Jonathan Wood, Children's Ministry

Knowledge and theology can't help you when you're trying to stop a mutinous uprising of eight and nine year olds on a Sunday morning. But I've begun to see how theology and "childcare"‚ are indeed integrated together, in the church, for God to express his love through us. The church is where God has chosen to use broken-down but willing servants to teach and encourage each other, and to love others. The SLI internship has made me more involved with the church body than I have ever been growing up at PBC. I've learned to combat laziness and take joy in every aspect of serving, no matter how labor-intensive. But the best part of serving has been to see (and learn from) faiths of all degrees, old and young, and to see how God is sovereign and working in them all.

Becky Burnside, Junior High

I didn't expect to get to break so many rules this summer. Or to have pastors walk in and say, "Oh, that's cool, try turning the oven up a little higher!" or, "Can I play?" I didn't expect to be prayed for by an eleven year old and be brought to tears. I didn't expect to spend more time at work than with my friends, and want it that way. I did expect to learn from the kids I led, which I did. I did expect to grow really close with the interns I learned along side of this summer, which I did. I did expect my relationship with God to change and deepen, which it did. But I didn't know God could do it all in such mind-blowing portions. He far surpassed my farthest expectations, and I walk away this summer with eleven people I can't wait to hang out with again, a junior high group I can't believe aren't just shorter adults, and a relationship with God that I can't even put proper words to. The joy and laughter and growth I've been blessed with this summer make me want to never leave this place, and my only wish is that next year's experiences will be half as amazing.

Melissa Sill, Children's Ministry

SLI was amazing. Not only did I get to serve the church that I love, I also got to hang out with some of the most amazing people I will ever meet. This was a lot more than just a summer job.

Eva Braunstein, College Ministry

SLI showed me how true the adage is that in doing ministry you get ministered to. Though the program is about serving others, forming relationships and communities, planning events and bible studies, I found myself thriving and growing in the midst of 'leading' others. I learned so much through my preparations for discussing scripture, from both textual commentaries and the plethora of pastoral mentors at my disposal. And getting a sense of how the church runs infrastructurally and interpersonally (going to staff/elder meetings to see how service gets planned,etc) gave me such a deep appreciation for the power and beauty of the body of Christ, and how much good we can do as a community. It restored my faith in 'religious institutions'. The church is not a corporate organization, it is a wonderful spiritually endowed group of people who can accomplish things and love in ways that isolated individuals simply can't. This summer was really a gift from the Lord.