Hear from previous 1-year interns about their experiences! Click on their names below to read their reflections and their advice for future interns.
Christopher jun
sent by kairos christian Church to Coban, guatemala 2021-2022.
1. How did you decide to devote one year to serving as an intern?
It was a process. Sophomore year of college, we had a guest speaker (Pastor Jason Sato) who was going to Japan for long term missions. God planted a seed for missions and God’s global work; there was a tugging and stirring. I was curious and there was a desire growing to devote myself to Him and serve His purpose. Fast forward to senior year when applications came around, I started to pray seriously about the decision. I also talked to many who had already gone about their decision and discernment process. There was a desire to serve and to know God more by witnessing His global work. Also practically speaking, if I felt called to long-term missions or ministry in the future (this is something I was considering as well), it would be good to have experience in the field, working alongside long-term missionaries, and learning from them. All these other thoughts went through my head as well: Will I be okay after? Will I find a job? God gave me faith that He is my good Father and Provider, and His ways are higher than my own so I can trust Him. Considering all of the above, my decision to go was me saying “Yes” to God and the convictions I felt He had placed in my heart and me surrendering and saying that my life belongs to Him, not only in this year but in all my life.
2. During your time as an intern, what roles did you play?
I wore a lot of hats! At that time, a lot of ministries were just starting to get off the ground so a lot of flexibility was required. Think start-up culture! To put it succinctly, all of my roles were either some sort of teaching role (English, Math, PE), church staff role (organizing and planning events, helping setup/tear down, attend Bible Studies), and worship team. Of course, there was also relationship building with the locals and doing/sharing life with them.
3. What is one realization or revelation that God showed you about Himself, people, or His kingdom as a result of your internship?
There was a lot I think. But main one is this. God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Internship was hard in many ways and also fun and enjoyable in others. After processing internship through all the hard and good times, I realize this verse is so true (Romans 8:28). He really does use ALL THINGS for His kingdom, to shape me and form me, so that I may be used by Him according to His plan and what He has in store. Not only in my life but the lives of others in the ministry as well. As a result, my faith in Him to persevere no matter the circumstances grew; what I see is not truth or final, it is who He says He is and what He says He will do.
4. How has your experience while interning influenced what you are doing now and what you hope to do in the future?
Through internship, God gave me greater faith to see everything as a Kingdom opportunity, to see how He is using all things. It has not shaped so much my decision of what to do but my attitude toward the things I do. Through internship, God revealed that really His Kingdom is the most important. Now what I prioritize in my life (at least what I desire to prioritize) is not my career or material things but His Kingdom. In order to do this, He tore down idols in my heart of where I placed my security which freed me to live more devoted to Him. Serving at church, evangelizing and building relationships with unbelievers, and staying “in the vine” to be sensitive to how He is leading me is how I desire and commit to live my life.
5. How would you advise interns to maximize their experience while they are on the field?
Lay down your own expectations! Instead, be sensitive to God, seek Him, and ask Him His will for internship and what He wants to show you. Be about Him and what He wants! Would even recommend a prayer retreat/fasting before you leave to prepare your heart!
Jeannie wooh
sent by grace covenant Church to singapore 2018.
1. How did you decide to devote one year to serving as an intern?
I’ve always been intrigued by the 1-year missions program but giving one year of my life to missions felt too intimidating. So instead, nearly every summer, I signed up for AMI short-term missions. Throughout those years, God grew my heart for cross-cultural ministry. As I was working my first job after college, I was preparing to apply to Masters programs and wanted to pursue Music Therapy. But throughout that process, I felt God asking me to give my first fruits to Him. I realized that one year is a long time, but it also really is not a long time in the bigger picture of things. I wrestled with the timeline of wanting to obey God but also wanting to develop my career. But God gave me peace and confirmation from my community to go, so I applied in faith and the rest is history!
2. During your time as an intern, what roles did you play?
I was sent in the early years of GCC’s church plant so our roles, especially in my first year, were not so defined. Before we were sent, Pastor Keith encouraged us to just say YES in our 20’s. Do things that you are not comfortable doing and be obedient. At the time, the church staff was just Pastor Paul and six early 20-something year old sisters (which is funny to think about now as we knew so little and were so young) but God took our small yeses and multiplied them! We helped support and build up ministries within the church (teaching, leading worship, etc.), would serve at our sister church in Pekanbaru, Indonesia and their orphanage, Insan Permata, and focused on building relationships both within and outside of the church. These were all so exciting but we were also tasked with mundane and behind-the-scene things like scheduling, navigating busy bakeries for communion bread, ordering and printing materials, and getting slides ready for Sunday service. Especially in the not-so-glamorous tasks, I felt God challenging me, growing me, and further equipping me. Our main goal was to support the long-term missionaries there (Pastor Paul and his family) so sometimes our days looked like caring for his three daughters – I taught them piano, picked them up from school, and just spent hours playing and having fun together. Something that a previous intern shared was that she wanted to serve the missionaries in ways that were not asked (like cooking or cleaning the dishes or mopping their floors). She said that she wanted to do those things, so that the missionaries didn’t have to. That really resonated with me and I tried my best to keep that mentality in my time there to support the Liu family.
3. What is one realization or revelation that God showed you about Himself, people, or His kingdom as a result of your internship?
Singapore is an incredibly diverse and thriving nation. When I shared with people that I was going to Singapore, I often got confused comments like, “But Singapore is rich! Why are you going there? They already have everything.” God dismantled my view that missions is only for unreached nations (although that is incredibly important as well!). Singaporeans joke that their society wants to achieve the 5 C’s – cash, credit card, car, condominium, and country club. But what is missing is the most important C – Christ! When we have everything or strive to have everything that the world tells us we need, it’s hard to see the need for Christ. When Pastor Ryun Chung visited us, he warned us to not get caught up with the nice lifestyle, to identify the cultural temptations (which we definitely faced!) and exhorted us to proclaim Christ above all else.
4. How has your experience while interning influenced what you are doing now and what you hope to do in the future?
During my internship, I got a calling to full-time ministry. What was originally just a 1-year “gap-year” period between working and grad school, turned into a calling to lay down my plans to follow His. I never intended to go to seminary, but I like to say I “accidentally” got my seminary degree. We enrolled in a 1-year certificate program to get a student visa. But as God led me to stay longer, I simply kept taking more and more classes and then before I knew it, I had actually completed a full degree – haha! I moved back to Boston in 2021 to join as the Worship Director at Symphony Church. I can very much see how my years interning and in school have prepared me for those following years of ministry. In terms of what I hope to do in the future, my husband and I very much have a heart for missions and would love to be sent long-term when God calls!
5. How would you advise interns to maximize their experience while they are on the field?
Lean into being uncomfortable. Don’t be in an ex-pat bubble and get to know and build relationships with locals. Cherish the highs and lows. Don’t be afraid of conflict – it can be a good thing. Be gracious to yourself as you adjust to a new country, new language, new culture, and new community. And lastly, say yes! God will lead you.
elaine choe
sent by Symphony Church to over-the-rhine, Ohio.
Elaine currently lives in Boston, MA serving on college staff at Symphony Church. From 2013-2017 she attended Boston University and received a B.A. in International Relations with a minor in Journalism. For fun she enjoys baking, meeting up with friends, and watching movies.
Peter Khaw
sent by Symphony church to Vietnam.
Peter is living in San Diego with his family and working until he starts physical therapy school in August.
joshua chzen
sent by kairos christian church to east Asia.
jennifer kim
sent by symphony church to East asia.
Jennifer currently lives in Bergen County, New Jersey while serving as the youth pastor and media director at Catalyst Agape Church. She is pursuing her Master of Divinity at Alliance Theological Seminary while also working as a teaching assistant at the seminary.