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Youth Care Internship

The intern team is just one part of the larger Ranch community which also includes our students, staff, and members of our church. Because of the 24/7 nature of the ministry, interns develop deep relationships. Because the relationships are deep, the leadership built on those relationships is strong, and the ministry effective. 

 

The opportunity to be so immersed in a vibrant community like the Ranch, a microcosm of the body of Christ, is rare and valuable. It's an opportunity to learn to see beyond someone’s behavior, and even beyond their character, to the soul—and to learn to love that soul as Jesus does.

"When I have imagined my time here, the picture has come to mind of three people walking down the road: a student, holding the hand of an intern—and an intern, holding the hand of Jesus. The call to come here as an intern is a call to come and hold the hand of someone hurting and connect them to Jesus."

Chiara, former intern

Life on life
discipleship

Interns have a large sphere of influence on the students and have the joy and challenge of being with the students in all capacities. Where a teacher is limited to the classroom and a coach is limited to team activities, interns are presented with teachable moments throughout the daily tasks of living. Having the opportunity to constantly sharpen the iron of those around—and in turn be sharpened—is intensely challenging, yet encouraging, and ultimately deeply fulfilling.

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​Interns must be committed Christians at least 21 years of age. Internships range in length from 90 days to two years. 

Responsibilities

  • Spiritual Leadership: model Christ daily in a wide variety of settings and circumstances 

  • Discipleship: Work one-on-one through provided curriculum

  • Supervision: Lead and care for students through tasks and daily activities 

  • Dorm Oversight: With two or three students per room

Benefits

  • Room and board

  • Monthly grant

  • College credit available, pending school requirements 

Web of support

  • Team meetings: committed Christian professionals provide input and guidance

  • Professional counseling

  • Spiritual mentorship

A training ground for future leadership

Our interns are not assistants, bystanders, or errand-runners; they are the front-line healers in this ministry to broken and hurting young people. Interns work closely with their small group of co-leaders—people  with similar missions but with different personalities and backgrounds—thereby learning the importance of every individual as they bring their own unique gifts and abilities to the team. Interns draw from each other's strengths and this compounds the effectiveness of the whole team, and therefore, the ministry.

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Interns see the results of their ministry as they build relationships and observe residents healing from deep emotional and spiritual wounds. Even though not every resident makes the progress we hope for, many experience amazing and lasting transformations. Former interns have gone on to serve as missionaries, teachers, counselors, social workers, youth ministers and pastors. They have found their internships invaluable because of the personal spiritual growth and maturity that happened, and also because of the ministry training and experience they received here.

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