Hannah Wheeler's favorite Bible verse comes from 2 Corinthians, and she plans to put it into practice in her new role as program and communications coordinator at Rainbow's End Youth Services (REYS) in Mount Joy.
"The verse talks about how God is a comfort to us, and that is my goal - to show people the comfort that God has given me and to help the youth who come to the center who maybe don't have the influence of God in their lives," she stated.
Wheeler assumed the role on June 6. A graduate of Lancaster Bible College, she double majored in communication and biblical studies, with a minor in intercultural studies. She said her position at REYS is an ideal fit. "It's a perfect mixture of what I studied in college and what I'm passionate about, which is discipleship and working with youth," she stated. Her focus will be on the Girls Group at REYS, which consists of middle and high school girls, and the Kids Club, for students in grades one through five. Along with helping to teach and coordinate discipleship for both groups, Wheeler will work to increase the center's outreach through social media and marketing. "I want to broaden our reach in the community," she remarked.
Cristina Paden, executive director of REYS, noted that Wheeler's position is a new full-time job at the center. Previously the position had been for a part-time employee who only focused on the programming part. "As we grow as an organization, we wanted someone who can take on increasing communications responsibilities," Paden said. "Hannah will bring a fresh perspective, and she has expertise in communications since she trained in that. Having a full-time person focused especially on our outreach to young women in the community and helping that program flourish is really exciting."
Originally from Florida, Wheeler wanted to relocate to Lancaster County after graduating from college in December 2021. "I am familiar with the area, and I love it here," she said. When she's not working, she enjoys running and kayaking, although she admits she hasn't had as many opportunities to kayak in Pennsylvania as she did in Florida. "I enjoy being outside and being with my friends and family," she said. "I also like writing. I write poetry."
As she settles into her new role, Wheeler said she's most looking forward to putting her skills to work. "I'm really excited to be able to use the tools in my toolbelt and strengthen what I already know while also learning a lot of new things from the team here," she said. "I'm just really happy to be here."
For more information on REYS, visit https://reys.org.
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