College Union

By: Eric Lindh

Project Transformation (PT) offers year-round and summer internships to college students who are passionate about exploring urban ministry and developing as leaders of the church and community. The program is designed to offer college students a vehicle to grow in their faith journey while experiencing cultural and socio-economic diversity, living in Christian community with other college students, and exploring various ministry opportunities.These internships focus on the following principles and values:

1. Servant Leadership – Interns will serve urban churches and the surrounding community through providing summer day camp programs for approximately 80 children and youth. The servant-leader is a servant first. “Christ came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Our interns aim to follow His example in every aspect of the program. They will meet these underserved and at-risk children and their families on their level, work with them during the program, show them God’s love, serve their needs, and visit them in their homes.
2. Community – Living in Christian community with 70+ other college students creates an environment where interns can develop strong bonds with their peers who share the same passion and interest in ministry and service. Not only will interns work and serve together during the day, but they will share meals together, worship together and play together. Living in community allows interns to come home each day and have opportunities to share experiences, challenges, and encourage one another in their faith journey.
3. Relationships – The foundation of PT is built on fostering strong relationships -with the children and families, with other interns, with the site church staff and volunteers, and with the community. It is through these relationships that God is present and lives are transformed.
4. Spiritual Formation – PT invests in the spiritual development of each young adult, opening their eyes to the needs and opportunities for ministry. Interns learn to build a community of support through worship, Bible study, prayer, and guest speakers. They participate in a weekly worship gathering as well as morning devotions each day before heading out to the program sites. Interns are encouraged to examine their personal beliefs through intellectual and spiritual discussions.
5. Ministry Exploration – PT seeks to further engage interns in their faith journey through expanding their definition of ‘ministry.’ Each Friday, interns will be exposed to various avenues of lay and ordained ministry through visiting different ministries and faith-based organizations. They will hear guest speakers share their faith journey and how God called them that particular ministry. Examples include Perkins School of Theology, Methodist Hospital, United Methodist Reporter, homeless ministries, youth and children’s ministries, college chaplaincy, and camping/retreat ministry.

Project Transformation offers college students an opportunity to not only change lives, but to play a part in transforming communities. Through collaborating with energetic college students and partnering congregations, urban churches are being revitalized, giving them a renewal of hope and a ‘can-do’ mentality. Interns are helping to transform what was once an empty building into a church that is bustling with activity and new life.

PT’s internships also allow college students to gain an intimate understanding of the challenges facing low-income communities. It is our hope that our interns will take what they have learned and be intentional about finding ways they can help their own communities. This experience is not one that will just fade away after classes start up again in the fall or as you start your first job. It will stay with you. It will affect how you view the world. It will affect how you interact with people. It will impact your life and your faith.

How often do you get the opportunity to truly change lives? Project Transformation offers an opportunity to do just that, but you will find that your life changes as well. We invite you to jump into an intense summer at PT, and find out how your life will be transformed.

We are currently accepting applications for the summer and year-round internship program. You can find more information, watch a video, and download an application at our website: www.projecttransformation.org.
Eric Lindh is Executive Director, Project Transformation.

Categories: Missio Dei
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