Each mentorship candidate will submit an application for the ministry program.
The minimum age and grade is 15 years old, and 9th grade, respectively, with no age being too old. The program is dependent on accountability with each individual and Pastor Keith holding one another accountable.
Weekly Intern Meeting: Faithful participation in the internship program is essential for growth; the internship is what the intern makes of it. Each intern is expected to participate and engage in light of God’s grace to them in this ministry opportunity. Each week there will be a 2-hour meeting to discuss the reading and how the content resonates in their soul, life, family, and ministry. (2 hours)
Each intern will have a 1 hour time with Pastor Keith every 2 weeks to focus on interest areas, discuss internship progress and concerns, and/or concentrate on electives. (1 hour every 2 weeks)
Each semester, interns will have the opportunity to visit another church rehearsal and/or service, in person or virtually. Pastor Keith will seek to set up a meeting with the corresponding worship pastor so the intern can be exposed to another ministry and expand their understanding through interaction. A one-page reflection paper will be requested for interns to document and process what they observed. These reflection papers will be shared at a specified intern meeting. (4 hours each semester)
Each semester the interns, along with Pastor Keith, will plan and participate in a night of worship. This entails scripture readings, prayers, songs, exhortations, videos, attire guidance, lighting design, streaming and recruiting volunteers.
Prayer is essential for the intern to achieve the vision. Each intern is asked to form a prayer team of at least 4 people who share a close relationship with the intern and are dedicated to their success. Parents, spouses, family members, and friends are ideal for the prayer team.
Confidentiality is imperative for any prayer team, but especially for the intern that is seeking to grow their faith and is that much more vulnerable to spiritual attack. Each intern should seek to share prayer requests related to the ministry, personal growth, and general prayer needs..
Additional opportunities for spiritual growth, beyond the basic internship program, occasionally become available. Pastor Keith often speaks, records, or travels for special events. Interns are welcome to join these special times. If a female or a minor desires to go on a ministry trip it would then require another adult to go as well. The ministry can help with the cost if a financial need exists.
Feedback is critical for the overall health of the program to make it more faithful and fruitful. Periodically, the intern will be asked to provide input to Pastor Keith. The feedback may range from informal feedback at the conclusion of an individual session to more formal feedback at the conclusion of a semester or other program milestone.
Good lines of communication are critical to the spiritual growth of the intern and their family support network. Pastor Keith will actively seek to engage with the parents of student interns or spouses of adult interns to share program progress and ascertain any concerns of the parent or spouse.
Pastor Keith’s availability to the intern is not restricted to the specific times associated with the program. Both Pastor Keith and Joy see this program as an opportunity to invest in and encourage the intern and their family; as such, they are available at any reasonable time. They desire to engage in fellowship, relationship building, sharing, and experiencing life together outside of the specified times.
Pastor Keith will share a Google Calendar invite with each intern that shows his availability and also allows interns to add things to the calendar each week. This calendar aids everyone in planning and intentionality.
Each individual being mentored, along with Pastor Keith, will choose 1-2 elective areas of interest each semester balancing the individuals desires, other's selections, and church needs. (3-4 hours weekly)
Composition, Arranging, Orchestration
This can entail writing songs both instrumental and/or vocal, arranging songs for the band, and writing orchestration.
Band, Choir, Worship, Meetings
This can entail rehearsing a band, music directing a band, worship leading, and leading parts or full worship arts ministry meetings.
Organizing, Planning, Execution
This elective gives the intern an opportunity to organize in Excel, Planning Center Online, etc.
Podcast- serve with setting up interviews, managing Buzzsprout, recording and editing in ProTools, and publishing new episodes.
Collective (Writers)- being part of the Collective in all the writing endeavors by writing, helping others with writing, Finale, demos, and resources.
Sessions (Videos of Songs)- help with scheduling team members, planning songs to use, schedule of session release dates, coordinating for video work, Pro Tools, and promotion.
Records (Charts & Recording)- help with Nashville trips, administer resources for the website, promote all songs.
Visits, Cards, Texts, Phone calls
This elective gives the intern opportunities to encourage and care for others.
Teaching, Shadowing, Student Lessons
If the intern is a teacher, he or she would be able to focus on growth as an instructor. If the intern is a student, lessons would be the focus. Instrumental/Vocal Participation: Band, Choir, Orchestra, Handbells
This is an opportunity for the intern to participate but also be an active recruiter, encourager, and good example to others in faithful service.
Studio/stream, FOH, Propresenter, Lighting, Tech. director, Pro Tools, Logic
This elective could either be specific to only one area of A/V or a semester or two getting familiar with all areas. The intern would work closely with John Gathers, team lead.
Sundays, Nights of Worship, Seasonal Events
The intern in this elective would have the opportunity to pray through and plan songs, scripture readings, stage personalities, musicians, etc.
Each intern is expected to be part of the service worship team rotation. If the intern serves/attends another church, they are able to do these hours there. Participation is not required every week. (Minimum: 2 times per month)
Learn to root your corporate worship in unchanging biblical principles rather than divisive trends. Kauflin’s practical guide focuses on the devastating effects of worshiping the wrong things; basing praise on God’s self-revelation rather than on our assumptions; managing healthy tensions; and maintaining relationships in the worshiping community. It includes a special word for pastors and leaders. Study Guide: Interns will complete the study as they work through the book. (Summary from Crossway)
What is the gospel? It seems like a simple question; yet it has been known to incite some heated responses, even in the church. How are we to formulate a clear biblical understanding of the gospel? Tradition, reason, and experience all leave us ultimately disappointed. If we want answers, we must turn to the Word of God. Gilbert does so in What is the Gospel? Beginning with Paul’s systematic presentation of the gospel in Romans and moving through the sermons in Acts, Gilbert argues that the central structure of the gospel consists of four main subjects: God, man, Christ, and a response. The book carefully examines each and then explores the effects the gospel can have in individuals, churches, and the world. Both Christian and non-Christian readers will gain a clearer understanding of the gospel in this valuable resource. Study Guide: Interns will complete the study as they work through the book. (Summary from 9 Marks)
Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory is designed for students of any age, whether listeners or performers, who want to have a better understanding of the language of music. In this all-in-one theory course, you will learn the essentials of music through concise lessons, practice your music reading and writing skills in the exercises, improve your listening skills with the ear-training CDs (available separately or as a Book and CD combo), and test your knowledge with a review that completes each unit. (Summary from Alfred)
Three seemingly unremarkable principles shape and strengthen the Christian life: listening to God’s voice, speaking to Him in prayer, and joining with His people as the church. Though often viewed as normal and routine, the everyday “habits of grace” we cultivate give us access to these God-designed channels through which His life and power flow—including the greatest joy of all: knowing and enjoying Jesus. Study Guide: Interns will complete the study as they work through the book. (Summary from Crossway)
How do we know the Bible is God’s Word? What is sin and where did it come from? How is Jesus fully God and fully man? What are spiritual gifts? When and how will Christ return? If you’ve asked questions like these, then systematic theology is no abstract term. It is an approach to finding answers every Christian needs to know. The second edition of Bible Doctrine takes a widely used upper-level textbook on systematic theology and makes it accessible. Abridged from the second edition of Grudem’s award-winning Systematic Theology, Bible Doctrine covers the same essentials of the faith, giving you a firm grasp on seven key topics: the doctrine of the Word of God, doctrine of God, doctrine of man, doctrine of Christ, doctrine of the application of redemption, doctrine of the church, and doctrine of the future. Study Guide: Interns will complete the study as they work through the book. There is an optional review “test” that can be used to access knowledge. (Summary from Zondervan Academic)
