For the past seven years, Parkside Church has welcomed a small and select group of young men to participate in a year-long, comprehensive internship program for pastoral ministry. Through service, study, and hands-on experience, these young men will discern if pastoral ministry is right for them.

This year’s class includes McLendon (Mac) Matthews, Jonathan (Jonny) Thiede, and Daniel Kim. Please help us give them a warm welcome as they learn the ins-and-outs of Parkside Church. Here’s a little more about them to help you get acquainted:

Interns at a Glance

McLendon (Mac) Matthews
Married to Keara this past June
Age: 22 in November
Hometown: Southwest side of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
College: Michigan State University with a degree in Psychology.
What are you known for: Well, I’m commonly mistaken for Jonny, so I get called the wrong name a lot.
One word to describe yourself: People tell me that I’m gentle, so I guess I’ll have to go with that.
Special and/or surprising skill or talent: I’m not sure I would say I’m talented, but I have dabbled in ballroom dance.
Favorite free time activity: I enjoy hammocking, reading, and pretty much doing anything active or outdoors.
My favorite [fill in the blank] is: My favorite book is A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent.

Jonathan (Jonny) Thiede
Age: 23
Hometown: Murray, Kentucky
College: University of Kentucky with a degree in Accounting.
One word to describe yourself: Mac just said I was “funny,” whatever that means.
What are you known for: Discovering Narnia before C.S. Lewis.
Special and/or surprising skill or talent: 7 years of playing the saxophone.
Favorite free time activity: In the United States of America, all time is free time. I would say watching sports and talking about anything.
My favorite [fill in the blank] is: My favorite state of matter is liquid.

Daniel Kim
Age: 22
Hometown: Niskayuna, New York
College: Wheaton College with a degree in Business/Economics and a minor in Bible and Theology.
One word to describe yourself: Considerate
What are you known for: My smile.
Special and/or surprising skill or talent: I love to ski, [but] that’s not super surprising though.
Favorite free time activity: I love hanging out with my friends, watching sports, skiing, and eating great food.
My favorite [fill in the blank] is: The King’s Speech is my favorite movie.

Diving a Little Deeper

Q: What are you hoping to gain or learn from this experience?

Mac: I’m hoping to leave Parkside more in awe of Jesus than when I arrived, and [to have] greater discernment and affirmation of what God is calling me to.

Jonny: My desire is to be continually broken by the gospel of Jesus in hopes that the knowledge and glory of Christ would consume me to pour myself out for Parkside and this community. I hope to learn how to teach and preach the Bible better.

Daniel: With the support of the community, I’m hoping to discern if God is calling me into a teaching ministry. In the process, I would like to refine the character traits and the skills that are necessary for becoming a faithful teacher. I’m also excited to join this new community and form meaningful relationships with the congregation and pastoral/staff team.

Q: What about this opportunity most excites you?

Mac: It’s a unique opportunity to experience and participate in pastoral ministry for an entire year, in a variety of settings, while being met with grace as we learn and grow.

Jonny: I would say I am most excited to get opportunities in so many different ministries. In college, I was very involved with my church’s youth group, so it is cool that Parkside gives us the opportunity to minister to other groups as well. Also, it is cool to be in a place where I can learn more about God and teach what I am learning to others, glorifying God in that capacity. It just amazes me that Parkside, and, to a greater extent, God, has entrusted me to teach and care for His people in this season in this way.

Daniel: I believe that God has called us to live within community, and ministry within the context of deep friendships is the best way to grow and connect spiritually. I’m excited to continue to get to know people at Parkside.

Q: What's your greatest fear about this opportunity?

Mac: That’s a great question, it’s hard to pinpoint what my greatest fear would be, but I think it would have something to do with not making the most of my time here.

Jonny: My greatest fear in this opportunity is that I would start to see my identity in what I can do for Christ (teaching and preaching) instead of what He has already done for me in making me His child.

Daniel: That’s a great question. I want to make the most out of this opportunity.

Q: What rotation are you currently in and what have you learned so far?

Mac: My rotation has Transit, men’s and women’s Bible studies, and some of the help and hope ministries.

Jonny: I am currently in the youth/counseling rotation with Danny Schillero, Brandon Smith, and Jonathan Holmes. I honestly learn so much every day just by interacting with those guys. I have learned time and again just how important intentionality is in everything we do. In youth, I am learning how to do the little things well such as tying up the details for retreats, or making sure we have everything we need for a typical Tuesday or Thursday night. In counseling, I have learned how important it is to listen. As a natural talker, this has been a growing process for me.

Daniel: I am in the rotation with communications, college ministry, and midweek life groups. I’m working under Jon Cameron, Dan Southam, and Eric Pollitz.

How May We Pray for You?

Mac: You could pray that I would grow in competence and Christlikeness throughout this year. Please pray for biblical friendships for my wife and me during our time here. Also, [pray] for discernment as we don’t know what comes next for us after the internship.

Jonny: Pray the Lord would continually keep me humble and remind me of my position as both a saint and a servant of the Lord. Pray also He would clarify the call on the lives of Daniel, Mac, and me. Pray [that the three of us] would get along!

Daniel: Pray that I serve faithfully and gain the skills and character traits that are necessary to becoming a faithful preacher. Also, pray that I continue to get more connected within the community.

Get In Touch

If you’d like to reach out to any of the interns, you can send them an email at the following addresses:

McLendon Matthews: mmatthews@parksidechurch.com
Jonny Thiede: jthiede@parksidechurch.com
Daniel Kim: dkim@parksidechurch.com