While many college students view summer break as a time to relax or find a high-paying job, more than thirty students at Freed-Hardeman University are using their summers to prepare for their future careers. These students are participating in youth ministry internships and mission field labs across the country and around the world, and the experience is one they will not soon forget.
Preparation for this program began in February, when interested students were interviewed and hired during Freed-Hardeman’s annual Lectureship. These students took specific classes that would provide them with the skills necessary for success in their areas.
Youth ministry interns are involved in teaching Bible classes, planning youth group activities, and participating in Vacation Bible Schools and mission trips. Some interns also have the opportunity to work at summer camps near their congregation. Students working in mission field labs have similar responsibilities; they teach class, help with campaigns and VBS, and plan youth events.
Carter Hoover, who is interning at the Centerville Church of Christ in Centerville, Tenn., believes that this experience has increased his desire to become a youth minister. “Being able to interact with kids on a daily basis just like a full-time youth minister,” he said, “has shown me how big a role that youth ministers play in the lives of the kids.”
Joel Harper, who is completing a mission field lab at the Thicket Road Church of Christ in Cape Town, South Africa, said, “I have wanted to do mission work for a while now, and this makes me even more sure.” He says this experience has him “thinking more about what mission fields I really want to go into and where.”
Dr. David Powell is the faculty supervisor for the interns and has been involved in the program for fifteen years. According to Powell, “Internships at FHU offer students a unique learning experience. It is where classroom learning and critical experience merge to produce a confident professional.” He adds, “The greatest strengths of the program include experience, networking, and future employment.”