- Do you want to become better established in the word of God?
- Do you want to gain practical ministry experience and be developed on how to use your gifts and talents to serve God both here in New Zealand and into your future?
- Do you want personal mentoring and encouragement as you grow in your walk with God?
- Do you want to 'practise overseas mission' by training cross-culturally as you work with international students?
If you said yes to any of these questions, then the ISMNZ Internship can help you become established in your faith and encouraged as you minister. Our Internships are designed to equip and prepare people in their journey towards becoming life-long followers of Jesus Christ.
Many past ISMNZ interns are actively serving in their home or adopted countries, especially in Asia. As our graduates settle into the next stage of life and begin careers and families, many have maintained a passionate engagement in ministry. Being equipped for following Christ into the future has given them confidence to discover the right place to serve God wherever they go. Some have pioneered disciple-making ministries, while others have been of great value within a church or Christian organisations in their communities.
The internship also offers great opportunities for those interested in entering the mission field but desiring some practical training and development before making the final step. During the internship a student can minister within a community of migrants/students such as Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian, etc. This cross-cultural opportunity is invaluable in preparing someone for the mission field.
What is an internship?
Internships are becoming increasingly popular and important as employers seek people who have some work experience. In essence an internship is on-the-job training that sees you working with someone more experienced, who is able to provide opportunities for you to develop while providing support, advice and feedback.
Therefore how does all that apply to becoming a life-long follower of Jesus Christ? In a very real sense the 12 disciples were interns with Jesus. They spent three years intensely learning from Jesus and through the things He got them involved in. He taught them to put God first in their lives, to take risks and try new things, to learn about themselves through their mistakes and their successes. And after three years Jesus left. What did He leave behind? Some interns who, regardless of their background, had learned to trust and obey Him, and help others do the same. So, if that idea excites you, get on board and start asking about ISMNZ internship opportunities.
Who can do an internship?
If you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident you can readily consider an ISMNZ internship. This is not a paid position, so you will need to have a part-time job or have sufficient funds from other sources to pay your living costs. In fact, part-time paid employment is strongly encouraged as part of an ISMNZ internship – we want to prepare people for the real world of work.
If you are an overseas student who wants to add value to their tertiary qualification. The New Zealand government provides a 12-month post-study work visa that gives you time to find a job. Part of your internship with ISMNZ will involve assisting you with finding employment related to your studies and begin to build you into the sort of person that can embody Christ in the workplace. The internship will provide you with ministry opportunities to build your interpersonal skills – skills that are relevant regardless of what jobs you find yourself in long term.
There is also the option of an employer-assisted post-study work visa for 2 or 3 years where you work to attain professional registration in the area of your qualification (e.g., chartered accountant or architect). ISMNZ would customise a spiritual internship tailored to work in with your professional internship to provide you with the spiritual support you need as you transition to the workforce.
Where can I do an internship?
The key to any internship is supervision. Who can provide the input, guidance and feedback I need to make my internship a success? This question can be explored with your local ISMNZ staff worker.
Exactly what will I do in an ISMNZ internship?
The first question you need to ask is, "What sort of person do I want to be?"
Jesus put a high premium on character development and the quality of our relationships - with God and one another. Therefore, there will be a strong emphasis on what we call spiritual formation: growing in our relationship with God, learning how to approach and interpret the Scriptures, learning to pray and fast, appreciating the value of reflection and learning from life’s experiences through journaling, solitude and appreciating the natural world around us. But you might be saying, "But I also want to do some stuff!" Yes, there will be plenty of opportunity for that.
Ministry formation will provide you with opportunities to learn how to share your faith in Jesus in culturally appropriate ways, to be a learner who is increasingly comfortable with asking good questions that guide people to Jesus Christ, to learn how to journey in the Scriptures with someone who wants to discover God, how to be a spiritual midwife and help someone grow in Christ when they become His follower; how to facilitate a small group discussion from the Bible for seekers and young believers.
How well we transition from university life to the world of full-time employment can have a huge impact on how well we follow Jesus into the rest of life. Therefore, we want to help you prepare for the workplace.
Who do I contact if I am interested?
Your local ISMNZ worker or Paul Stock, the ISMNZ Internship Coordinator can assist you.