Last September, a close friend of mine named Justin introduced me to the Atlanta Associateās Program. He had done the program the previous summer and absolutely loved it. Ā The internship is designed to give college students the opportunity to grow in their relationship with God and with others, while also gain valuable work experience. Throughout the summer, six guys live together, take road trips together, and attempt to engage one another with openness and vulnerability. The guys also have a weekly bible study, community service projects, and meet with mentors and their families. Justin felt I would be a great candidate for it, and suggested I apply. I promptly feigned interest and moved on to considering different options for my summer. At the time, I was sure that I knew what I wanted to do this summer and it didnāt include a traditional business internship. Even though Iām majoring in Marketing, full-time ministry is where I feel called. I was hoping to work with a church this summer, and the internship didnāt seem to be compatible with that, so I ignored the suggestion and the possibility that it could be what God was wanting me for me to consider. Over the course of the year, Justin continued to say that I should at least explore the program. Eventually, he managed to convince me to apply.
The Program so far has been fantastic! In just a month, I have learned about myself, what I believe, and how I interact with others. Naturally, I tend to bottle up painful emotions, and I keep myself busy to avoid them. The mentors connected to the program have shown me this and have tried to help me find ways to dig into those feelings that I would otherwise hide from. I also live with five other interns that I met a month ago, so that has been interesting to say the least. Sandor Fejervary leads our weekly bible study, and he is walking us through the book of Genesis. Ā Through Sandorās insights and our conversations, I have found my faith being tested and refined. Living and meeting together has consisted of āiron sharping iron,ā a biblical principle that has been missing in my life.
When I shared with the men running the Associateās Program about my desire to be a pastor, they hooked me up with Drew. Drew and I talked about me potentially working at Kairos this summer, and we felt it would be beneficial for me. So far, I have loved it! From meeting the congregation, taking care of miscellaneous tasks, writing the questions for the Lectionary series, and getting to build relationships with the staff, I feel Iām getting a chance to gain some experience with all the different responsibilities and jobs that are essential in running a healthy church. The next big opportunity is taking six nine-year-oldās to watch a Braves game later this afternoon. Interning has given me a chance to be hands on in ministry, learning what pastoral leadership looks like.
As the summer continues, I hope to continue to seek what God has for me in Atlanta. I pray that I would be able to engage with the Church in a way that is faithful to the opportunities God has given me, and that I would be able to form relationships that would leave a lasting impact. I canāt wait to find out what the next two months have in store for me this summer!
– Taylor