some good hiking spots around so I'm excited to check those out as well as just to explore more of what the state has to offer." - Gretchen
"I’m looking forward to gaining some of the accent of New Jersey." - Evan
Missionaries at Seton Hall University
Back Row (L-R): Jake Walters (MN), Gabby Schedberle (MO), Paul Stucker (OH), Kristina Ulm (OH), Matt Ladosci (VA)
Front Row (L-R): Hailey Allegra (FL), Manny Sanchez (WI), Julia Carmedelle (FL)
"TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF! HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SERVING WITH SPO AND WHAT IS ONE THING YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT THIS YEAR?"
"My name is Jake Walters and I am from Minnesota where I attended the University of St. Thomas. This is my second year serving with SPO and I am looking forward to having more students on campus to reach out to this year!"
"My name is Gabby Scheberle, I’m 23 years old, and I’m from St. Louis, MO. I went to school at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO, and I really miss KC barbecue! Despite that, I’m very excited to be in New Jersey and am looking forward to “planting roots” here and finding all of the best local pizza joints. This is my first year serving with SPO, and I’m so excited to become a part of the Seton Hall community. The students and staff are wonderful, and the Lord is already doing so much at SHU!"
"I',m Paul Stucker, 23, and I' m from Cincinnati, Ohio. I went to University of Cincinnati. This will be my second year with SPO and I am looking forward to building a solid men's culture this year at SHU."
"I'm Kristina Ulm, 25 years old and from Cincinnati, OH. I graduated from University of Cincinnati. This is my third year serving with SPO. I was at Texas State University for two years. This year, I am looking forward to being on a smaller campus and getting to know the New Jersey culture." "My name is Matt Ladocsi. I'm 24 years old, I'm from Virginia and I went to school at Northeastern University in Boston. This is my first year with SPO and I'm really excited to enter into being a full-time missionary this year!"
"My name is Hailey Allegra, I'm from Tampa, FL and I went to school at the University of Central Florida. This is my second year serving with SPO at Seton Hall University, and I'm really looking forward to all the students that are going to be on campus this year, as well as getting to live on in the dorms and create an even more consistent presence on campus." "My name is Emmanuel Sanchez, some of you may know me as 'Manny'. I am 24 years old, born in Guadalajara Mexico, but grew up in Green Bay Wisconsin since 2004. I got my undergrad in Physics at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
I've been serving with SPO for the last 2 years, going on 3. I'm looking forward to a full year with students on campus, Praise the Lord for the abundance of students at SHU, where I can connect with them. There should be many soccer games, football games, and gritty conversations this year!"
"Hello! I'm Julia Carmedelle, I'm 24, I'm from St. Augustine, Florida and went to Florida State University. I am going into my third year serving with SPO at Seton Hall University, and I'm really excited to see how the Lord continues to build up our women's community there, inviting students to take ownership in the mission as well!"
"WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT NEW JERSEY AND WHY?" (Returning Missionaries)
"I have been most pleasantly surprised by the great love and generosity that I have received from the network of people I have met here in NJ, especially from the POH and the community at Seton Hall!" - Jake
"I've really loved the time I've gotten to spend in New Jersey, and I've been most surprised by the amount of nature I've encountered here. I feel like that really isn't something that most people associate with New Jersey, so I've been pleasantly surprised." - Hailey
"It is a beautiful state! The shore, poconos, and state parks are all amazing. Thank you God!" - Paul
"I've been most surprised by the support I've received in the community at Seton Hall, COMPASS & the POH. From my perspective, I think I have an abundance of friends and people who I can trust and feel taken care of. There's a real beauty in what I am given as I give so much myself." - Manny
"I've been most surprised by how the Lord has worked in my own life since I've made the cross-country move to NJ... He has provided me with a greater surrender, healing, and transformation that I never knew was possible, and only He could have brought about!" - Julia
What is one thing you look forward to seeing/doing in New Jersey? (New Missionaries)
"This is my first year serving with SPO, and I’m so excited to become a part of the Seton Hall community. The students and staff are wonderful, and the Lord is already doing so much at SHU!" - Gabby
"I'd like to go to the shore and explore any hiking NJ has!" - Kristina
"I've been told that the best thing about living in New Jersey is that there's a little bit of everything here; there's hiking out to the west, the shore to the east and NYC close by as well. So I'm excited to experience all of the fun stuff New Jersey has to offer (and the bagels, obviously)!" - Matt
Please pray for these missionaries as they begin their work here in NJ. To learn more about what SPO is and their work is on college campuses, click HERE