Shepherding the Church:
Pastoral Internship Program
Pastoral Internship Program
Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
Purpose:
The call of God to Pastoral Ministry is a holy calling (Ephesians 4:11-13). It is the local church that identifies, equips, and encourages men to fulfill this calling. Pastors in local churches in this generation must follow the example of the Apostle Paul in mentoring Timothy as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the advancement of the kingdom of God and for the glory of God. Therefore, this Pastoral Internship process is implemented through a one on one mentoring process.
Benefits:
- Identifies men who are being called by God to serve in Pastoral Ministry and affirms their giftings.
- Provides a foundational understanding of Pastoral Ministry biblically.
- Provides a practical way to train and implement men in the church context.
- Provides an avenue for licensing and ordination to the Gospel Ministry, at the appropriate time.
- Assists the Intern in gaining a ministry position in a church at completion of the program.
Length of Program:
- Flexible depending on intern's level of experience, life circumstances, and ministry objectives. Length of program could be as brief as 3 months, or as long as 3 years.
Compensation:
- There is no compensation for this program.
Time Requirements:
- Flexible depending on the Intern's needs and availability.
General Objectives:
The goal of this program is not to replace formal theological study, but to supplement it. Only those who are pursuing, plan to pursue, or have completed formal theological study will be accepted into this program.
Three areas of Pastoral Ministry will be focused on: Preaching, Pastoral Care, and Church Administration.
- Reading: Appropriate reading will be assigned and discussed. This will be directed according to the intern's level of theological understanding and practice.
- Observing: Interns will have opportunities to observe all levels of Pastoral Ministry.
- Doing: Opportunities will be given to actively implement Pastoral Ministry.
A program plan of action for the Internship will be formulated by the Mentoring Pastor, and agreed upon with the Intern prior to start of the program.
Application for Pastoral Internship Program
It is expected that a prospective Intern meet the biblical requirements for a Pastor. A written application must be submitted. A personal interview will also be conducted to determine compatibility of Intern with the program. A personal interview will also be conducted. Acceptance into the program is at the sole discretion of the Mentoring Pastor. Continuance in the program is at the sole discretion of the Mentoring Pastor concerning whether or not goals and expectations are being faithfully pursued and met by the Intern.