So Much to Discover - Joanne Hickey

For Joanne Hickey it is hard to pick one story about how Lutheran Campus Ministry at Kanas University (LCM-KU) and Westwood House campus ministry have been important in her life, but her initial involvement seems a great place to start. Following the traumatic events of September 11, 2001, Joanne sought the counseling of her then Lutheran pastor. But her pastor was out of town, so she instead attended worship with LCM-KU, then led by Campus Pastor Brian Johnson. Worshipping with LCM-KU community in the midst of profound grief was great comfort. After that, she started attending a weekly joint Lutheran-Episcopal campus ministry worship in KU’s Danforth Chapel, followed by the fellowship of lunch together afterwards.

This connection with LCM-KU continued as Joanne participated in activities through the years, such as helping with meals, joining in fundraising “walk-a-thons,” sharing appreciation of the ministry through her local congregation’s celebration of Campus Ministry Sundays, among others. Her attendance at a seminary recruitment session at Westwood House in 2016 led to her attending the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago seminary in the fall of ‘16.

When COVID-19 struck in 2020, Joanne had to defer her continuing professional education work towards her designation of Chaplain. Campus Pastor, Shawn Norris hired Joanne to help at Westwood House as the administrator for the ministry. During the “no in-person activities or worship” pandemic time, Joanne was inspired by how the Westwood House interns and other students rose to the challenge and kept ministry activities going – like the weekly online “cook together” event “Vegans, Veggies and Vibes;” and online worship via Zoom. Joanne was moved by how the students embraced their spiritual gifts to share their love of worship, crafts and love of food and cooking, ultimately sharing the Good News and a sense of connection with others through these events.

Westwood House continues to offer meaningful connections through meals, worship and other activities. It is a place to explore faith and self. These opportunities and ministry moments are a direct result of your gracious generosity. We thank you for your ongoing connection to and support of our ministry. Thanks be to God!