Become an Intern

Explore ministry, planting, and the Northwest.

The Network exists not only to see churches planted, but to help develop and equip the leaders who will plant those churches. The threefold aim of the internship program is to 1) provide ministry and leadership experience, 2) encourage interns to consider church planting, and 3) introduce interns to the Northwest.

Ready for next steps?

Submit Application

Who is it for?

The internship program is not exclusive to future planters but is open to all who are interested in exploring the possibility of church leadership in the Northwest. Of course, it is our hope that some of our interns will go on to plant here in our region.
The internship is open to both men and women. International students are also encouraged to apply.
You do not need to be a part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) to do an internship, but should be generally sympathetic to the theology and philosophy of ministry of the PCA.

What does it entail?

Placement in a local church. For three months, you will do ministry under the mentorship of a local pastor, serving the church in a way that fits your ministry goals and gifts.
A structured summer. Every week of the summer you (and your spouse, if married) will engage in ministry, attend seminars, and have opportunities to explore the Northwest. We don’t want you to come to a new town and not know what to do. You will be given a schedule at the beginning of the summer, and though it is not overly rigid, it won’t be up to you to plan your summer.
Intentional training. Our weekly, half-day seminars on church leadership are designed to provide practical training that compliments the academic focus you get in seminary. We want you to leave saying, “These seminars deeply shaped my vision of ministry.”
Connection to local leaders. In our program, you are not mentored by just one church or pastor. Rather, throughout the summer, you will interact with a wide variety of church planters, ministry leaders, and other interns. Ministry should be done in connection with others, and we set you up with those connections, which will be especially valuable if you plan to stick around the NW.
The Pacific Northwest. It is a great privilege to get to do ministry in such a beautiful part of the world, and we want to share that with you. During the summer we take you on backpacking and sailing adventures. Our hope is that you will love the PNW as much as we do.
A sample summer schedule may be viewed HERE.

How does it work?

Funding. The cost of a summer depends on several factors (location, housing, size of family, etc.). Generally, though, the total cost is $10K-$15K. This is covered in part by the host church and the Northwest Church Planting Network ($3K-$4K). The rest of the funds must be raised by the intern. We strongly encourage applicants to attend the PCA’s Church Planting Readiness Seminar (typically at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis). This qualifies you to apply for another $5K grant through Mission to North America (PCA).
Housing. The local church works with you to figure out housing. Again, this factor depends on the needs of the intern (family size, etc.). Our hope is for the local church to provide housing, but this is not always possible and may mean that you need to work with the local church to find a housing arrangement that works.

The application process

February 1
Last day to receive Applications for summer internships (we strongly encourage applications earlier for preferred placements).
February 8-26
Applicant interviews with the network.
March 25
Deadline for finalizing placements.
April 1
Deadline for budget and fundraising plan to be received by the network.
June 7
The 10 week internship begins!

Online Application Form

If married, please have your spouse fill out the application as well.

Full name

Email

Phone Number

Address

Spouse's name (if applicable)

Children's names and ages (if applicable)

Do you have any special housing needs?

SECTION 2: CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

Please tell us how you came to faith.

Tell us about your call to ministry.

What is your prayer/devotional life like?

What kind of ministry experience/training do you have?

Please describe your interest in the Pacific Northwest.

SECTION 3: FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES

How would you use scripture to explain your approach to ministry?

How would you explain the gospel to a non-Christian?

What areas in ministry are places of strength for you?

What areas in ministry are places of weakness for you?

What excites you about this internship?

Describe your sense of call to church planting.

Please list three references with contact info and their relationship to you.