By The Rev. Alexandra Hutson
A common theme woven throughout Rev. Jessica Lewis’s ministry is the providence and guidance of God. Each step of the way, God has been preparing Jessica and opening the doors for her new ministry as the Chaplain at Maryville College.
A Maryville College student herself, she majored in biology. Jessica grew up affiliated with the Baptist church. Attending Maryville College taught her that women could be preachers too.
As a student at Maryville College, Jessica worked closely with former Chaplain of the college, Rev. Dr. Anne McKee. She served as a student chaplain for one of the resident halls and was involved with the campus ministry throughout her years as a student.
Following graduation, with a biology degree in hand and no plans to pursue a career in biology, she was unsure of what her next steps would be. God knew all along and was already at work shaping her ministry for years to come.
Unexpectedly, Jessica received an email from Anne McKee about a job as a Youth Director at First Trinity Presbyterian Church in Laurel, Mississippi. That same evening, she went on a date with her now husband, who also shared with her that he had a job he would be starting in Laurel, Mississippi.
So, the Spirit led them to Laurel Mississippi where Jessica began her ministry, married, started her family, baptized her babies and started seminary classes. God continued to prepare the way for Jessica to become Maryville College’s next Chaplain as her family followed God’s call to leave their home in Laurel, Mississippi and move to the town of Maryville, Tennessee where her husband would have a new job as a paramedic.
Jessica, focusing on her seminary classes, knew that they were exactly where they were supposed to be when the position for the MAST Director opened up at Maryville College. She began that position in 2022, perfectly tying together her call to ministry and heart for youth.
During her time as the MAST Director as she spent more time with students on the campus of Maryville College, she began to feel God call her in a new direction- campus ministry. When the position for Chaplain opened up, Jessica applied.
She was ordained on Maryville College’s campus in 2023 and installed in January 2024 as the newest Chaplain for Maryville College.
Jessica’s hope for her ministry at Maryville College goes all the way back to her own experience as a student in 2007. At that time, the chapel and campus ministry provided a place where she felt welcomed to ask questions and just be.
Jessica remembers during her time as a student when a fellow student passed away. They did not know what to do, but they knew where to go–the chapel. Her hope is the same for her own ministry- that it provides a place for students, faculty and staff to have somewhere where they belong, are loved and welcomed. She desires for it to be a place where they can bring both their own joys and sorrows.
With her passion for Maryville College and her heart for her students, it comes as no surprise that Jessica is already busy planning new opportunities for campus ministry and continuing long-standing traditions.
As any Maryville College student knows, the tradition of Hanging of the Greens and the smells of homemade apple cider wafting through the building throughout the holiday season is one that is important to hold onto. Jessica also plans to begin a new tradition- a Christmas candlelight service for students.
The Chapel theme for this year is Live Out Love. It is evident that Jessica is doing every day and even more so is equipping her students to do the same. Most recently, the students put together clean-up buckets for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in response to Hurricane Helene. Many of them were searching for a way to be involved in relief efforts but did not have money to give to organizations. Jessica saw this need and reached out to the Presbytery of East Tennessee who bought the supplies. The students lived out love that day as they worked together to prepare the buckets. Love is abundant in Maryville College’s Campus Ministry. The desire to live out love gives us all hope as we enter this Advent season, searching for our own ways to live out love and shine Christ’s light in a world of darkness.