Purpose: The purpose of the summer internship at Westside is to develop men and women for the gospel ministry. Because our desire is to hone not only the skills but also the lives of young preachers and missionaries, the program provides both practical ministry experience and individual mentoring attention. The program offers an intern a variety of opportunities to develop pastoral gifts and abilities through involvement in the local church ministry. Westside desires that this internship be a benefit to all who are involved.
Internship Philosophy
I. Prospective Benefits for the Intern
A. Provides an occasion to fulfill II Timothy 4:5.
"But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill
your ministry."
B. Provides an intense forum for ministry evaluation.
1. Calling of God
2. Gifts and abilities
3. Ministry direction/interests
C. Provides hands-on experience in a local church.
D. Provides increased exposure to various needs, opportunities, and methods involved in children, teen, adult and camp ministry.
E. Provides practical knowledge needed in a first ministry or pastorate.
F. Provides consistent preaching opportunities (II Timothy 1:6-7).
1. Stirring the gift.
2. Developing poise.
G. Provides a bridge from the classroom experience to the ministry experience.
II. Prospective Benefits for the Pastors of Westside
A. Allows them to fulfill the command of II Timothy 2:2.
"And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to
faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
B. Allows them the satisfaction of helping to prepare the next generation of preachers and missionaries.
C. Allows them to invest time in other areas of ministry.
D. Allows them to share the Pastors’ burden for ministry (particularly in the West).
III. Prospective Benefits to the Church
A. Provides examples for the body, particularly the young people (I Timothy 4:12).
"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct,
in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
B. Provides an increase in zeal among God's people.
C. Provides an increase in outreach into the community.
D. Provides an increase in souls added to the church by the grace of God.
*Adapted from the internship program of Bethel Baptist Church, Schaumburg, IL and Heritage Baptist Church, Antioch, CA.