YOUTH MINISTRY AND LEADERSHIP
WHAT YOUTH MINSITRY AND LEADERSHIP IS ALL ABOUT
Through a Next Step Missional Leadership Internship, you get the opportunity to plan, organize and lead various aspects of the youth mission trip experience. Your summer will be filled with opportunities to develop your youth ministry, community development, and general leadership skills daily, launching you toward success in whichever career you choose. Through this internship you will learn valuable lessons, including what it truly means to serve other as Jesus did. Your efforts will create a platform where students can experience Christ in radical ways, and communities see sustainable change happen.
WHY NEXT STEP?
HANDS ON EXPERIENCE
We are passionate about developing young leaders for the Kingdom. Our internship positions come with a high degree of responsibility while serving in a variety of missional areas. Through your successes and failures, you will grow in many aspects of your life, and learn what it takes to become a great leader.
RESUME BUILDER
Growing your ability to resolve conflict and communicate tasks, you will develop skills necessary for the everyday challenges of the professional world. Past interns have gone on to leverage what they’ve learned in full-time ministry positions, missions jobs, non-profit and community development management roles, and more!
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
A Next Step summer can be challenging, but it is through the challenges that come with stepping out of our comfort zone, that God shapes us in big ways. These positions will grow you far beyond a normal church internship, and you’ll see the Lord’s faithfulness in action each day, as you work to serve those around you.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
This is an opportunity for you to partner with a community in ways that go far beyond the community development work you do. You’ll build lasting relationships with community members that will impact your life in ways you never expected as you grow in a deeper understanding of what it means to be in community.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
TL
TEAM LEADER
Lead, empower, and equip others while overseeing life changing mission trips
MC
EMCEE
Be a part of major faith transformation, by sharing your story with students.
HL
HOSPITALITY LEADER
Create a welcoming atmosphere by providing meals and general hospitality for incoming mission groups
VC
VBS COORDINATOR
Work alongside community leaders to teach children about Jesus through fun and interactive summer programs.
AC
ADVENTURE COORDINATOR
Lead and serve as the point of contact for all adventure and service activity organizations. Adventure awaits!
SUPPORT RAISING FOR THE INTERNSHIP
Some Next Step Internships require that you raise some support. We are frequently asked why this requirement is in place and where the support goes. Next Step is committed to funding projects and partnering with organizations that really make a difference in communities. Whether you are building a deck or hosting a VBS, these community projects take significant money. When you commit to serving alongside a community with Next Step, you commit to making it possible to partner with communities in a truly impactful way.
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 internship.
Do we have to serve the whole summer? Are there part-time internships?
All internship positions are required to serve the entire summer. There are no part-time internships.
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 internships help with getting a job in ministry or missions?
Absolutely! We can't begin to tell you how many of our past interns 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 missions internship 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 internship 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 internship 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 internship credit you need!
JOIN THE TEAM
Step 1
Select Your Position
Step 2
Prepare Application Materials
Step 3
Complete Application