Valley Christian Fellowship Youth Ministry
Santa Ynez, CA
Summer Internship Program
Contact: Mike Gleim
(E: )
If you’d like to apply for this internship, fill out attached application and email it to: .
At a glance:
Who: We want young and maturing leaders who are at least 19 years old and have been a growing Christian for at least two years.
What: Youth ministry internship focusing on High School or Middle School ministries
When: June-August, working 30 hours per week. Optional extension into ’14-’15 school year.
Where: Santa Ynez, CA (Santa Barbara County)
Why: To equip young leaders and help them gain experience while serving in our ministry
Education: High school diploma required (college and seminary students welcome)
Housing: free housing in the homes of church members
Pay: $1000 mo.
This internship is geared toward maturing young leaders with the desire to grow and serve students.
The internship spans from June through August, with an option for an extended internship into the 2014-2015 school year. We are looking for youth leaders that are desiring equipping and education in youth ministry leadership. We want to help people explore a future in youth ministry, or simply spend a season of life working in the ministry.
About our church:
Valley Christian Fellowship is a well-established Evangelical Free Church with a history of family ministry strength. We are the only church in the Santa Ynez Valley with full-time youth ministry staff, and we are the largest youth ministry in the area for that reason. The church size is about 400-500 people each week, with about 100 youth per week. VCF’s unique location provides both opportunity and challenge. Located in Santa Barbara County, we have a unique demographic to reach. Some students come from broken homes and are lacking financially, but most of the area consists of families in an upper-middle-income demographic. This ministry context poses many opportunities and challenges.
During your time with us, we will emphasize the four following areas:
We will EDUCATE you to learn, lead, and teach core Biblical doctrines.
We will EQUIP you to lead an affective ministry with purpose and vision.
We will ENGAGE you in the work of the ministry.
We will EMPOWER you to succeed in the future ministry to which God calls you.
The Qualifications Be ready to be stretched, challenged, and invested into. Be a growing Christian for at least two years and have at least a high school diploma. College graduates and seminary students will feel challenged by the curriculum and work involved in the internship. We are looking for those who have some prior leadership experience and believe in the ministry of the local church. In addition, we want you to like teenagers, love God, and have a hunger for seeing students grow in Christ.
Internship Curriculum
Here are some of the key components that make up our internships
Key Components / PurposeI / Study Materials/Book Reviews / EDUCATE
II / Conferences/Seminars / EDUCATE
III / Doctrine/Apologetics Training / EDUCATE
IV / Mentoring Time w/ VCF Pastors / EQUIP
V / Intern Solo-Time / EQUIP
VI / Weekly Goals/Time Management / EQUIP
VII / Ministry Job Description + Staff Meetings / ENGAGE
VIII / Campus & Community Presence / ENGAGE
IX / Family Ministry Events / ENGAGE
X / Development of New Ministries / EMPOWER
XI / Ministry Coaching + Leadership Lessons / EMPOWER
EDUCATE
I) Study Materials & Book Reviews
Each week, the youth ministry staff meet to discuss the book they are reading together. At some points, interns come ready to give a summary and a presentation for the rest of the staff on the key points of a book.
II) Conferences & Seminars
The youth staff typically goes to one or two leadership conferences a year. In October, the interns and paid staff go to the National Youth Worker’s Convention. Other conferences such as the LA Justice Conference & Catalyst are typically available during other months. Interns might have to raise money for those conferences based on budget availability.
III) Doctrine/Apologetics Training
A key component for our more experienced interns is studying theology and ministry philosophy. There are online courses and books interns work through to deepen their theological understanding. Seminary interns with theological classes completed can focus on preaching and other ministry areas to sharpen their skills.
EQUIP
IV) Mentoring Time w/ VCF Pastors
Interns will meet periodically with different members of the VCF staff to study the content that has been most influential for that pastor.
V) Intern Solo-Time
Purpose – To learn and create the healthy habit of prayerfully evaluating and seeking God regarding your ministry leadership. On a weekly basis interns will set aside time for the purpose of reflecting, learning from successes and failures, and preparing for the next week. Interns will be given suggestions on how to best use their time, but they have the freedom to use the time as they desire.
VI) Weekly Goals/Time Management
We want to help leaders live a purposeful life by connecting your values to your weekly and long term planning. Interns will use a day planner or calendaring software to list and complete tasks in a timely manner. This unique skill will help leaders for future success. We will also teach you how to set and evaluate goals
ENGAGE
VII) Ministry Job Description + Staff Meetings
Purpose - Interns will further develop their gifts while working in the ministry. Interns will fulfill their job description by attending weekend youth ministry services, mid-week Bible studies, and/or special events. These duties will be decided based on the skills and passions, and the needs of the ministry. Interns will also participate in staff meeting when necessary, to gain the experience of being on a high functioning pastoral staff.
VIII) Campus & Community Presence
Interns that stay on during the school year will be focused on starting a campus ministry on one of the campuses in town. The local school system is uniquely friendly to church leaders being on campus, and we see this as a great opportunity for outreach.
IX) Family Ministry Events
Our church puts a high value on families, and we put on regular events to encourage and equip parents to raise their kids in Christ. Interns will plan and execute these events as a way of learning how to see an event through from start to finish.
EMPOWER
X) Development of New Ministries
Purpose - Prepare for leading your own student ministry by thinking through critical issues and processing the entire breadth of the running the ministry.
Long-term interns begin to build new areas of ministry in the church and in our community. It is a great chance to begin recruiting and training leaders for a new ministry.
XI) Ministry Coaching + Leadership Lessons
Once given a portion of the ministry to lead, long-term interns begin to meet weekly with our senior staff to discuss the goals and vision of the ministry of which they lead.
Being an intern in our Youth Ministry means that you are committed to working hard, growing as a leader, and possess the character traits necessary for church leadership. The internship acts as a training ground for new leaders to help grow our ministry. Each intern must be dedicated to personal growth, and be prepared to take on new challenges and responsibilities as his/her skills improve. This is not the kind of program where interns do easy or tedious work. Interns will be given new challenges and responsibilities and given LOTS of feedback on how they can improve. We want young leaders who have a track record or being moldable, humble, and faithful. Interns must be available Fridays for Middle School Group and Sunday nights for High School Group. Regular attendance at Church on Sunday mornings is expected.
If you have any questions: don’t hesitate to email
Internship Application
Fill this out and email your answers to .
Today’s Date ______
______
First Name Last Name Middle Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Phone Number: ڤ Male ڤ Female
Email Address:
Birthday:
WORK/EDUCATION STATUS
Part time Full time
EDUCATION
______
High School Graduation Year
______
College/Trade School Graduation Year
Other Education Graduation Year
Personal & Spiritual History:
Write a brief testimony about how you became a Christian (please include dates):
Write briefly about significant events in your life that have impacted you spiritually:
How would you describe the health of your spiritual journey now?
What accountability do you currently have in your spiritual journey?
What do you do when you have a conflict with someone? How do you typically handle confrontation?
Are there any special issues or concerns happening in your life now that would have an impact in your involvement in youth ministry? (E.g., relationships, family, etc.)
In caring for students, we believe it is our responsibility to seek an adult staff that is able to provide healthy, safe, and nurturing relationships. Please answer the following questions accordingly. *Any special concerns can be discussed individually with the pastoral staff.
Have you ever gone through treatment for alcohol and drug abuse? __Yes __No
If yes, please explain
Have you ever had sexual relations with any minor after you became an adult? __Yes __No
If yes, please explain
Are you willing to be fingerprinted for State Criminal Conviction Clearing?
__Yes __No
What church are you currently attending?
If it applies, please list the date and activities of other ministry experiences you have been involved with.
DATE STARTED CHURCH/ MINISTRY/ ACTIVITY DATE ENDED
What spiritual gifts do you feel you have, and how would you like to use them in youth ministry?
Why do you want to work in youth ministry?
Personal References
Name______Relationship ______
Home Phone______Work Phone______
Email Address______
Name______Relationship ______
Home Phone______Work Phone______
Email Address______
Name______Relationship ______
Home Phone______Work Phone______
Email Address______
Applicant’s Statement
The information contained in this application is correct and to the best of my knowledge. I authorize any references or churches listed in this application to give you any information (including opinions) that they may have regarding my character and fitness for ministry to students. In consideration of the receipt and evaluation of this application by Valley Christian Fellowship, I hereby release any individual church, youth organization, charity, employer, reference, or any other person or organization, including records custodians, both collectively and individually, from any and all liability for damages of whatever kind or nature which may at any time result to me, my heirs, or family, on account of compliance or any attempts to comply with this authorization. I waive any right that I may have to inspect any information provided about me by any person or organization identified by me in this application.
Should my application be accepted, I agree to be bound by the bylaws, values and policies of Valley Christian Fellowship, and to refrain from unbiblical conduct in the performance of my services on behalf of the church.
Applicant’s Signature:______Date______
Thank you so much for your desire to serve God
We are excited to get to know you. A staff member will be in touch with you in the event that we proceed with the interview process.
Mike Gleim
Pastor To Teens & Parents
Valley Christian Fellowship – Solvang, CA
Cell: 805-451-6086