IBC Student Ministry Internships

Purpose: To shepherd and coach Godly young adults interested in investing in students and to unleash their passion and energy to connect with IBC students and their friends on and off the church campus.

Student ministry is essentially a ministry of “being there”. Effective ministry happens when people who love Jesus meet students where they are. With relational ministry in mind we have a 2-fold hope for interns here at IBC.

Personal and Ministry Development –

The best way to learn student ministry or any ministry is not in a classroom but in the field. Young adults who are passionate about students or even considering student ministry as a career will find a great opportunity to grow and learn.

Coaching from the IBC staff as well as seeking mentors is always an effective means to develop in spiritual and ministry life. Understanding that the heart of the minister is of utmost importance, great care will be given to help interns grow in their spiritual formation.

Interns will have the opportunity to “look behind” the curtain as they participate as an integral part of the team. By attending staff meetings, helping in the planning process and providing ministry assessment interns will not only observe what happens behind the scenes of a student ministry but also participate in the leadership process. Interns have a significant seat at the student ministry leadership table.

There will also be opportunities to serve in a variety of ways with ongoing assessment and feedback from the student ministry staff.

These opportunities may include:
• teaching / speaking
• relational ministry
• event planning / production
• counseling
• small group leadership
• leadership
• you name it

Incarnational Ministry –

Any ministry that effectively disciples, connects and sends students has relationship as it’s foundational philosophy. In addition to personal growth, half of the intern’s time will be spent connecting with students where they live. This may mean lunch on high school / middle school campuses or attending a school play. Whatever students view as their territory is where interns need to spend their time.

In addition to connecting with IBC students we are very interested in reaching out to peripheral students and students who are unchurched. Yes, this can be messy but we long to see the transforming power of the gospel transform students.

Sample Weekly Schedule / Time Commitment -

With personal / ministry development and incarnational ministry as the goal each intern is expected to serve a minimum of 30 hours.

Although our goal is flexibility there are some required time commitments for the intern.

• Sunday Programming
• Weekly student ministry staff meeting
• Wednesday night programming
• Special events / retreats
• Intern Coaching gatherings

Intern Profile –

When we think about the characteristics of a person who would be a perfect match for us there are a few words that come to mind.

• Heart for students
• Teachable
• Relational
• Team player
• Fun
• Mature (relatively)
• Christlike

So do you love Jesus and have a heart to see the gospel transform students? If you’re interested contact Mary Ann Conner at Mconnor@irvingbible.org. We would love to have a conversation. Space is limited.

At the Movies with Students Part 1

A few weekends ago had the privilege of being with hundreds of high school students who were thinking about Kingdom and culture. Culture by definition isn't inherently good or bad, it's a reflection of a people's beliefs and habits.

John Frame says it well.

"Culture is an ambiguity, a mixture, of sin and righteousness, of good and bad, of love of Christ and hatred of Christ."

One area that greatly influences students and all our culture is media. By media I primarily mean movies, music and television.

Like culture, media isn't good or evil. Sure, there are many lies in movies and music that shape our beliefs and feelings but instead of simply saying we should avoid media, how do we interact with it in a way that is beneficial to us and honoring to God?

With that in mind we discussed 7 questions every student should think through when engaging the messages that flow from movies, music and TV.

Here are the first 2.

Did I enjoy it? Why or why not?

Let's face it, some movies don't really have any deep seated meaning, they're just movies. I love "Nacho Libre". In fact, it could be one of the finest movies ever made (ok, I'm exaggerating). I laugh my fanny off every time I see it and yes, sometimes I wear stretchy pants. Helping students understand why they enjoy a particular song or tv show is the first step in encouraging them not to simply turn their brains off when engaging media.

Does it teach anything about morality?

While listening to songs like "Teen Age Dream" or watching "Glee" it's important for students to at least be aware of the message that's coming through. Most high school girls love "The Notebook". Sure, it's a good love story but the problem is you find yourself hoping that Noah and Allie will hook up. It's absolutely sending a strong message about sex. My hope is that students will think that through a little as they watch.

As students engage with media they shouldn't turn their thinking off but actually look at the story or song through a Biblical lens. As they do the message might not influence their beliefs or feelings.

More to come...

Holy Saturday - Fear and Hope

As you look at the gospels it seems that none of Jesus' followers really understood the reality of what was going to happen on Easter morning. Sure, Jesus had mentioned his resurrection but like us, they were a little hard of hearing.

I can't imagine the fear, confusion and anger they must have felt. They had followed this man for 3 years and seen him do the unthinkable. He turned water into wine, he calmed the storm, he healed the sick and yes, even raised the dead. What went wrong?

The disciples were even fearful for their own life. The women (the brave ones) wanted to prepare the body but rested because it was the Sabbath. As they observed the Sabbath they didn't realize that on the first day of week they would encounter the Lord of the Sabbath.

If I were one of the disciples I'm sure I would have responded the same way, but today as we reflect on the silence of the tomb we don't experience fear but hope. We know Sunday's coming and as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus it seals the deal. "The wrath of God is satisfied".

And here is our hope...

1 Cor 15:20-22

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Cor 15:54-57

54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

55 "Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We who already know the end of the story don't have to live in fear, we live in hope. That although the world is broken and death still happens, Jesus conquered death and we know we have life, now and in the future.

Oh yeah, happy Holy Saturday!

Good Friday Scripture Reflections

This morning I found myself meditating on some key passages to reflect on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. There was no agenda than to start in Isaiah 53, then I let my fingers do the walking. Here are the passages I perused.

If you haven't taken time to reflect on what Jesus did on our behalf allow these passages to direct your thoughts and feelings. He is and will make all things new.


Isa 53:4-6

4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

Phil 2:5-11

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death —
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Rom 3:21-26

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Rev 21:3-5
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."


Thank you Jesus.