By Kellen Head-Corliss | Ministry Intern serving at Bear Creek United Methodist Church
Walking along the path, I always seem to find myself being led by someone ahead of me, all the while leading someone who is behind me.
Being a pastoral intern at the Bear Creek United Methodist Church has been one of the most rewarding opportunities I have ever had. My time here has been an enlightening combination of teaching and learning. Leaving the church gives me a sense of what itineracy could mean and it’s bitter sweet. I have a family here, but they are sending me off to learn more and to grow in Christ.
[pull_quote_right]The ability for the congregation to look past my age has been a true blessing.[/pull_quote_right]The ability for the congregation to look past my age has been a true blessing. I came into this internship the day after I graduated high school, and not once was I treated as a child. They were open to learning from a young person, and they were gracious to teaching me things that I had not learned yet.
In the latter half of my internship, the objectives moved from planning events and administrative pastoral duties to sermon preparation and class leading. My main focus during the past four weeks were big, worship leading tasks. I led worship in a more prominent way by planning a music-focused Sunday filled with testimonies from members of the church.
I also organized a three week bible study focused on the importance of the soul and tending to its needs. Starting each week, we shared our names, for those who were new, and started with a classic Wesleyan question: How is it with your soul? This really helped the group open up and express the condition of their souls, and prepared our hearts for learning.
The centerpiece of my learning during this section of the internship was the sermon I prepared and gave to the congregation. I spent weeks planning and writing it, praying over what God wanted me to share with the congregation. A week prior to preaching at Bear Creek I was able to preach a version of my sermon to a local nursing home, along with a church service that I planned. This was such a blessing because I was able to minister to a new group of people, and practice my sermon for the next week. That opportunity, paired with a long meeting with my mentor pastor, helped me to shape my sermon into the message that God wanted me to give.
When Sunday came, the honor of giving a sermon was unbelievable. I stood up in front of my church family and the Holy Spirit took my nerves away–at the very last second, of course. Upon finishing the message, I sat down and the adrenaline wore off. In that time, I felt God so clearly that I couldn’t help but shed tears of joy. I felt overwhelmed, privileged, and blessed to feel God so clearly that he would let me share his news and teach others. This was by far the most impactful moment in my short time ministering to others.
[pull_quote_left]This has been a truly unique opportunity for me to explore so thoroughly a call to ministry.[/pull_quote_left]While less dramatic, I want to stress the importance of having peers along in this journey. Having my cohort group gave me a place to share my struggles and triumphs, in an open and understanding environment. Having people going through a similar program was really helpful and I don’t know what I would have done without it. As the program is replicated and done again, I would highly recommend that this is not left behind.
Overall, this has been a truly unique opportunity for me to explore so thoroughly a call to ministry. After my ten weeks here, I would not say that I have fully confirmed a call to professional ministry, because I believe that exploring that will take a long, prayerful time. However, I do believe that this time has been affirming to my call, and I will take this entirely positive experience and hold it close to me as I continue to explore my call.
Kellen Head-Corliss spent his summer serving at Bear Creek United Methodist Church, a faith community growing disciples of Jesus Christ through inspiring worship, engaging study, and self-giving service. He is one of seven young adults who spent their summer in ministry internships across the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church.
Support received from the Young Clergy Initiative has helped to make Kellen’s internship possible.
