I have
officially begun my work as an intern under Brian Hopkins at Macedonia Baptist Church here in Longview.
I actually began about a month and a half ago I guess, so this post will
be pretty long since I have to catch you all up! I got back to Texas from Florida (my home) and immediately began going
down to the gym (where the programs I’m working with take place) to observe on
Sunday mornings and Sunday nights. Originally, in planning for this
internship, Sunday nights were supposed to be my main thing, but I have a
feeling that I’ll be doing quite a bit more than that! I almost immediately began helping to
facilitate a small group of the older girls on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights,
and now Wednesday nights as well. In addition to that, I help Brooke
(Brian’s wife) to lead worship on Sunday mornings and nights. On Wednesday nights, I actually lead it
by myself because she has class on those nights.
A few weeks
after I got back into town, my Christian Ministries professor, Dr. Pat Mays, my
pastor, Steve Cochran, Brian, and myself met for lunch to discuss the actual
internship. I really enjoyed just
being with those awesome men of God and hear their ideas on ministry and feel
like I was really a part of things. But, at the same time, that meeting made
it finally click that I was really an intern. I’m really working at the church. What an awesome responsibility! It almost freaks me out a little, but
for the most part, it is exciting. At one point in our meeting, Brother
Steve asked me what my goals were for the internship. I had to think about it for a minute, but
here’s what I think my main goal is: I want to build relationships with these
kids! Sure, I want to be there to
help lead worship, to teach when needed, to facilitate discussion, but mostly, I
just want to spend time with these kids. I remember when working as a Christian
camp counselor for three summers, that my first summer I was terrified of middle
school and teen weeks. But now,
looking back, those weeks when kids from about 5th grade to
10th grade would be there were my favorite. I really feel like late elementary to
middle school age is the most moldable age of childhood. That age is when most kids become who
they really are. They are shaped
and molded into that person by their surroundings usually, so what better age to
be present in their lives! That’s
what I want to do for these children.
And I’m so excited to be able to do that!
Let me
outline a typical week for me at the church. Sunday mornings, I usually arrive at the
church around 8:30. By 9, all of
the kids are there and we start off the morning in our classrooms with our small
groups. Then, we all go out to the
gym for our big group time of worship and teaching. We again split off into our small groups
to finish up discussion and such after this. When we all go back to the big group
again, I leave for church, and children’s church begins. I go to the service instead of helping
with the children’s church time because Brian and I both feel that it is
necessary for me to get spiritually fed still. Sunday nights, I get back to the church
around 4:45, and we play games with the kids until close to 5:30 when they have
all arrived. We have a snack time,
and then split off into our groups, then all go into the big group for worship
and teaching, and then go back to the small groups, much like Sunday mornings.
We are usually finished by about
7. Wednesday nights, I get to the
church around 6:30 and we all play games. Then we have a time of worship, and then
split off the younger kids to small groups, and the older kids play group games.
Then the young and the old kids
switch and I go with my girls to our small group. We finish up around 8. In addition to all of this “church”
time, I also go up to the office about once a week in an afternoon and work with
Brian there on planning things. Right now, I am actually helping (almost
exclusively) to plan a Disciple Now for November, and I’m sure I’ll write more
about that later. The biggest thing
going on right now is that for Sunday October 2 and Wednesday the
5th, Brian and Brooke are out of town, and I have to do quite a bit
more on my own than usual, so I’m freaking out a little! I think that’s about it for now, but
there will be more later!
