Purpose of the Program
First Baptist’s internship program aligns with the Church’s overall mission to make Disciples of Christ through Teaching, Missions, and Caring. We desire to see people grow in their relationship with the Lord and learn how to disciple others. Discipleship requires time, and, in the internship program, the intern will have the opportunity to spend significant time with pastors to form their capacity to think through challenges Biblically, enlarge their heart for the Lord and others, and to gain hands-on ministry experience.
The program consists of academic and ministry components. The academic component will push the intern to grow in their Biblical understanding of ministry. In a partnership with Spurgeon College/Midwestern Seminary in Kansas City, the Church will offer 12 credit-hours (about a $4,000 value). These four classes will be provided, one per semester, at First Baptist at no cost to the intern. They are as follows:
- BS 100 Intro to Scripture
- HT 460 Biblical Theology
- HT 100 Intro to Church History
- CE 405 Making Disciples
The internship begins on August 1 and runs for two years. If for any reason, the intern chooses not to continue into the second year, the completed courses can still be applied to a degree at Spurgeon College/MBTS. Upon completion of two years, beginning August 1, 2024, the intern will have earned 12 credit hours or four courses from Spurgeon College. These credit hours can also be put toward a bachelor’s degree or, in some cases, a master’s degree.
The ministry component will be in one of three areas: children’s ministry, youth ministry, or worship ministry. Upon completing your internship, you will have a better practical knowledge of a particular ministry, feel confident in leading this ministry, have practical awareness of both challenges and solutions faced within that ministry, and a hands-on development that enables you to positively impact and grow in that ministry.
Expectations of an Intern
Interns are expected to attend Sunday Services and weekly staff meetings at First Baptist Kearney and attend Wednesday evening sessions applicable to their area of internship. They will also be expected to pursue discipleship relationships with those under their responsibility while being discipled by staff members. We anticipate that this should require 10 hours of weekly staff/ministry involvement and an additional 10 hours per week of academic involvement.
The Church will provide a stipend of $1200 a month to help the intern with their living expenses. For the remainder of their expenses, the intern can either raise support to give them more ministry freedom beyond 20 hours/week or pursue a job in the community, of which Kearney has plenty of opportunities.