Raising the Next Generation of Church Leaders
The Intern Program at Trinity United Methodist Church is designed to identify, develop, and deploy emerging leaders for the Church.
Paid Internships
We believe the future of the Church depends on investing in young leaders today—giving them real responsibility, intentional mentorship, and meaningful opportunities to lead. And we believe that investment should be tangible.
Trinity will invest in you! Not only through training and mentorship, but by paying you as you learn, grow, and serve, and as you are sent to strengthen other United Methodist churches. This program is built around a simple goal: develop leaders who are formed in the local church and sent out to strengthen the Church.
A Proven Foundation
For nearly 20 years, Trinity United Methodist Church has been committed to developing future church leaders through intentional internship experiences.
Most notably through our student ministry, we have seen over 30 individuals launched into ministry beyond Trinity, now serving in churches and ministries across the country.
In recent years, that investment has expanded into:
- missions and outreach
- children’s ministry
- broader leadership development opportunities
And we believe there is even more ahead.
Expanding the Vision
We are continuing to grow this program by creating new internship opportunities across multiple areas of church life, including:
- Communications
- Finance and HR
- Pastoral Ministry
- Children’s Ministry
- Youth Ministry
- Worship and Music Ministry
- Children’s Music Ministry
Our goal is to provide a wide range of entry points for young leaders to explore their gifts and calling within the life of the Church.
Why This Matters
Across the Church, there is a growing need for:
- young leaders who are prepared and confident
- clear pathways into ministry and leadership
- intentional investment in the next generation
The Intern Program exists to help churches move from hoping for future leaders…
to developing them on purpose.
A Two-Track Model for Leadership Development
We have designed the Intern Program around two distinct pathways—both focused on formation, experience, and deployment.
Track One: Residency (6-12 Months)
Learn. Lead. Be Sent
This track is designed for individuals who are ready for a deeper, immersive leadership experience.
Interns serve at Trinity for 6–12 months, where they:
- gain hands-on ministry experience
- receive intentional leadership and spiritual development
- build strong relationships with staff and mentors
- develop clarity around calling and gifts
This is a paid residency, allowing interns to fully invest their time in learning and leading.
At the end of their residency, interns are sent out to serve in another United Methodist church, helping strengthen congregations across the connection.
This is not just an internship—
it is a launching point for future ministry leadership.
Track Two: Local Church Partnership
Develop Here. Serve There.
This track is designed for students who want to grow as leaders while remaining deeply connected to their home church.
Interns will:
- train and develop during the week at Trinity
- participate in leadership development and mentoring
- gain exposure to ministry systems, strategy, and tools
Then, on weekends, they are deployed back to their local church to:
- serve in real ministry roles
- apply what they are learning
- strengthen their own congregation
This is also a paid internship, making it accessible for students while they grow and serve.
This model allows churches to develop leaders without losing them, while giving interns the benefit of a larger learning environment.
What Makes This Program Different?
Real Ministry Experience
Interns are not observers—they are contributors.
They lead, support, and take ownership in meaningful ways.
Intentional Leadership Development
Each intern participates in structured development that includes:
- guided reflection and feedback
- weekly leadership training
- tools like Working Genius
- exposure to church leadership and strategy
Spiritual Formation
Leadership begins with a growing relationship with Christ. Interns engage in rhythms of:
- prayer and Scripture
- small group discussion
- discernment around calling and purpose
Mentorship That Matters
Interns are known, supported, and challenged by leaders who invest in them personally and spiritually.
For Churches
The Intern Program is not just about developing individuals—it is about strengthening the Church as a whole.
Churches can engage by:
- sending students to participate
- hosting and mentoring future leaders
- partnering in the development process
- receiving trained interns to serve in their ministry
This creates a shared leadership pipeline across churches.