Now in her fourth year at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Kenley had not considered a vocation ministering within the church setting, but her internship experience changed her perspective. With an undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry, Kenley thought she would become a physical therapist. Now, she dreams of a different kind of therapy for people: building self-sustaining programs that minister to the wide range of demographics inner-city families represent.
“We know [the internship] is highly beneficial to the students,” says Tabernacle pastor Sterling Severns, who is a BTSR graduate. “But we've found that it's also highly beneficial to the church as well. Equipping them doesn't suck the life out of us, but instead, it creates energy.”
Rooting Kenley on in her journey is an unexpected team of cheerleaders and a critical component of BTSR's internship program: church laypeople. Students in the internship program meet each month with a ministry consultation committee comprised of four to five church members, giving both students and members the opportunity to ask questions of each other.
“My committee was a great source of affirmation and encouragement,” said Kenley.
“Each one watched my work closely, and soon I realized that each watchful eye was looking for those opportunities when they could say that I had done a good job.”
Kenley's internship focused on ministering to children and their families. Set in the heart of Richmond's Fan district, a diverse demographic has diverged upon Tabernacle's family ministry program, both from within the city center and areas lying outside it.
“As interns, we strive to create programs that are self-sustaining,” says Kenley. “The goal is to work closely with the congregation so that, when my period of service has ended, congregants are participating in activities and events for children and families that they are invested in and believe in, rather than my individual ideas.”
At any given time, BTSR has about 35 students interning at approximately 30 churches. Most are located in the Richmond area, but some are in other states and even other countries.
“Many of our students [initially] say they're not going to do church work, but these internships can give them a new perspective,” said Tracy Hartman, assistant professor of practical theology at BTSR. “For instance, students are often adamant that they will never do work in institutional churches again. They have been burned by bad situations, but BTSR and churches open to equipping interns give them room to work through that, to fall in love and find a place in the church again.”
Seventy percent of BTSR graduates go on to work in the church setting, and Hartman believes that the teaching churches and the laypeople are a key component.
“The role of the laypeople is critical to [the internship] process,” said Severns. “We have mentored several interns and believe we're beginning to get our role right. Our laity have what I feel is the right approach to mentoring students. Their frame of mind is not ‘What's in it for us?' but ‘What's in it for this young minister?' ”