TA Summer Internship in the words of Bishop Tal

Written by Bishop J. Talmadge Gardner

One of the stated prayer requests and goals of WMM's The Awakening was the development of an internship program that would provide students with training, experience, and ministry opportunities needed to help them pursue God’s call on their lives. On June 1st, Max and Jessica Barroso, Directors of The Awakening, saw this vision come to fruition as eight interns arrived in Oklahoma City (OKC) ready to begin their summer quest. Let me briefly introduce them to you:

Libby Synan, Peniel PHC (LifePointe Ministries [formerly known as Georgia Conference])

Nick Gullion, Jubilee Christian Center (PacWest Conference)

Julia Holmes, Church of Living Water (PacWest Conference)

Olivia Barefoot, Trinity Worship Center (Cornerstone Conference)

Courtney Haire, Steadman PHC (North Carolina Conference)

Ivan Huereca, El Shadai (Pacific Conference, IPHC Mexico)

Mara East, Emmanuel College

Jaclyn Klerk, Emmanuel College

What a privilege it has been for Stephanie, Gabriella, Addison, Lorena, and I to interact with these valued young leaders. They are half way through the internship program as we speak. Some of the ministry elements that they will be exposed to and participate in include: Ministry training and Spiritual formation track in OKC; Specialized classes in Leadership, Missions, Youth Ministry, and Discipleship; ‘Hang out sessions’ with the Executives and selected Directors of ministry; Ministry Trips to Belgium and the Netherlands; Teams to Panama [my daughter, Gabriella, was on this trip – her first missions’ trip] and Guatemala; Youth Camps and Youth Rallies; Ministry in Local Churches; Church Growth and Development workshops; Youth Quest and General Conference; The Awakening's day to day activities; And multiple service and ministry projects.

In October of 1991, a prophetic challenge was given by John Dawson, author of ‘Taking Our Cities For God’, to the IPHC. The fourth characteristic of this challenge is as follows: “You are to be a tribe that raises up leadership for a vision as big as the world. You are to expose those being trained to the great diversity of ministries and movements. You are to know the Church. This movement is not primarily a nursery. Our success is always to be seen in terms of what is happening in the Kingdom, not in the isolation of our circumstances.”

The internship program comes to a close August 1st. Keep these young leaders in your prayers. They represent so much potential for the Kingdoms’ sake. Four of the eight have already indicated a call to full-time service as Career Missionaries. The Lord of the Harvest is answering our prayers. May they be empowered as they pursue their God-given destiny!

Thank you Max, Jessica, and your team: Geordan, Madeline, Seth, Garrett, and Dreama for your mentorship, passion, and investment in these treasured, young gifts.

Originally Published in the WMM Monthly