Staunton Mennonite Church mourns the lost of it's leader of the Young People's Christian Association (YPCA). Matthew Garber found great joy in serving others. He has served as a Community Advisor for three years, YPCA Y-Church coordinator for two years, Y-Church team member for three years, and part of the YPCA Grandparent Adoption program for one year. He also participated in the summer Ministry Inquiry Program.

The Eastern Mennonite University community gathered Wednesday morning to mourn the death of recent graduate Matthew R. Garber, who drowned Tuesday in Costa Rica.

Matt, 22, of Elizabethtown, Pa., was swimming with a group of young people in a cove that was not known to be dangerous. The university reported Wednesday that a riptide apparently caught several of the swimmers, with all but Matt managing to return safely to shore.

Matt graduated with honors from EMU April 27, 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in nursing, with a minor in Bible and religion.

He was spending the summer in Costa Rica assisting a missionary family and learning Spanish. He planned to begin a position in the emergency room at Lancaster General Hospital in Pennsylvania at summer's end.

According to the university, Matt was among a select group of 10 graduating seniors honored with the annual Cords of Distinction recognition. The students were selected for their "significant and verifiable impact" on the university campus and beyond.

"Matt was an exceptional student and EMU campus community member because he was an exceptional person in many ways," said Brian Martin Burkholder, campus pastor. "His outgoing and caring approach to life endeared him to nearly everyone who met him."

Matt sang with EMU's select Chamber Singers for four years, was involved with the Young People's Christian Association and served as a community adviser in campus residence halls for three years.

He also completed a summer internship in the Ministry Inquiry Program at Plains Mennonite Church, Lansdale, Pa.

Reading from comments shared about Matt at the Cords of Distinction ceremony, Ken L. Nafziger, vice president for student life, read, "From time to time, one who could be considered the ‘model EMU student' comes along.

"Consider a young man who, as an expression of his Christian faith, is prone to service, committed to community, loves to sing, makes friends with ease and is kind, caring and scholarly, and you have Matthew Garber."

Matt is survived by his parents, Todd and Deb, of Elizabethtown, as well as four siblings.

EMU - "A Different Kind of Place"

Reflections by Matthew R. Garber, a 2008 nursing graduate whose untimely passing in July of the same year is mourned by many. Matt shared these thoughts during the nurses' pinning ceremony on commencement weekend.

Matt, pictured on the left with classmate Shannon (Yoder) Roth, was active in EMU's Ministry Inquiry Program, having completed a summer internship at Plains Mennonite Church, Lansdale, Pa. He also maintained a deep connection with Staunton Mennonite Church through Young People's Christian Association (YPCA) throughout his years at EMU.
I knew EMU was a different kind of place almost as soon as I arrived on campus. The day I arrived with my parents and a car filled with my stuff, I remember carrying only one box to my third-floor room in Oakwood. Each of my parents also carried only one box to my room. The rest of my stuff was tackled by a swarm of MAs and CAs who seemed to come out of nowhere.
Orientation over the next couple of days included a worship service where parents said goodbye to their children, eating dinner at the academic dean's house, and a student-led worship time in a tent on the lawn in front of the campus center.
As someone who had spent the first 13 years of my education in the public school system, these experiences, all within the first weekend of my time here, amazed me. I had never before experienced, as part of my education, worship services, socializing with teachers or professors, and essentially, "community." I knew from the beginning that EMU was different.

"Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening"

I came here as a biology/pre-med major. I had always wanted to be a doctor; it was my "calling." I went through my first year here taking biology and chemistry. As the year went on, however, something began to not seem right. The passion and fulfillment that I expected to find in biology didn't develop. By the end of that first year, I felt deep down inside me that biology wasn't for me. It wasn't connecting.
I spoke about this with my advisor at the time, Roman Miller. As a biology professor and a pastor, Roman is an example of the different kind of place EMU is.

Matt had a heartfelt love of music and was a member of EMU's Chamber Singers. Here he leads a hymn sing in the Discipleship Center.

When I met with Roman and explained what I was feeling, I expected him to say something like "well, everyone has doubts along the way. Grit your teeth and bear it." The whole "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" kind of thing. Instead, I got a more pastoral response from Roman.

As I met with Roman that day, I distinctly remember what he said. He said "the disconnect you are feeling inside is not insignificant. Pay attention to it. Perhaps this is God speaking." It kind of reminded me of Eli's response to Samuel. In essence, Roman was telling me to say "speak Lord, for your servant is listening." Well, the Lord spoke.

A Sacred Covenant

I ended up switching to nursing. As I was making this transition, a friend who is a nurse, gave me a copy of the nursing department's "Sacred Covenant" (a framework approach that reminds nurses of the holy nature of their calling and vocation). She said to me "Matt, the sacred covenant on which the nursing program is based is pretty much the job description of a pastor." A nursing program based on a sacred covenant? A professor who encouraged me to listen to God's still, small voice speaking to my soul? These are not experiences I would've had in a large, state university.

The sacred covenant between the nurse and the patient described here perfectly articulated what I felt like I had been called to all along. I was being called to minister to the sick, care for the dying, offer healing to the broken and hope to the distraught. Nursing was where God was calling me.

'Answer God's Call'

It's amazing what you experience when you answer God's call. As I think back over my time in the nursing program, I can't picture having a richer, more fulfilling experience. I've been mentored by faculty who are not only my professors, but also my friends.

In the program I've made amazing friends with whom I've laughed, complained, got up at 4 am for clinicals, stayed up late studying, and depended on for keeping me sane through the program. Now I'm proud to call those amazing friends, amazing colleagues.

In closing, I want to say thank you. Thank you to EMU and the faculty for challenging us, and providing a "different" kind of place for us to learn and grow. Thank you to all of you sitting up here with me. Each one of you has enriched my life. And most of all, I thank God who led me to EMU, who led me to nursing, and who will lead all of us from this place as nurses, to minister to his people.

An Honored Student Leader

Garber was among a select group of 10 graduating seniors honored with the annual "Cords of Distinction" recognition. The students were selected for their "significant and verifiable impact" on the university campus and beyond.

Garber was a well-loved student leader, known for his musical talent and friendly nature. He had sung with EMU's select Chamber Singers for four years, frequently planned and led student worship, was involved with the Young People's Christian Association and served as a community advisor in campus residence halls for three years.

He also completed a summer internship in the Ministry Inquiry Program (MIP) at Plains Mennonite Church, Lansdale, Pa.

Matt Garber is pictured here while singing with EMU's Chamber Singers during the 2008 baccalaureate ceremony.

Reading from comments shared about Garber at the Cords of Distinction ceremony, vice president for student life Ken L. Nafziger read, "From time to time, one who could be considered the 'model EMU student' comes along. Consider a young man who, as an expression of his Christian faith, is prone to service, committed to community, loves to sing, makes friends with ease and is kind, caring and scholarly, and you have Matthew Garber." EMU President Loren Swartzendruber read a reflection Garber had shared at the pinning ceremony for the 2008 nursing graduates at EMU.

He reflected there that, "As I think back over my time in the nursing program, I can't picture having a richer, more fulfilling experience. . . Thank you to EMU and the faculty for challenging us and providing a 'different' kind of place for us to learn and grow. Most of all, I thank God who led me to EMU, who led me to nursing, and who will lead all of us from this place as nurses to minister to his people."

Cords of Distinction Award Presentation to Matthew Garber
Presented April 21, 2008 by Brian Martin Burkholder, Campus Pastor

From time to time, one who could be considered to be the “model EMU student” comes along. Consider a young man who, as an expression of his Christian faith, is prone to service, committed to community, loves to sing, makes friends with ease, and is kind, caring as well as scholarly and you have Matthew Garber - a worthy recipient of the EMU Cords of Distinction Award.

Matthew finds great joy in serving others. He has served as a Community Advisor for three years, YPCA Y-Church coordinator for two years, Y-Church team member for three years, and part of the YPCA Grandparent Adoption program for one year. He also participated in the summer Ministry Inquiry Program.

In both the EMU campus community and in his home community, Matthew readily accepts opportunities to offer his musical talents and lead singing in worship. He has been in Chamber Singers for four years, in University Orchestra one year and was in the cast of The Music Man. He has also been regularly involved in planning and leading singing for chapel, special hymn sings and Celebration for four years.

As a nursing student, Matthew represented EMU as a member of the local Pi Mu chapter for nurses, was a member of the Student Nurses Association and served as a student representative at the Mennonite Health Assembly. He also offered a student perspective to the EMU Constituent Conference Committee.

Matthew has enjoyed having a well-rounded experience at EMU - from biology and nursing, to theater, music and theology. He is a strong proponent of a liberal arts education and names these highlights of his time at EMU: the cross-cultural experience in Costa Rica, Ministry Inquiry Program at Plains Mennonite Church, Mammalian Physiology with Roman Miller, nursing clinicals at five different hospitals, and Chamber Singers with Ken J. Nafziger. We, the EMU community, wish you well, Matthew, as you continue to offer yourself in service to others as part of Gods’ outstretched hand. Thank you for your leadership and friendship while a student at EMU and God bless you and your ongoing efforts.

Cords of Distinction Criteria

1. Impacted the Internal Communities: Evidence of significant and verifiable impact on the institution and on student life

2. Impacted the Institutional Image: Evidence of important contributions to developing the institution’s positive image

3. Impacted the External Communities: Evidence of substantial contributions to the greater Harrisonburg/Rockingham County area and/or beyond

4. Good standing academically (Dean’s Office) and behaviorally (Student Life) Matt Garber, 22, was swimming with a group of young people in a cove that was not known to be dangerous. A riptide apparently caught several swimmers. All but Garber returned safely to shore, according to Eastern Mennonite's Web site.

Garber was the son of Todd and Deb Garber of Elizabethtown. He had an older brother, Justin, and younger siblings, Bradley and Janelle.

Deb Garber said her son went to Costa Rica last summer through an EMU cross-cultural program. While there, he met a missionary family whom he contacted again to assist them in their work this summer.

"He worked on their farm and helped with their ministry to reach out to local Costa Ricans," she said.

On Tuesday, he went with the family to spend a day at the beach, she said. The family had gone out to the water earlier and had come back fine, but on their second trip, the water rose quickly.

"That's when the riptide took them out. It was a very, very strong riptide," she said.

One of the boys that was out with Garber almost drowned, but was ultimately rescued, she said. Her son was not a strong swimmer, and he was not one to take risks, she said.

"He was very careful," she said. "He would not have gone out where there was even the possibility of it happening."

What comforts her is that "Matthew loved what he was doing. He loved Costa Rica. He was somewhere he loved and was having a good time this summer," Deb Garber said.

"Matt was a fine young man who loved the Lord and was loved by all. It's a great loss," said Garber's pastor, Fred Garber of Bossler Mennonite Church in Elizabethtown.

Braydon P. Hoover, a 2007 Elizabethtown graduate and a sophomore at EMU, said, "Matt Robert Garber was my best friend. He was the kind of person who lit up the room with his brilliant smile. His passion for music has enlivened so many around campus, and his love for God was prevalent in everything he did.

"He was my biggest role model, my inspiration, and my hero. I looked—and still look—up to him. Because he was so in-tune with the personalities of other people, he was always able to tell if I was having a rough day or if something was bothering me, and he always was there to lend a helping hand or simply take the time to listen."

Ken L. Nafziger, EMU's vice president for student life, said, "From time to time, one who could be considered the 'model EMU student' comes along. Consider a young man who, as an expression of his Christian faith, is prone to service, committed to community, loves to sing, makes friends with ease and is kind, caring and scholarly, and you have Matthew Garber."

Garber graduated with honors from EMU in Harrisonburg, Va., on April 27, with a bachelor of science degree in nursing and a minor in Bible and religion. He was among a select group of 10 graduating seniors honored with the annual "Cords of Distinction" recognition. The students were selected for their "significant and verifiable impact" on the university campus and beyond.

Garber planned to begin work in the emergency room at Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital on Aug. 18. He had completed an externship in LGH's emergency department last summer. While in high school, he volunteered at Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center.

"He was such a nice kid," said Jolyne Barnett, nurse manager of LGH's emergency department. "I was so looking forward to him starting here."

At EMU's 2008 pinning ceremony for nursing graduates, Garber reflected on his journey to becoming a nurse.

Although he started as a biology/pre-med major, by the end of the first year, he knew it wasn't for him and talked with his adviser.

"As I met with (my adviser) that day, I distinctly remember what he said," Garber said. "He said, 'The disconnect you are feeling inside is not insignificant. Pay attention to it. Perhaps this is God speaking.' It kind of reminded me of Eli's response to Samuel.

"In essence, (my adviser) was telling me to say 'speak Lord, for your servant is listening.' Well, the Lord spoke. I ended up switching to nursing. … I was being called to minister to the sick, care for the dying, offer healing to the broken and hope to the distraught. Nursing was where God was calling me."

Heather Keim, a 2007 EMU graduate and a nurse at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, Va., said Garber was "very compassionate and caring about the people he took care of (in his clinicals). I was very impressed and remember thinking, 'He is going to make a wonderful nurse.' He just had that special touch with patients. He also was such a presence, in health care and among the students at EMU. He was a great speaker and absolutely hilarious."

Karra Black, a 2008 EMU graduate and a 2004 Lancaster Mennonite School graduate, said, "Matt was an incredibly dedicated student who wanted to get everything right, because he knew that what he was learning would some day impact the patients he wanted to help."

Michael Charles, a senior at EMU and a 2005 LMH graduate, said, "You couldn't find a more authentically kind, caring person. He worked hard at his studies and was a deeply committed Christian. He was passionately involved in the Mennonite Church and served as a role model for everyone he encountered."

Garber sang with EMU's select Chamber Singers for four years as well as the university's touring choir. He frequently planned and led student worship and was involved with the Young People's Christian Association, serving as chairman of the Y-Church division, a ministry that pairs college students with churches in the community.

He also served as a community adviser in campus residence halls for three years and completed a summer internship in the Ministry Inquiry Program at Plains Mennonite Church, Lansdale.

While at Elizabethtown, Garber served on student council for four years and as secretary for his last two years there. In his senior year, he served as secretary for the National Honor Society.

Garber relished his starring roles in high school musicals. He portrayed the scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz," Professor Harold Hill in "The Music Man," Motel the tailor in "Fiddler on the Roof" and Cornelius Hackl in "Hello Dolly!" As a seventh-grader, Garber appeared in his first high school musical in the chorus of "Oliver."

Garber was a four-year veteran of the school chorus, show choir and concert choir. A tenor, he also sang in county, regional and district choruses.

For two years, Garber played tuba with Elizabethtown's marching band. He also played the piano at his home church and led congregational singing.

Lindsey Grosh, a 2006 LMH graduate and a junior at EMU, said Garber "was amazing (as a pianist). He could improvise with any songs and had a wonderful voice to accompany his piano playing."

Grosh said he was "so funny, quick-witted and had a positive outlook on life — the kind of person who just made you feel good when you were around him. He will be sorely missed at EMU. It's a shame that such a fine young man was taken at an early age. God is lucky to have Matt up there with him."

He will be missed