{"id":24600,"date":"1984-04-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"1984-04-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/1984\/04\/01\/week-in-life-of-intern\/"},"modified":"1984-04-01T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"1984-04-01T00:00:00","slug":"week-in-life-of-intern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/week-in-life-of-intern\/","title":{"rendered":"A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF AN INTERN"},"content":{"rendered":"

A year ago, I was asked to be an intern in youth ministry. The pay was only $100 a month, but still I jumped at the chance. Most of the senior staff here started out as interns.<\/p>\n\n

I’m twenty-one years old and a junior in college, preparing for seminary. I’m single, which means less living cost, but I still struggle financially. That’s why I do part-time custodial work at the church.<\/p>\n\n

School, interning, and custodial work add up to a full schedule. But I’m not complaining. This past year has given me a great amount of training and tremendous insights into what ministry is all about.<\/p>\n\n

Each Monday begins by meeting with the minister of youth to clarify dates and appointments. Since I’m in charge of the volunteer staff, he and I talk at length about how best to train them for their task. The rest of the day is filled with appointments with young people, phone calls, and lesson preparation. <\/p>\n\n

Tuesday and Thursday are devoted to college.<\/p>\n\n

On Wednesday morning, I prepare my Sunday morning lesson and do administration. I also have reading assigned by the staff to expose me to theology and New Testament studies. The evening is a highlight: our “Journey” program, which means eighty to a hundred youth in the sanctuary for praise, singing, and Bible study. I get personally involved with the students and make contacts for appointments afterward and through the week.<\/p>\n\n

On Friday, I finish preparing for Sunday. I also check with the support staff to make sure they’re ready.<\/p>\n\n

That evening and on Saturday, I do my custodial work.<\/p>\n\n

While I’ve described a typical week, nothing is typical about an intern’s life. I found it both fulfilling and frightening to occupy the pulpit this past summer. It was an entirely new experience from teaching Sunday school or speaking to a youth group.<\/p>\n\n

I was also involved in summer camp program planning and was in charge of a number of adult counselors. On occasion, the staff exposes me to the programs of evangelism, discipleship, music, and the administration of the church. In staff meetings, I get to see how Christian ministers can disagree and handle conflict in an orderly way.<\/p>\n\n

Internship is part of my formal education. What I’m learning here can’t be gained by reading books or attending classes. While my greatest fulfillment at present is working with students, I realize that someday I’ll be working with all groups of the church as a senior minister. To have a small taste of that now is invaluable.<\/p>\n\n

-Rodney B. Kennedy <\/p>\n\n

Oxnard, California<\/p>\n\n

Copyright © 1984 by the author or Christianity Today\/Leadership Journal<\/em>.\nClick here<\/a> for reprint information on Leadership Journal<\/em>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A year ago, I was asked to be an intern in youth ministry. The pay was only $100 a month, but still I jumped at the chance. Most of the senior staff here started out as interns. I’m twenty-one years old and a junior in college, preparing for seminary. I’m single, which means less living Read more…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"tax_ctp_authors":[2872],"tax_ctp_books":[],"tax_ctp_categories":[154],"tax_ctp_field_guide_subcategory":[],"tax_ctp_field_guides":[],"tax_ctp_format":[131],"tax_ctp_multimedia":[],"tax_ctp_point_editor":[],"tax_publications":[587,156,589],"tax_ctp_tags":[3613,3619,3845,4688,5124,5159,5160,5293],"tax_ctp_topics":[],"class_list":["post-24600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tax_ctp_authors-rodney-b-kennedy","tax_publications-1984-leadership-journal","tax_publications-leadership-journal","tax_publications-spring_1984-leadership-journal","tax_ctp_tags-church-leadership","tax_ctp_tags-church-staff","tax_ctp_tags-education","tax_ctp_tags-preaching","tax_ctp_tags-teaching","tax_ctp_tags-time","tax_ctp_tags-time-management","tax_ctp_tags-work"],"acf":{"scripture_references":null},"yoast_head":"\nA WEEK IN THE LIFE OF AN INTERN - CT Pastors<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A year ago, I was asked to be an intern in youth ministry. 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