Most of the 33 college-age students settled into Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina on May 24 to begin 10-week internships in the Great Plains.
Although remnants of previous internship programs – the Micah Corps program related to mercy and justice issues in Nebraska and the Vacation Bible School leadership in the former Kansas West Conference – are still in place, this is the second year for a full-fledged program in the Great Plains.
Those new programs include pastoral leadership, church planting, Hispanic ministry, youth ministry and, new in 2016, young adult community building.
Feedback after last year led to a longer, two-day closing retreat at Camp Comeca, near Cozad, Nebraska.
“We can wrap this up in a way that allows the learning to continue on after they leave,” said the Rev. Ashlee Alley, clergy recruitment and development coordinator.
After a praise-and-worship service, which included a sermon by the Rev. Alan Gurupira, assistant to the bishop of the Zimbabwe Conference, the interns discussed church leadership and how it doesn’t necessarily mean becoming an ordained minister.
Conard said applications for the internship program were nearly double the number of students who were hired.
The interns come from not only across Kansas and Nebraska, but New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Iowa.
“The word is getting out about what we’re doing in this conference,” said the Rev. Kalaba Chali, Great Plains mercy and justice coordinator.
Conard agreed, saying that she has received inquiries about the Great Plains internships from conferences across the country.
Several of the interns have returned from last year, some in different roles and others in leadership tasks.
Amy Kenyon, Omaha, who just graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in secondary English/theater education, said that like other internships the Great Plains offered a chance to travel and meet people.
But there was also a fulfilling aspect.
“It’s an opportunity to do some self-learning and do something useful with your summer – a moment of growth rather than relaxation,” said Kenyon, a Micah Corps member.
Alley said the goal of the Great Plains staff members was to provide a transformational 10 weeks.