Three Elisha interns and one Samuel intern will explore the call that God has for their lives. “We are excited for these young people to explore their call,” says Deb Kjerstad, who coordinates the Elisha and Samuel internships as the Director of Leadership Development. “The interns and host churches are taking  a leap of faith to do God’s work.”

Alex Hunnes, a student at Black Hills State University and is a member of First UMC in Billings, Montana, will be an intern this summer at Spearfish United Methodist Church. “This internship will put me in a position to try things out in ministry. It will help me grow in skills and my relationship with Christ,” he says.

Rev. Scott McKirdy will serve as Hunnes’s mentor. McKirdy and Spearfish UMC have hosted Elisha interns for the past six years. “Spearfish accepts this responsibility because we can. Our congregation understands college students because of our connection to Black Hills State University (BHSU), blocks away. Our goal is always to connect students into the life of a vibrant, local church. We can do all of this, so we choose to do all of this,” says McKirdy.

Andrea Hult will be a junior at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota. She will explore her call as an Elisha intern with Fusion Church and DWU campus ministry during the upcoming academic year. “I have a passion for helping others. I have felt God calling me to ministry in some capacity. This internship will allow me to explore that calling, says Hult.

Rev. Eric Van Meter will serve as the mentor for Hult. “Our mission is to make disciples and train young people to be leaders in making disciples,” says Van Meter. “What we do is develop ministry leaders. That is so much of what campus ministry is.”

Catrina Standifer is working on a degree in IT security at Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Standifer grew up in the Methodist Church and felt safe in her local church’s arms until she graduated from high school. She credits God for turning her life around after making some choices that were leading her down a destructive path. 

Standifer will intern at Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with Revs. Kip Roozen and Matt Morrison as her mentors.

“I want to figure out if being in ministry full-time will work for me,” Catrina says. “I know I want to help in the church and serve God in any way possible.”

Chloe Archambeau attends Century High School in Bismarck, North Dakota. She plans to spend the summer diving deeper into her call at Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck by serving as a Samuel intern. Rev. Brandon Vetter will serve as Archambeua’s mentor. 

“I love worshipping and leading music at worship. Every time I sing or listen to the words of God, I am reminded of my faith. I feel I am being called to spread the word of God,” Archambeau says.

 The Samuel Project is a summer program for high school students - specifically seniors before or after their senior year - who already feel God’s call of ministry. 

In its ninth year, the Elisha Project aligns with the conference’s desire to create a culture of call that actively encourages young adults to explore how God is calling them to build the kingdom. In the upcoming year, these three Elisha interns and one Samuel intern will explore ministry.  Each intern will spend time at his or her host church and gain experience in a wide variety of ministerial contexts. All interns will have the opportunity to:

• Preach and lead a Bible study or devotional
• Plan worship
• Be involved in social justice or outreach ministry
• Observe leadership governance at a host site
• Provide pastoral care

 Earlier this spring, college students were invited to apply to participate in the Elisha Project. A task force of the Board of Ordained Ministry members selected interns and matched them with host churches. 

Chloe Archambeau singing at Legacy UMC. Photos from Facebook.

Pray for these interns and host churches:

Interning: Chloe Archambeau, Legacy UMC
Mentor: Rev. Brandon Vetter
School: Century High School
Hometown: Bismarck, North Dakota

Interning: Alex Hunnes, Spearfish UMC
Mentor: Rev. Scott McKirdy
School: Black Hills State University
Hometown: Billings, Montana

 Interning: Andrea Hult, Mitchell Fusion, and DWU Campus Ministry
Mentor: Rev. Eric Van Meter
School: Dakota Wesleyan University
Hometown: Brookings, South Dakota

Interning: Catrina Standifer, Asbury UMC
Mentor: Revs. Kip Roozen and Matt Morrison 
School: Southeast Technical Institute 
Hometown: Egan, South Dakota