Ready for God’s Unexpected Call: Wendy Eickmann Takes on Position of Interim Chaplain

After working for the past 13 years as a physical therapist, Wendy Eickmann was notified at the beginning of July that due to changing business contracts she would no longer have a job by the end of the month.  Despite her initial surprise and concern, she trusted that God had something in mind for her.  She would easily be able to find another opportunity in the area working as a physical therapist, but she felt God’s gentle prodding to seek out a job that would allow her to be more intentional in ministry.  She had no idea what that might be, but she knew that she would like to be more involved at Campion. 
 
When an immediate need for an interim chaplain opened at Campion, Eickmann would never have expected it, but she knew deep down that this was what God was asking her to do. “I felt extremely unqualified, but God put it on my heart,” she reflects. “The very morning I was praying about considering applying for the position, I read these words in my devotional, ‘God will call you to do what you cannot do but will provide everything you need to do it,’” (Tripp, Paul. New Morning Mercies).

Wendy Eickmann has served alongside her husband, Steve (technology teacher), at Campion for the past 13 years.  Their oldest daughter, Kelby, graduated from Campion in 2018, and their other two children, Nolan and Kendra, are both current students at Campion.  Over the years, Eickmann has been involved and been a second mom to many Campion students, going on outdoor club trips, senior survival, and tournaments.  For the past three years, the Eickmanns have opened their home and dinner table every Friday evening to any student who wants to come, sometimes serving over 50 students in an evening!  “I have loved being able to connect with students when they come over, and it has made me want to be even more involved,” she comments. 
 
Most importantly, Eickmann is passionate about helping students learn the importance of having a personal relationship with Christ.  “I really want each student to know what a comfort and what an impactful thing it is to have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus,” she emphasizes. 
 
Eickmann looks forward to working also with the student chaplains this year at Campion: Madi Jordan, and her own son, Nolan Eickmann.  “They’ve got great ideas and I really plan to utilize them and put them in charge to use their passions and their God-given talents,” she explains. 
 
As a parent, Eickmann has seen the many ways her children have been able to grow in faith at Campion Academy as they are surrounded by spiritual mentors in their teachers, deans, and other staff members. She looks forward to being a greater part of that as we start this school year.
 
We are thankful that God can even use unexpected challenges for His glory.