During Chowan University Campus Ministry’s annual Share the Well Week, February 10-15, students were invited to engage with the gospel story found in John chapter 4. In this chapter, Jesus offers “living water” to a woman he encounters at the well. With this theme of living water, students were given the opportunity to “share the well” by serving others, engaging in self-reflection, and learning from alumni. 

The first opportunity came with Campus Ministry inviting students to create Valentine’s Day cards and goody bags for the Hertford County Office of Aging. Thanks to a grant from the North Carolina Baptist Foundation, Campus Ministry was able to purchase fun and useful items. Students assembled the bags which were distributed to the seniors through their meal sites on Valentine’s Day. 

Minister to the University Rev. Mari Wiles invited students to study John 4.  Rev. Wiles shared how Jesus invited the woman at the well “into a future of wholeness.” She encouraged students to see themselves in the story and gave them steps for taking care of their spirits. Rev. Wiles shared, “we all need time at the well. We all need to accept the living water from Christ. It is only when we receive this endless source of life and love that we can then share to others.”     

Share the Well week continued with Chowan Alumni video visitors, sharing how they each found their calling to “share the well.” Zulay Romero ‘17, art therapist and owner of Healing Moon Art Therapy holds a B.S in Studio Art from Chowan and has a dual Masters of Science in Art Therapy and Counseling with a specialization in Trauma-Informed Therapy from Eastern Virginia Medical School. Romero shared her journey to becoming an art therapist. Her passion is to use art therapy to help people heal. As a part of her talk, Romero invited viewers to participate in an art therapy exercise.  

Appropriately for Valentine’s Day, the video visitors were alumni, Revs. Jason and Elizabeth Villegas. Jason and Elizabeth met while students at Chowan. They shared how they found their callings in ministry. They also relayed how they negotiate ministry and family life as they are both pastoring in different locations  Elizabeth a 2012 psychology major from Chowan also holds a Master of Divinity from Campbell University and serves six United Methodist Churches in Gates County, NC. Jason, a 2010 religion major from Chowan earned a Master of Divinity from Duke University and pastors Murfreesboro United Methodist with a traditional service and a Spanish service.  

Concluding, Share the Well Week was, Rev. Dr. Lindsay Andreolli-Comstock ‘03, who is Co-Founder of Tumbuh Global and The School of Global Citizenry. Andreolli-Comstockholds a Bachelor’s in Religion from Chowan, a Master of Divinity degree from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Andreolli-Comstock masterfully shared her understanding of how Jesus ministered to the woman at the well and how students can emulate Jesus’ actions to become good global citizens.  

To hear the virtual visitors or see more of what happened at Share the Well Week be sure to visit the Chowan University Campus Ministry Facebook page.