Jaylynn Bernhardt

Editors Note: Born in Romania and adopted at the age of four, Jaylynn is one of approximately a dozen Lutheran Young Adult Corps volunteers assisting congregations and mission societies of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod this year. Resembling the Peace Corps, this innovative LCMS program only recently became fully operational. Here Jaylynn tells her story.

I was raised in Portland, OR by my parents, Douglas and Karen Bernhardt, with six older siblings. After graduating from high school last year, I completed one year of studies at Southwestern College in Oregon majoring in childhood development and family studies.

Earlier this year I found out about the Lutheran Young Adult Corps. It gives young people from all around the country the opportunity to serve in different cities, doing various types of work with churches and organizations. For the next ten months I will be serving with CFNA and also with the Compass/Intersect program at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, both located in south St. Louis.

I very much look forward to working with all the volunteers and families affiliated with CFNA. Because I too, am from another country, I have a special place in my heart for working with people who are from other countries.

In my free time I enjoy swimming, dancing, listening to music, and being with my friends and family. I am very blessed to be able to be part of CFNA and see all of the wonderful works of service CFNA provides for people. A big thank you to everyone who has welcomed me into this program and for your love, teaching, and warm fellowship. It is great to see how awesome St. Louis, and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod really are!