Intro By Craig Blodgett
This summer First Pres is hiring five college interns to serve in our Children's and Youth Ministries. For nine weeks (June 14- August 16) they will busy themselves planning and organizing ministry events, teaching Sunday School, Youth Group, and Summer Swim Studies, help lead at VBS, and spend time having fun and building relationships with our children, youth, and First Pres families. They will meet weekly with our Children's and Youth Directors to pray together and discuss Henri Nouwen's book, In the Name of Jesus, Reflections on Christian Leadership. Our hope and prayer is that they will develop spiritually and theologically, gain practical ministry training, explore their gifts, and test whether they are being called to vocational ministry.
Here's an introduction of the interns and a bit about them:
Elementary Interns
Morgan McGuire
I am currently attending California State University of Fresno and am finishing up my third year. I am majoring in Liberal Studies. I am looking forward to this summer as I work with the Children’s Ministry. Getting to hang out with kids and be mentored with the other college students will be wonderful. I love signing, watching movies, going to DISNEYLAND! And golfing! A child's faith in God is so simple and so easy. Most of the time children haven't gone through some hardships or emotional distraught as you might encounter through later years. I want to learn from these kids just as much as I hope they learn from me. Remembering that our God is so huge, but at the same time just a simple concept of "God loves me." I would appreciate prayer for me that I will be able keep my whole heart in this throughout the summer. My parents are struggling with moving and finding a new house and sometimes I tend to carry their burden for them. Prayer that I can keep my mind and heart here with the kids and be able to give them my full focus so I can give them an amazing summer!
Brad Alkire
I currently am a sophomore at Biola University majoring in intercultural studies. This summer I am looking forward to getting to know the kids and families involved in First Pres.' children ministry, as well as having a blast with them all and helping them and myself further understand the message Christ has for us. For fun I love going to the movies or just relaxing with friends and family over good food and good conversations. This summer I hope to grow spiritually by focusing more on the glory of God and all of the awe and wonder in having the one and only true God be there for me and love me. In doing that I hope to become and feel more spiritually connected to Christ. Right now I could use prayer to finish the school year strong and to sell have enough energy for everything this summer has planned for me.
Junior High Intern
Rachel Benitez
I have just completed my first year of college which technically makes me a sophomore! I am attending Fresno Pacific University, majoring in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in mathematics. When I think about this summer, I am filled with excitement knowing that I was blessed with this opportunity to pour into these kids’ lives. I am most looking forward to forming relationships with the Junior High kids and seeing how God has wired them. My close friends know me as, “Grandma Rachel,” because I like to crochet in my free time. I also enjoy being around people. It does not matter to me what we are doing or if we are doing nothing, I love to hangout with my friends and get to know new people. I am hoping that this experience as an intern this summer will give me opportunities to grow as a leader and as a follower of Christ. I am looking forward to seeing God, people, and the world in the way the Junior High kids do. I would love prayer for myself as I head into leading these kids this summer. I would love prayer for myself, that God would guide me in everything I do this summer with the ministry, and prayer that the relationships that will be made this summer will be centered on Christ. Thank you!
Sr. High Interns
Mark Jen
I am a junior at Fresno Pacific University majoring in Environmental Studies. I am looking forward to connecting 1-on-1 with the high school students and in our Wednesday night discussions. For fun I enjoy playing recreational sports, hiking, table games, and music with friends. I hope to grow spiritually in the Word - familiarizing myself with scripture in a deeper way. You can be praying for my internship and overall trust in God with my life.
Amelia Morrow
I am currently attending the University of North Florida. I am a senior and will graduate in Spring 2016. I am a Communications-Public Relations major. I am looking forward to the opportunity of being in California this summer. I am excited to work in the church and especially excited to work with high schoolers. I think I will have a lot of fun and the experience will grow me incredibly. I am also excited about my part-time internship with City Without Orphans and having the chance to work, for the first time, in the field of Public Relations. As a Floridian I love to be at the beach or the pool. I enjoy walking and talking or having a coffee with a friend. I also love to hike, travel, read, and journal. I hope this summer grows me in understanding how to communicate and relate to people of all ages. I hope that it grows my understanding of the gospel and how to articulate it genuinely and comfortably. I hope I grow more in trusting and relying on God as I face situations that are out of my comfort zone. You can be praying for me as I drive to California-for safety, energy, and an easy journey. I would love prayer for my nerves as moving can be stressful and the process has been somewhat exhausting thus far. Please pray that my excitement for these internships continues to grow and that I would continually be reminded of Gods calling in this experience. Thank you for this opportunity! I look forward to meeting you when I arrive in Fresno.