Westside Internship FAQ
- What is the Westside Internship Program? find out more
- What experience will I gain as a Westside Intern? find out more
- What areas of the church are internships available? find out more
- What does a typical week of an Intern look like? find out more
- What Westside staff members does an Intern interact with? find out more
- What is the primary goal of the Internship Program? find out more
- What are the minimum requirements to be considered for an internship? find out more
- When are the dates for the program? find out more
- Does Westside provide housing for Interns? find out more
- Can I seek part-time employment? find out more
- How many interns apply and how many do you accept? find out more
- When will I find out if I am approved for the internship? find out more
- If I am approved for an internship, but there aren't enough positions open? find out more
- What happens when I have completed the internship? find out more
- What is the admission process? find out more
- How much does the Internship cost and when is tuition due? find out more
- Can I pursue a college degree? find out more
- Can a married person do this internship? find out more
- How can I find out more information? find out more
What is the Westside Internship Program?
The Internship Program is a year-long intensive spiritual growth, leadership development, and ministry immersion experience at Westside Church. As a Westside Intern, you will be given the opportunity to learn from some of the most innovative thinkers and creators in ministry, participate in the day to day activities of church staff culture, stretch yourself as a leader, and lay a firm foundation for a life-long pursuit of the passion and vision that God has placed on your life.
What experience will I gain as a Westside Intern?
As a Westside Intern, you will gain valuable experience in four primary areas: educating in how to build and lead ministry, equipping in how to live a destiny-driven life, exercising and developing your ministry skills, and empowering you to succeed in your future life and ministry. Westside Interns will gain experience in the following areas:
• Participate in our Ministry Training Institute
• Learn from dynamic and innovative church and ministry staff
• Enroll in optional accredited college classes
• Mentored by ministry-focus pastors and department leaders
• Attend daily chapels where you pray, worship and learn with other pastors and leaders
• Receive discipleship training
• Receive ownership of significant areas of ministry
• Lead Bible studies and small groups
• Serve at weekend worship gatherings and outreach projects
• Participate in optional Westside missions and local outreach experiences
• Build community with your class through weekly study, prayer, small groups and fun activities
• Form a philosophy of ministry and life plan that encompasses the whole family
What areas of the church are internships available?
We offer internships in the following departments: Childrens’ Ministry, Youth Ministry, Local and Global Outreach, Worship, Innovation and Technology, Discipleship, and Expansion / Church Planting. During the application process, you will rank your top three ministry focus choices,
What does a typical week of an Intern look like?
There is no typical day at Westside! Every week will look different depending on the specific upcoming ministry needs. Your daily ministry involvement depends on a number of things, particularly which ministry you're serving in and what responsibility you have within that ministry. But each intern will spend significant time on the four 'E's' (educate, equip, exercise, empower), which includes the following:
- Training/working in your specific department - 9 hours a week
- Daily intern meeting and Chapel - 2 hours a day, 4 days per week
- One on one meeting with intern pastor - 1 hour, every other week
- College classes - One to Three nights a week (optional)
- Ministry Training Institute - 3 hours every Monday night
What Westside staff members does an Intern interact with?
The Internship Program will be administered by Bo Stern (Discipleship Pastor) and Steve Mickel (Executive Pastor of Expansion). They will serve as the primary leaders for the Internship experience. Interns will also work directly with and be mentored by a department leader in their ministry focus area and the campus pastor at the location(s) where they serve on weekends. Finally, interns will interact with Ken Johnson (lead pastor) and other staff pastors during the morning chapels.
What is the primary goal of the Internship Program?
The Internship Program is a training and proving ground for emerging church leaders. During your year, you will accumulate valuable experience, mentors, and knowledge that will prepare you for stepping into the next phase of your God-given calling. It will also give you needed life skills and biblical foundations to help you in whatever career you choose.
What are the minimum requirements to be considered for an internship?
We require that all applicants have a high school diploma or equivalent. However, if you feel you have a unique situation, contact us and we will discuss it.
• Spiritual Authority - We want to know that the spiritual authorities in your life (Parents, Pastors, & Mentors) all agree that this is the right training environment for you at this time. In some instances we realize that this may not be possible.
• Personal Life - We want you to be spiritually prepared to enter into this intensive ministry training program.
• Previous Ministry Experience is preferred and specific experience in the desired ministry focus area is certainly favored. We also look for people who have a clear sense of calling and dare to dream big dreams for the Kingdom of God. However, we are also big believers in attitude, flexibility, sense of humor, ability to work within a team environment, so we weigh tho kinds of personality traits heavily.
• Finances - We want you to be financially able to enter this program at this time. Working full time is not an option as an Intern. Part time work (around 20 hours per week) is permitted as long as it does not interfere with your internship schedule.
When are the dates for the program?
The 2011-2012 Internship Program will run from September 2011 through June 2012, with an optional summer missions experience.
Does Westside provide housing for Interns?
Westside does not currently have housing available for Interns. However,
our staff will be available to give guidance on areas of the city that
might provide affordable housing.
Can I seek part-time employment?
Absolutely! It is our expectation that most, if not all, interns will
secure secondary outside employment. You also may have time to attend
the comminity college or take online classes from LIFE or New Hope. We
ask, however, that ministry expectations and time requirements take
precedent over outside work schedules.
How many interns apply and how many do you accept?
We received 12-20 applications each year. How many we accept depends on
many factors: the number of openings created after other interns finish
their commitment, the need in a particular department, and the amount of
physical workspace available in the ministry center. We take an average
of 12-20 interns per year.
When will I find out if I am approved for the internship?
Assuming there are no hold ups in the process, we will be able to tell
you one or two months before you’re scheduled to start your internship.
If I am approved for an internship, but there aren't enough positions open, what happens?
This is common in those situations where the process is delayed by uncontrollable variables. If we accept you into the program, but there are no positions available any longer, we will give you the option of deferring to the next year or withdrawing from the process.
What happens when I have completed the internship?We desire to see our interns contribute to and lead ministries in the community and local church where God leads them. To that end, we will always be "looking forward," by providing opportunities for interns to journal and discuss how principles learned at Westside can be implemented in other ministries. Also, Westside Church is a great place to network for future employment, as other churches often communicate their need to Westside for youth workers, worship leaders and many other ministry opportunities. It has been our experience that Westside interns end up in great churches.
What is the admission process?Applicants must request an application by contacting the Intern Director.
• An application will be mailed to you. It is recommended to turn applications in 6 months prior to your potential start date (and 9 months prior if you are international).
• Your references will be checked.
• You will have at least two phone interviews including: an interview with the director of interns, and an interview with the pastor(s) of the department(s) you are applying for.
• After your first or second interview, you will be notified whether or not we would like you to plan a visit and to continue with the application process or not.
• During your visit you will meet with the pastor of interns and the pastor and the team of the department for which you are applying.
• After your visit you will be notified if we would like to extend an offer to you at that time or not.
• If you are offered the position, then and only then should you start raising support and making plans to come to Oregon.
• Lastly, all applicants are considered “on probation” for the first three months of their internship.
How much does the Internship cost and when is tuition due?
Tuition is $2,000 per year of the internship, plus any ministry-specific costs related to your ministry focus. The first half is due the first day of semester one. The second half is due the first day of semester two. Tuition goes to pay for development resources like books, encounter, MTI tuition, and staffing. It is an essential piece to your internship and cannot be negotiated.
Can I pursue a college degree?
Yes! Westside is a member of the Foursquare’s Emerging Leader Network (www.emergingleadernetwork.com), a network of similar programs around the country. As a member of Foursquare’s Emerging Leaders Network WIP graduates receive a tuition scholarship from Life Pacific College (www.lifepacific.edu), to complete up to 64 course units (worth $7,680). Note: This scholarship covers all credit costs and students still must pay for books and materials. The student must pay the unit credit fee in order to transfer their credit to another college. New Hope Christian College (www.newhope.edu) offers an online approach to taking seminary classes. You are welcome to take correspondence or online courses with either of these schools or the local community college part-time during your internship.
Ministry Training Institute: With locations all over the world, we are blessed to have the founders of MTI based out of Westside Church. MTI teaches the basics of the Christian faith and how to operate in the fullness of the Sprits power, through in depth teaching and practicum groups where you can ‘practice’ the things of the Kingdom.
Can a married person do this internship?
Yes!
How can I find out more information?Contact Us at 541.382.7504 or interns@westsidechurch.org.
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