Earlier this month, Parkside Church welcomed our new class of pastoral interns for 2011: Tim Shaw, Kyle Higgins, and Levi Stuckey.
All three recent college graduates have landed at Parkside with the desire to better discern their calling to serve God. As participants in Parkside's pastoral internship program, they will learn about all facets of pastoral ministry as they are guided through a series of four-month rotations.
"One of my best friends, Stephen Downey did the internship last year,” says Tim Shaw, a graduate of Wheaton College and newlywed who is living in Chagrin Falls with his wife, Abigail. “Stephen said [the internship] is a wonderful opportunity to teach, and while that's what scares me I’m excited to preach the gospel and study God's word. That's where my passions are and that's what I want to do more than anything in the world. I'm looking for affirmation of the calling and I want to be very careful about how I go about my education. I thought this time would be a wonderful opportunity to see application of what I would learn in seminary."
Levi agrees. “For me, I've always been kind of toying with the idea of ministry. I went toTaylor University studying Biblical Literature with the idea of going into ministry, and so for me, the internship is definitely about getting some kind of affirmation about ministry. I feel like that's where I'm headed, so I think for me it's more about better discerning what my gifts are, where those lie, how I can best serve the church, and what ministry is going to look like for me -- whether that be in youth ministry, community development, outreach, evangelism, or even as a professor teaching at the college level. So I’m just trying to figure out what area of ministry I'm specifically called into and what my gifts best fit,” explains Levi.
Kyle, who graduated from Malone University in Canton, also has a broad view of what to expect from the program. “I went to the Green Campus when I was in school. When I first heard about the internship, I wasn’t sure if it was for me or not. After talking with some people and praying about it, I felt like it would be such a cool opportunity to grow and learn. Even though the teaching part drew me to it, I didn't feel equipped or ready, by any means, to teach. It seemed like a huge step, but I don't know if anyone ever feels equipped or totally ready. I just look at it as a great opportunity to learn and grow and discern my calling.”
Getting Down to Work
Parkside’s year-long program is broken up into three four-month rotations and introduces each intern to the church’s many ministries. In addition to working with several pastors at a time, the interns are each working towards a masters degree in Christian studies through Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. The interns will also see what it's like to operate a church with a smaller on-site staff when they go through the Green Campus rotation.
For Tim, Levi, and Kyle, September has been a month of adjusting and observing. Each day has added more responsibilities and duties to their list as they begin their rotations. Tim will be working with Pastors Aquilino, Willmer, Larison, Klein, and Kennedy. Levi was initiated into the Youth Ministry by attending their annual Cedar Point trip with Pastors Southam and Cameron. Kyle starts out on familiar ground with the Green rotation, but will stretch his legs by working with the support, community involvement, counseling and other ministries with Pastors McAlvey, Griswold, Holmes and Romans.
Blowing Off Some Steam
With so many responsibilities, there is little down time for these three, but they all enjoy sports, reading and hanging out. Tim played football in college, but loves pick-up games of all kinds – anything from basketball to hockey. Levi throws a mean frisbee, loves movies, and plays guitar; and, Kyle, a former shooting guard at Malone, also loves playing music. Originally a drummer, Kyle is learning to play piano and guitar. All three fellows have been enjoying some of downtown Chagrin Falls’ popular hangout spots, namely Starbucks and Jeni’s Ice Cream.
What's Next
“We’re all pretty thankful for the opportunity,” notes Levi. “We know Parkside’s done quite a bit to help us young college guys which is a huge thing when thinking about ministry. It’s daunting to be right out college and all that comes with it. I'm super appreciative of the generous opportunity to come and learn and grow and discern while working.”
“I’m excited for the opportunity because we are being given the chance to learn from a staff that is experienced and well-educated, and they’re providing a lot of support for us young men,” adds Tim.
“My coach,” adds Kyle “has been a huge influence in my Christian walk and he said to me, ‘Kyle, a big part of this internship is learning what it takes to be a godly man.’ Even if I don’t become a pastor, I look at this opportunity as a way to learn how to be an effective lay person in a church, and not only that, but how to be a godly man if, God willing, I have a family someday. I know I want to teach people about Jesus and minister to them in that way.”
All three young men are eager to meet the congregation and encourage you to say hello as you see them around the building. And, they wouldn’t say no to a plate of homemade cookies, either!
How You Can Pray
The Parkside pastoral internship is focused on helping young men to mature and learn in their faith so that they might better determine if their call to pastoral ministry is the right path for them. Your prayers for the interns would be most welcome.
Where Are They Now?
Here’s the latest news from last year’s interns:
- Stephen Downey is currently attending a postbaccalaureate program at Columbia University to prepare for medical school.
- Stephen Judy is exploring options in youth ministry in California.
- Chris Beals is serving at Fall Hills Community Church in Dayton.
