OVERVIEW
As an intern serving with HOPE you will not only gain valuable experience working with the poor, but you are committing to live a simple life “in community” with the poor. Our English word community is translated from the New Testament Greek word KOINONIA and is defined as “communion, joint participation, the share which one has in anything, participation, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution; it identifies the idealized state of fellowship and unity that should exist within the Christian church, the Body of Christ; a group of Christians living, sharing and working together with Christ as the head.”
Candidates are committing to a summer filled with invaluable experience and hard work. During the day, you will work with our faith based nonprofit organization HOPE CHARITABLE SERVICES. You will serve in a capacity best suited for your gift-mix and we will intentionally stretch you by engaging you in meaningful leadership opportunities.
Most of our summer emphasis is with our all-summer day camp for at-risk children. This social outreach is a high energy Christian presentation of the tangible gospel through our URBAN OUTREACH CENTER. Your day will begin with community chores around your living area, breakfast and devotions before we open the program to the children that we serve. Their day with us begins with breakfast and is followed by uniquely designed opportunities in S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math), Reading, Mentoring, Performing Arts, Evangelism, Discipleship, Lunch, Recreation, Athletics, Etc.
Some interns may work in administrative roles that including communications, administration, marketing, management, capacity building, sustainability development, etc. Others may work in our CHARITABLE SUPPLY CHAIN where we solicit, transport, receive, sort, inventory, store and distribute in-kind donations that we use to help the poor through our inner city ministry and share with partners in the region, across the nation and globally. Additionally, interns are expected to use their gifts and talents to participate in and support the ministry of our inner city congregation, THE SANCTUARY OF HOPE with its programs (evangelism, discipleship, outreach, worship and administration).
Your summer extreme experience will allow you serve our Lord in an essential role while gaining insight and experience into a simple, practical and highly effective grassroots ministry to the poor. You will be a vital part of HOPE’s missionary team, including gifted and anointed laity and clergy from our inner city community of faith. Many are professionals and Christian missionaries that have forsaken their homes to follow the call of God upon their lives to live in community with the poor and work with the needy..
HOPE’s Summer Extreme Experience is a 50/50 experience. It’s 50% about the invaluable service you will give to help the poor. But it’s also 50% about the positive and lasting impact that it will have on your life. The skills learned will carry you far in your career. The fraternal friendships that you will build as you experience the dynamic of living in community will last into eternity.
Living in community with: your colleagues, the poor that we serve and with Christ as the head will provide lasting benefits. The close and soul-friends that you make during this summer of service will follow you through your lifetime. The lessons learned will positively shape your future.
