Jamie Noyd, Ph. D.
Associate Director, InterVarsity Faculty Ministry
Pilgrim Guide, In-person and Virtual
Story Curator, Writings and Gatherings
I currently serve with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship on the national Faculty Ministry team as an Associate Director developing and directing pilgrimage experiences, along with supporting other ministries that invite faculty to follow Jesus together. Along this journey, I explore, read, write, and share practices related to pilgrimage, faith, literature, and community.
On a personal level, many pilgrimages have shaped me - each pointing in different ways to the fullness of God’s overarching story. Over the past decades, I have spent time exploring how faith weaves into life, through involvement in a small Lutheran congregation, an Anglican church plant, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, as well as through job stints as an economic analyst, strategic planner at a zoo’s education department, site director of an AmeriCorps program, and a campus minister.
In the midst of the mundane beauty of work, rest, and relationships, I’ve experienced intense sojourns to places of significant stories. Each of these opportunities helped me to see how the Word of God infiltrates the world today. These interactions of place, story, and pilgrim provided additional insight into literature, as well as provided me a journey into faith - whether the site was Walden Pond; Assisi, Italy; or Haworth, England.
Yet, these are not solitary journeys and are becoming less so as I work on Via Divina (viadivina.org); pilgrimages to Ireland, Italy, and other locations; and, mini-pilgrimages of two hours. As we gather as companions along the way, I’m curious to hear
The stories that we carry with us.
How specific places and journeys change our lives.
How God has shown up along the way.
I hope you are ready to take up your walking staff and join in.