LEAD MISSION TRIPS.
GET REAL JOB EXPERIENCE.
HAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER.
LEAD LIFE-CHANGING MISSION TRIPS FOR
HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS ALL SUMMER LONG
Countless past summer staff can tell you, it's an amazing way to open doors to full time church, missions, construction, and ministry positions! Through a Next Step Internship / Summer Staff position, you get to serve on a team with other young adults, live in one of our awesome partnering communities, and facilitate all aspects of nine one-week youth mission trips. Whether you are interning for college credit or just serving the Lord with your summer job, this paid internship opportunity is an amazing way to gain hands-on experience in youth ministry, construction, worship, and missional leadership, while experiencing what it truly means to serve others as Jesus did.
CHECK OUT SOME PAST SUMMER STAFF REVIEWS
Ian
Emcee 2016, 2017
Being an emcee equipped me to communicate effectively. I was once afraid of speaking in front of big crowds. I am now excited to use my experience with Next Step as a stepping stone into pastoral teaching. I can honestly say that my growth in speaking is due to the training and experience I received through Next Step.
Connor
Worship Leader 2014, 2015
My Next Step summer internship gave me the hands-on experience I needed as a young worship leader. These summer months helped craft my musical, missional and leadership skills. My internship helped me understand what it would be like to serve in full-time ministry, and has led me into opportunities to tour and into a full-time church position as a Worship Director.
ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP
Each year we hire lots of young adults from around the country and even internationally to explore our awesome mission locations and serve the community alongside our great partnerships there with a paid summer internship!
We take care of your training, travel to and from your mission location, and all lodging / food during your internship.
If you are looking to be a leader in your field and get ahold of the amazing job experience available in our summer positions, check out our current mission locations and learn more about our available construction, worship leading, church media, VBS coordinator, hospitality, speaking, and youth ministry focused positions below!
If you have any questions just call, send a message, or type "JOB" in the chatbox at the bottom this page!
LOCATIONS
Missouri
Ohio
Colorado
Alaska
Kentucky
Tennessee
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Massachusetts
South Dakota
Guatemala
Wisconsin
SALARY
$2,000+ to $3,500+
Meals / Housing are Covered
Some positions are required to raise support.
DATES
May 19 – August 5, 2025
Some positions require additional training dates.
WHO IS A GOOD FIT?
Passionate
Strong Communicator
Energetic
Christ-Follower
Organized
CHOOSE YOUR TRACK
FAQS
What are the requirements to be on Next Step Summer Staff?
All applicants must be at least 18 years old and one full year out of high school. Must be a believer in Christ and hold to Next Step’s statement of faith. See the individual positions and requirements for list of specific ministry position requirements for each type of missions position.
Do we have to serve the whole summer? Are there part-time internships/positions?
All internship positions are required to serve the entire summer. There are no part-time internships/positions.
Do we receive any training?
Your summer will start with a week of training in Wisconsin. Here you will learn the ins and outs of the summer and get specific training for your position.
Do these ministry and missions positions help with getting a job in ministry or missions?
Absolutely! We can't begin to tell you how many of our past summer staff now work full time in church ministry or missions work. Additionally, many of our construction interns have had their internship hands on planning and field experience lead to full time high paid construction work! No matter your specific position serving in a summer missions position with us, we can tell you there are countless stories of how it will prepare you for full time work in the future!
Is this a christian internship?
Yes! We are a ministry made up of believers who strive to help students explore their faith, experience life changing encounters with Christ, and extend service to others!
Do we get to choose what community we will be serving in?
There are several things we consider when placing our missions summer staff and building the teams. First, we consider your specific skills and talents and how they best fit into the communities we work with and the teams that are set up. We also take into consideration where you would like to serve. Lastly, we place based on Next Step's specific ministry summer staff needs.
Do we have any time off?
Yes. Although Next Step packs a lot of awesome stuff into a week, we get creative with how the missions team is finding rest both during the week and over the weekends
That being said, due to the nature of your position there is not too much downtime on a day-to-day basis. Typical weekends are used to get any supplies needed, set up new projects, have fun in the area, and just rest. You may get tired, but take it from us; it will be well worth it! The position requires your effort 24/7 for 10 weeks.
How are food and lodging handled?
All of your food and lodging is covered for the entire summer! You will be staying at a church or school in the community you live in. Your new bedroom will most likely be a classroom. You will sleep on an air mattress.
Will I be leading a construction site this summer?
Yes! All of our summer staff whether they are hired for worship and programming, construction or missional leadership will help lead middle and high school students in completing a variety of construction projects. This may sound intimidating, but DON'T WORRY, you don’t need any previous experience in construction, we provide training and support for you and understand that most of you have limited or no construction experience.
Do these internships count for school credit?
Yes! We work with a wide number of accredited schools and educational facilities. Please let us know if this is something you need and we can work with your professor or school to be sure you receive the college internship credit you need!
GET IN TOUCH
Reach out to our Internship Director Bridget Greenwood for more information on our summer staff positions, or simply fill out the contact form below to send a quick message!