Inspire, Winter 2004

effective patterns of building relationships, teaching, serving, leading, and ministry programming. Because of this, a full-time internship is required for every graduate. This capstone experience follows the junior year and provides opportunity for putting what has been studied in the classroom into practice. We are grateful for the partnership we’ve had with experienced ministers who have contributed to the development of our students by mentoring and serving alongside our students. Following are two students’ perspectives on their internship experiences. Courtney O’Connell ’05 This past summer I spent 10 weeks working with an inner-city church in Kansas City, Missouri. This was a great experience for me, and it was the practical application of all that I’ve been learning in my classes for the past three years. My classes here have taught me how to study the Bible and teach it to different audiences, and this summer was the time to put all that preparation into practice! As an “employee” of my church, Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, I learned that ministry means you are always “on duty.” I spent a wonderful but exhausting week at a camp geared especially toward inner-city kids. From the Kansas City area alone, we brought more than 100 youths, many of whom made decisions for Christ during that life-changing week. When we arrived back at church at 10 p.m. Saturday night, I was ready to go to my host home and rest up before church the next morning. However, there was an answering machine message waiting for me — the youth pastor asked me to teach Sunday school for the junior high girls the next morning. What an opportunity from the Lord! Many of these girls just spent the week at camp making decisions that could impact the rest of their lives, and I had the opportunity to follow up with these decisions. My tiredness quickly went away as I spent time preparing a lesson on how to have a daily quiet time. I was thrilled to have an opportunity to teach those young women I had grown to love, and I was awed that the Lord would choose to use me to reach His children! This internship confirmed my passion to be involved in discipleship of teenage girls. One day, I called a family from church that I had become especially close with to ask if I could spend some time with their four daughters (ages 11-16). Their parents agreed, and I went to pick up the girls — two from home and two from church. The two from church had no idea I was coming, and when they saw their sisters pull up to church in my car, with confused excitement they squealed, “Courtney’s here!?!” Their excitement only bubbled over when I told them I was taking them out that night. Although it was easy for me to spend time with them, they were amazed that someone older wanted to invest in their lives. This is something they obviously hadn’t seen much growing up in the inner-city. That evening began our relationship — we would spend time together talking about spiritual things, studying the Bible together, or even just hanging out. I prayed I would be a positive example in their lives and that they would grow to be mature women of God. My internship taught me so much about myself —my desires, my goals, and my personality. I learned how to put my passions into practice. Overall, my experience was beyond wonderful, and I only wish it could have been longer! Kelly Woodruff ’05 I had the opportunity to intern at First Baptist Church (FBC) in Clarksville, Tennessee. Steve Griffith, pastor of discipleship, directed my internship. My staff work, however, was in children’s and preschool ministries. The church provided me with many ministry opportunities. In addition to reading books recommended by Pastor Griffith, I helped to organize and facilitate the Wednesday night Teamkid ministry with preschoolers. I also helped prepare for Vacation Bible School (VBS) with other members of the staff and taught second grade Bible lessons during the VBS week. As part of a weekly ministry to children in extremely urban areas, our team gathered in a small apartment-like setting and invited children to come for Bible lessons, games, crafts, and refreshments. I was also able to help prepare and attend a training session for teens who were counseling at children’s camp. I helped prepare a week’s worth of camp for fourth and fifth grade children, then had opportunity to work with them. My experience with the main services of the church included participation in Sunday morning and Sunday evening services, as well as a special Friday night contemporary service held each week. In addition to the church ministries, I was exposed to the deaf community. The woman with whom I lived was deeply involved with and passionate for a ministry to the deaf. I attended a party at her home and found myself stretched. I was very openly received at FBC. I was mentored and befriended by wonderful women in the church. They loved the Lord in such beautiful ways and challenged me with their ministries. I felt so at home there. Everyone was so hospitable. I was challenged by homesickness, however. I felt very alone, and I missed having family and friends nearby to love and care for my heart. God wanted to fulfill that role, though, and He did. It was stretching but ever so necessary to grow and change me. Through my internship, I learned that I am probably best suited for children’s ministry. I cannot wait to get into the ministry. I’m getting married next summer, and my fiancé is excitedly looking at a future in youth ministry. I look forward to being deeply involved with youth. I am eager to serve the Lord no matter the location or the circumstances. Inspire 19 Thoughts and Reflections on Internships