Inspire, Winter 2006

Cedarville Bible majors reach peoplefor Christ while they themselves are impacted and impassionedfor ministry. Each major in the departmentofbiblical education participates in a capstone project or ministry internship. These internships serve as a major life-changing, immersion-type ministry experience, which provides lifelong transformation. Kristi Beougher'07, a youth ministries/Christian education major, described hersummer ministry internship experiences working with youth. This internship provided me with real-life,firsthand ministry experience on a daily basis outside the four walls of Cedarville University. I was able to teach Sunday school; write a curriculum for a new believers class; and travel as a sponsor to youth camp,a high school missions trip,a middle school missions trip,and other overnight events. I was able to meet with several girls each week for one-on-one accountability relationships in addition to leading weekly discipleship groups.Yet no amountof explaining the details ofthese ministry tasks could convey the intense lessons learned moment by moment. IfI could sit down with you,I might tell you about the night at our youth camp when I met with one dear girl as we cried together;she confessed her sin to the Lord,and I watched her life turn from the heavy burdens ofsin to forgiveness and joy. Ifyou called me up one afternoon,I might share with you about our morning discipleship groups where 10 girls gathered around cups ofcoffee to search the Scriptures and cry out to our Holy God.In particular,I might share the day that one young girl prayed out loud for the first time.If we met to grab lunch,I could maybe share how God reminded me that life and ministry is so not about me but rather about God passionately glorifying Himself!Ifwe got together for coffee,I could recount the opportunity to write a curriculum for new believers and teach a group ofyouth how to spend personal time with Jesus. However,I will never forget this one lesson of"praying without ceasing"as I stood to lead several girls to walk a little further down the narrow road with Jesus Christ.I personally sensed the power ofChrist in me as I taught not with wise or persuasive words,but in demonstration ofthe Spirit and of His power!I was humbled to look at myselfand realize that a mighty God would still allow me,a sinful being,to speak His name.Yet I was empowered as I looked at Christ and remembered that it is indeed all about Him as He abides in me! While I could say many things about the exciting events, deep friendships,fun memories and experiences I gained,I am left only with the ability to praise the Lord for providing me with an opportunity to get some hands-on,real-life ministry experience in what I desire to do in myfuture.This past summer confirmed for me exactly what I want to do in my life — continue to come alongside people and help them to keep walking intimately with Him! Mark Smith '08,a pastoral ministries student, also described hissummer ministry internship. Near the end ofmyfreshman year at Cedarville University, I sensed that God was calling me into vocational ministry. My pastor actually planted the idea ofvocational ministry in my mind.I now consider my ministry direction the second mostimportant decision of my life. Though my path to ministry was clear prior to my internship,working with this same pastor during my internship was life-changing. During my.internship I began to truly realize my passion for the Word ofGod and the testimony of Jesus Christ.Twice I was given the opportunity to study a passage,draw out the"great idea,"and develop and give a sermon to the people who handed me the foundational building blocks ofmy faith,including my family members,some ofwhom are still not saved. Pastor Bill also allowed me to accompany him on visits to some ofthe elderly in our church who couldn't leave their homes on Sunday mornings.Here I learned ofthe heart ofthe shepherd who cares deeply for those sheep who dedicated most oftheir lives to fortifying the church in which he and I now serve. God also allowed me the opportunity to sense another purpose of ministering as I learned from the men in our church that Pastor Bill had intentionally begun to train in a group referred to as M.U.G.(Men Under God).These men have covenanted together to become more loving husbands,wiser fathers,better teachers,and stronger spiritual leaders. While the ministry and learning opportunities ofmy internship were extremely practical,the actual pinnacle ofmy education did not comefrom these men,myfamily,or even Pastor Bill. God's lesson for me thatsummer came directly from Him.The pastor is positioned in the awe-inspiring crevice where he is responsible for all that he does,but incapable of any ofit. Only by the Holy Spirit can the pastor fulfill his high calling to minister. Inspire 17