The ELI Project

What is the ELI Project?

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This exciting program provides students an opportunity to explore ministry and theological education while at Wofford. Participants may be eligible for financial aid, and they have a mentoring relationship with Chaplain Robinson.

ELI takes its name from the Eli and Samuel story, which may be found in 1 Samuel 3:1-10.

ELI participants have internship opportunities, establish important relationships with the nation's best theological schools and divinity schools, explore their sense of call, and learn more about themselves, their strengths, gifts, passions and abilities.

ELI participants have opportunities to engage in meaningful, creative service, and deepen your faith life through spiritual direction.

Areas of Exploration

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Spiritual Direction - meaningfully connecting the vocational discernment process with one's spiritual and/or religious development.

Self-Awareness – experiences and assessments that enhance understanding of personal strengths, values and interests.

Service - opportunities to develop an awareness of broader global and local needs and an understanding of how one can respond.

Ministry Inquiry - opportunities for mentoring, internships and “hands on” learning.

Vocational Discernment - an intentional process of discovery involving listening to one's life and identifying a sense of call.

Theological Education - connect and collaborate with divinity schools and theological seminaries.

Qualities

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Adaptability is somewhere between rigid adherence to a set of beliefs and ways of doing things and total flexibility to go with the flow. This quality surfaces when students are faced with challenges of all kinds and is the ability to negotiate core commitments in the face of new information and change.

Breadth of courses may demonstrate curiosity, a range of interests and a spirit of exploration.

Creativity and/or imagination is demonstrated in the ability to draw upon language that is not overused or trite, the use of images, metaphors or humor, and fresh perspective.

Cross-cultural study or experience (national and/or international.)

Intellectual leadership among peers is the quality of engaging other people around ideas, asking questions and offering reflections that advance the conversation and aid in building understanding as opposed to being a know-it-all.