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Silver Lakes Association Ministry Internship Description

Thank you for your interest in this Ministry Internship with the Silver Lakes Association of SBC Churches! We have designed this internship to address four related problems: 1) the oversupply of evangelical (especially SBC) seminary and Bible college graduates in southern states in the U.S., 2) the undersupply of qualified ministers in northern states, and in particular, in our area of north Idaho where the population is exploding, 3) the relative unavailability of reasonable, entry-level, hands-on ministry opportunities that can both build experience and prepare men and women for further ministry responsibilities, and 4) the fact that pursuing seminary/Bible college education is not feasible or wise for many who may otherwise be wonderful candidates for ministry and serving the body of Christ.

Internship Tracks:

Pastoral: Gain experience through preaching/teaching opportunities, skill development, pastoral care opportunities, biblical counseling training, and leadership in the context of an established local church.
Church Planting/Revitalization: Gain experience through preaching/teaching opportunities, skill development, pastoral care opportunities, biblical counseling training, and leadership in the context of beginning new ministry efforts in areas under-served by healthy biblical churches or within the context of churches in need in our Association.
Music Ministry: Gain experience through serving/leading in the music ministry of Association churches, service planning, helping bolster the music ministry of the church.
Children’s Ministry: Gain experience through serving in the children’s ministries of churches in the Association including opportunities to establish new ministries for children.
Youth Ministry: Gain experience through serving in the youth ministry of the church in coordination with pastoral leadership to accomplish ministry objectives.

Who Should Apply for this Program?

Men who desire to serve the body of Christ as a pastor who yet lack the requisite pastoral experience needed to apply for many positions.
Men who desire to serve the body of Christ in the establishment of new churches in places with significant need for more healthy churches who yet lack a feasible or practical way to be supported by most sending organizations.
Men and women who desire to serve the church in many different ways who yet lack the finances or time to gain formal seminary/Bible college training.
Men and women with seminary/Bible college degrees who desire to serve the body of Christ in many different ways who yet lack real prospects for open positions in their area.

Expectations and Compensation:
Commitment to 2-3 months of service at minimum.
Time: 10 hrs. per week of ministry related service: not including attendance to weekend services at a Silver Lakes Association Church and not including time spent reading.
Completion of the assigned minimal Reading List and other assignments in a timely fashion.
Working closely in coordination with the pastor of the church in our Association which you will be supporting and with the Moderator and Vice-Moderator of the Association to set realistic goals and create attainable ministry objectives for your respective Track.
Integration into the life of the church and meeting normal membership expectations.

Compensation:
Travel Expenses: up to $500 travel reimbursement
Housing: In some circumstances, we may be able to provide housing through the generosity and hospitality of the members of our Association church in their homes. This will depend, in large part, on availability, but also your needs and flexibility and willingness to lodge in this way during your stay.
Stipend: A stipend of $500-$1000 a month is available based on competency and need.
Books: Books on the minimal Required Reading List are paid for by the Association or the church you partner with in the Association.
Conclusion: In an age where many professional internships are completely unpaid, we believe this compensation, while not enough to live on for a single person or family, is an exceptionally good opportunity. Here are a few additional points to consider:
Seminary students and Bible college students pay for their education and housing, have little time to work, and come out on the other side with debt or bad health from working so hard.
Since experience carries as much or more importance in being hired for full-time ministry opportunities, the value of this opportunity is on par with, if not more than, seminary education.
If you intend to hold this internship for longer than a few months, you will likely need to secure another job (and health insurance) to be the main source of your income. We will help you, with our community connections, find a fitting place of employment.
In view of this compensation, these opportunities are most fitted for singles or married couples with no children yet, though, depending on the job one finds and how long they intend to stay, it may be fitting for those with children as well.

[In connection with each Track, there are relevant assignments that will consist of a minimal reading list to be completed during the Internship (to be adjusted based on the level of experience or already completed reading of the applicant) along with teaching and/or exegetical assignments on key passages of Scripture related to the specific areas of ministry under consideration or other needed areas of emphasis to be determined acceptance into the program.]