The following post is from Megan Currie, a student at Mars Hill College and one CBF’s Collegiate Congregational Interns (CCI) at FBC Monroe, N.C. This blog is included as part of a series of posts from CCI-ers who will share about their summer experiences. 

The idea of working in a church all summer as an intern wouldn’t have excited me a couple of years ago.  However, when you feel God is calling you into ministry, this opportunity to explore your calling is something to be humbled by, something of which to be grateful.  And that is what I am – humbled and grateful.

I am grateful to CBF’s Collegiate Congregational Internship Program and to First Baptist Church of Monroe, N.C., for their willingness to open their doors for me and allow me this opportunity to come in and discover all aspects of their church’s ministry.  Both CBF and FBC Monroe have made this possible and I couldn’t be more thankful.

This internship came at a perfect season in my own life.  Just two years ago, I began to sense that God was calling me into ministry.  However, still being a high school student drowning in a sea of my own plans and personal desires, I wasn’t quite ready to say “yes” to God in terms of my calling.  It wasn’t that I felt this calling was a bad thing, I simply didn’t know what to do with it.  I couldn’t quite grasp it. 

So, I took what seemed to be the easy way out at the time—I began to ignore the voice of God (which I don’t recommend) that I had heard so clearly in my life only to find myself a freshman in college, still completely overwhelmed that this sense of God calling me hadn’t gone away but instead had gotten louder.

It was as if God had hit me in the head with a two by four, over and over.  Right around Christmas of my freshman year in college, I finally said “yes” to God… And so, my journey began.

The chaplain at Mars Hill College, Stephanie McLeskey, had mentioned this internship to me once we discussed my calling and all that I was feeling.  She had great confidence in the program and wanted me to consider applying to be a Collegiate Congregational Intern through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Stephanie knew that I needed something to help affirm the calling I felt God has placed on my life.  Within a few weeks, I sent my application and trusted God for big things.

Just a few months later, I’ve had the opportunity to help lead worship, visit church members in the hospital and in nursing homes, attend many committee meetings, spend Wednesday evenings getting to know the church body throughout various activities and helping with Vacation Bible School.  Within the next several weeks, I will have the opportunity to help plan an entire worship service, teach children’s Sunday school, go with the youth group to Passport summer camp and preach my first sermon.

To say that I am excited would be an understatement—this has been the most fulfilling and rewarding experience of my life thus far.

When I first found out about the internship, I knew it was something I wanted to do, but I also knew it would require me to step way outside my comfort zone.  I consider myself blessed to have been placed in a church where there is a huge sense of family, support and encouragement.

The people at First Baptist Monroe have been so encouraging throughout my learning and discernment process.  FBC has made this summer of exploring my calling something that I’ll never forget.

Each day, I am encouraged and mentored by the Senior Minister of FBC Monroe, Chris Dawson.  He has helped me work through what I am thinking and feeling about church life and ministry as a whole, from worship on Sunday mornings to behind the scenes church life.

The opportunity to explore a calling into ministry before you’re really “qualified” (with a degree) to be a minister is an opportunity that doesn’t come often.  Through this internship, I’ve been able to hear God’s voice more clearly and I’ve received so much confirmation and clarity about my calling.

Things aren’t crystal clear and I think maybe God does that on purpose, so we don’t ever stop trusting in Him.  This internship has been an absolutely blessing – coming at the perfect time in my life when I most needed God’s confirmation.

A huge thank you to CBF and FBC Monroe, for opening so many doors for me thus far on my journey—I am forever grateful.