Internship
This generation, unlike any other, stands poised at the edge of leading either great spiritual break though or collapse. As morality decays around us God desires to raise up a generation that is marked by a reckless abandonment to Him.
A generation whose battle cry is “anywhere with you Lord, provided it is forward.” Individuals completely surrendered, uncompromising in holiness, empowered by the Holy Spirit and longing to fulfill the prophetic destiny upon their lives. These are who God is looking for.
As a missions agency GMT’s vision is to mobilize, enlist, train and release the next generation of workers. We believe that today’s young adults are the key to reaching the unreached people of the world.
What is an Internship
Intern: n. a resident student.
Historical Background
The idea of having interns [resident students] is not a new one. For centuries men and woman have had apprentices. Those, who are bound to another to learn a particular trade or art. The apprentice spends years working under their master working to perfect his/her skills. They observed the master in all that he did from the most menial to the greatest tasks required during their time. The apprentice would be taught, guided and then released to function in that particular field. It was the job of the master to see that the apprentice was learning and progressing at a rate that showed not only improvement but also proficiency at that job. Trial and error help to form character and confidence in their own ability as they practice their trade. This process, while not always pleasant, produces workers who are well-rounded in theory and practice.
All apprenticeships are based on the idea of:
You do it they watch.
You do it they help.
They do it you help.
They do it you watch.
They do it and someone else watches.
The medical profession sees fit to make doctors participate in an internship as well. This is seen as a valuable time, where the theory they learned in study is put into practice. The internship is a season where their gifting, judgment, leadership ability, competence and reliability will be tested by people and circumstances.
Biblical Background
Throughout scripture we see the next generation of leaders being mentored, taught and discipled by the present one. Moses led Joshua, Elijah mentored Elisha, Paul taught Timothy and Jesus discipled the 12.
Scriptures calls us to “disciple all nations” [peoples], but what is discipleship except life being lived out in front of others. Viv Grigg says, “Discipleship is the transmission of life to life. It is caught, not taught. It is a fire that breeds fire. It is not a method, program, nor even the preaching and teaching of the Word of God – though all of these are involved. Disciple making is God’s love being poured out through one life into another, until the second catches that love. It is faith imparted by one to another. It is absolute commitment to the Word of God, communicated in the midst of ministry pressures as men and women co-labor together. ”
Program Foundations
Character Development:
“Character is not essential to leadership…but it is what makes you a leader worth following.” By simply living, working and ministering together the character of the intern is constantly being refined. “As iron sharpens iron so does one man sharpen another.” Once attitudes, thoughts and feelings are opened to each other the interns begin to see the areas in their own lives that God must change. R. Ruth Barton said it best, “We set young leaders up for a fall if we encourage them to envision what they can do before they consider the kind of person they should be. ”
The demands of cross cultural living require that we learn to be servants of all people not only those in leadership. This is essential in the life of any disciple of Christ. We expect that leaders will serve with the attitude that Christ had as He washed the feet of those who followed Him. That we would be willing to “wash the feet” of others, whether it is a leader or a fellow intern, that we may bless them.
Leadership Training & Spiritual Impartation:
Paul told Timothy to fan into the flames that were given to him through the laying on of hands. We believe that God desires to release in your life the gifts that He has placed in you for the furthering of His Kingdom. We believe leadership training must be built on the following principles:
The process of training must channel leaders to reach an end goal rather than leading them from task to task.
Leaders must develop clear, realistic and measurable goals, and a plan to reach them.
This will be carried out through the use of Leadership Training Modules from Leadership Training International (LTI), and other curriculum that will lead to development.
Mentoring & Accountability:
Once with GMT, you will be accountable the Intern Coordinator and to your church leaders for the duration of your internship. This will consist of personal evaluation meetings and schedule planning for each ministry assignment. These times will also serve to debrief ministry placements, thus helping you to adjust to cross-cultural training, life and ministry.
Interpersonal Relationships:
For the duration of the internship you will study, work and sometimes live together. This will cause you to “rub shoulders” with each other. Through this community approach you will build close friendships and bond with the each other. This community dynamic is what is often what is lacking in discipleship. The Gospels show us Jesus living out His teachings in everyday setting in front of the twelve.
Speaking about a similar community setting, Brian McClaren says,
“It’s intense – and intensity is an undervalued key to spiritual growth – and it’s holistic: it’s not a matter of just adding some Bible onto a busy, fragmented life…Whether people lived in this sort of a community for a year, semester, a quarter, a month or a weekend out of every month, I know it would be a good thing.”
What is it?
GMTi 11 Month Internship is a missions training programme that will cause you to dig deeper in your faith, train in cross-cultural ministry, have leadership training and do much more than you ever though possible. In 11 months we will expose the intern to a wide variety of cross-cultural ministries. Internships as often described as discipleship training programs, but the heart goes much deeper, not only into the lives of the interns, but into the lives they reach. It’s hand-on, concentrated ministry to the hurting and lost of the world.
The GMTi 11 Month Internship consists of four steps:
1) Training and Adjustment
2) Placement
3) Assessment and Development and
4) Decision for the Vision
Who can participate?
This programme is for anyone who has completed secondary school, and desires to take 11 months to allow the Lord to expose them to various aspects of missionary life and service.
Programme Overview
The Internship training programme consists of four different parts:
Training and Adjustment (January – March)
GMT Interns will be exposed to many different cultural settings. It is a mistake to take this adaptation too lightly. It takes a great deal of flexibility and willingness to change and work within a cross-cultural context. Although you might feel that your way is the best, it is necessary to remember that another way is not wrong, but different! This willingness to adapt must also be evident among culturally diverse team members. Our primary purpose is to reach the lost where they are, putting aside all cultural hindrances.
Cross-Cultural Missions Training & Ministry
As part of the Interns placement attendance of the Malaysian Center for Global Ministry (MCGM) will be required. This is an intensive cross-cultural training school. Offering specialized training for those committed to cross-cultural ministry, either short or long term in local or foreign service, this training will take place the first three months of the internship.
Objectives of this Training
Serve the Church: To assist the Church in sending their workers to the field and helping to put in place a “sending structure” with principles of missionary care.
Serve the person: To prepare and place the missionary on the field in a way that is consistent with his or her call and gifting.
Courses Taught
Contextualized Ministry Cross-Cultural Communication
Language Acquisition Crisis Management
Mission Strategy Ministry to Youth & Children
Serving as a Family Interpersonal Relationships Life of a Missionary Integrity in Missions
Friend Raising (Managing your Support Base)
City as a Classroom
City as a Classroom is designed to help the intern overcome the disorienting nature of life in a new city and culture. This works by sending them in groups to travel to various locations throughout the city by utilizing only buses and trains, and also calling upon them to reflect upon what they saw, felt, and observed.
Placement (April – August)
Local & Foreign (Possible placements may include)
Social Ministry and Outreach
Kids Kingdom
Kid's Kingdom is a community based outreach in Kuala Lumpur. A partnership of Charis Community Services and GMT, Kid's Kingdom focuses to reach out to children in the areas of education comprising of Teaching English. Help KK reach out and share the love of Christ to the community and to help break the cycle of poverty through education, health care and social programs.
Teaching English
With the high demand for English language worldwide, you may be called upon to teach English to children, youth and young adults.
HIV / AIDS Ministry
With the spread of HIV / AIDS throughout South East Asia GMT is involved in partnering in three major areas - care, education and helping to provide resources. Interns may have the opportunity to serve at a an orphanage for children with HIV or with a recovery home for mothers and children.
Street Ministry and Feeding Programs
Partnering with churches and ministries we will be involved in feeding and ministering to the homeless community in Kuala Lumpur.
Preaching and Teaching
Pioneer Church-Planting
Here you will be assisting church planters from partnering organizations as they pioneer churches in rural and urban areas throughout South East Asia.
Camps and Conventions
You may take part in the leadership of organized camps. Your skills in team leading, on-on-one discipleship and counseling will be challenged. There will also be weekend opportunities in evangelistic and missions meetings.
Youth, Young Adults and Children’s Ministry
Opportunities may arise where you will be placed with ministries meeting the needs of different generations.
Leading Short-Term Teams
With opportunities to minister in various settings, GMT sends out ministry teams to meet these needs. You may participate on teams encouraging local churches, conducting conferences, rallies, leadership training and more.
Emerging Leaders Institute
Emerging Leader’s Institute, (ELI), is focused on developing spiritual and leadership formation for service in the local church, the goal of ELI is to enhance the young person’s potential through mentoring and modeling Christ’s principles. This process includes consistent discipleship, vision casting, accountability and mentoring. Here you will be called upon to teach and model the lessons that are presented.
Assessment & Development (September - October)
Partnership with local church
Working with the local church whether locally or overseas will be a considerable part of ministry. By allowing the intern to participate with the local church they see church life from a different perspective.
Development
Office Administration
To learn skills in effective use of time and resources in the carrying out various projects and assignments the intern will serve in our administrative office to develop these skills. Through assisting in administrative work in the GMT offices, the intern, will have the opportunity to experience the “behind the scenes” of ministry.
Development Period
Here we will conduct training that will help in the development of the intern. Possible modules may include (Leadership Training International, Servant and Friendship Evangelism, Spiritual Gifts Testing, Team Building Skills, Etc.)
Decision for the Vision (November)
Here GMT will assist the intern in developing a strategy for either an easier transition to ministry in their home country, or for a return overseas. Preparing to reenter either your sending nation or church can be a stressful transition, and having a time to debrief and plan for the next step is vital.
GMT will help the intern:
Write to leaders explaining their future ministry desire.
Help them to develop a strategy plan and ministry objective.
Assist them in formulating a budget.
Programme Requirements
Interns are required to Attend MCMS and complete all assignments given for graduation.
Interns are required to abstain from starting dating relationships for the duration of their internship.
Interns are required to raise their own personal monthly support for the duration of their stay.
Interns are required to submit to the rules and regulations of GMT during your time of service.
Interns will be required to write newsletters to inform their local church and supporters back home of their ministry with GMT.
Collins Contemporary Dictionary, pg 266
Discipleship by Design, Harvey Herman, pg 3.5
Viv Grigg, Companion to the Poor, Pg. 62
Andy Stanley, Next Generation leader, Pg. 111
Brian McClaren, A New Kind of Christian. (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc., 2001). 150