Our Mission
Our mission is to...Strengthen the Body of Christ by providing a comprehensive and collaborative learning environment that mobilizes interns who live and lead with purpose.
Leadership Tracks
What Ministry Leadership Tracks (LT) are currently taking applications?
MLT1: Small Group Leadership - This leadership track is for those who desire to lead small group ministries within a church.
MLT2: College/Young Adult Leadership - This leadership track is for those who desire to lead a college/young adult age ministry.
MLT3: Missions/PEACE Plan Leadership - This leadership track is for those who desire to serve as a missions pastor or in career missions.
MLT4: High School Ministry Leadership- This leadership track is for those who desire to serve as a pastor or lead High School Ministry.
MLT5: Junior High Ministry Leadership- This leadership track is for those who desire to serve as a pastor or lead Junior High Ministry.
MLT6: Worship (Creative Arts) Leadership - This leadership track is for those who desire to serve as worship leader or part of the worhip team.
MLT7: Purpose Driven Leadership - This leadership track is for those who desire to learn about Purpose Driven Ministries and are interested in leading a Purpose Driven Church.
What type on internship programs do you offer?
2 year internships are full-time (40 hours) and include housing*
*housing is offered to single interns only; married interns are responsible for their own housing
1st Phase: Do I qualify?
Who is the average applicant?
Our applicants are typically students that have recently graduated with their college degree and are looking for further training before they begin their careers in ministry. They all have had some prior experience working in ministry.
What are the minimum requirements to be considered for an internship?
We require that all applicants have a college degree and some prior ministry experience. However, if you feel you have a unique situation, contact us and we will discuss it.
Can international interns apply?
Yes! We have enjoyed having interns from Australia, Germany, and Switzerland! We encourage international applicants to apply. The only variation to the application process is that international applicants must apply for a Religious Worker’s Visa (R1) from the American Embassy in their country. This can be a lengthy process depending on the country, so we recommend international applicants apply for our internship program 9 months before their potential start date.
Who decides what adult leadership track is best?
One emphasis during the application process is to assess your SHAPE (spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, experiences) in order to help direct you to the area that is best for everyone. The selection is a 360 degree process made up of 1) the potential intern based on their desires and preferences; 2) the ministry track leader; and 3) the AIM Leadership Team.
Where will I spend my time?
You will be interning in one of our adult ministry tracks during your internship. Each adult ministry track has a specific and shared developmental pathway to help you advance in your ministry and may differ depending on whether you are a full-time intern or a part-time intern. The specific learning pathway will offer you hands-on training targeted at increasing core competencies for that area. The shared learning pathway will offer you a time of training with other interns targeted at learning and applying the fundamental principles from The Purpose-Driven Church and The Purpose-Driven Life. In addition, you will receive among other things, a broad view of the other ministries within Saddleback and a purpose rotational emphasis through each purpose team.
Who will supervise me?
You will be supervised by two primary people…1) The ministry track team leader and 2) the Interns in Ministry team. However, during your internship you will receive senior level coaching from selected pastoral staff members.
Can I work and be an intern at the same time?
Our full-time internship offers many things to you (mentoring, coaching, skill training, strategic thinking, collaborative learning, etc.) that will help shape you and your ministry. The full-time internship requires a 40-50 hour work week, which would make it unmanageable for you to take on a part-time job during your internship. We want you to have the energy, time, and focus to make the most out of your internship as well as balance the other top priorities in your life.
Can I pursue an advanced degree?
Yes! Saddleback has a partnership with two seminary programs: 1) Golden Gate Baptist Theological School (www.ggbts.edu) which offers classes that work around a full-time youth worker's schedule. Meaning, you will be able to take up to two classes per semester on the nights that don't conflict with your ministry schedule. 2) Rockbridge University (www.rockbridgeu.org) which offers an online approach to taking seminary classes. You are welcome to attend any seminary part-time during your internship, but these are two that we would encourage you to look into.
When can interns start?
As soon as approved applicants have required support raised.
What are the admission requirements for the Interns Ministry?
Complete AIM application, bachelor’s degree, a desire to play a leadership role within a church.
Benefits
Personal Benefits: In short, you will advance personally through the mentoring portion of our program; you will advance spiritually through the educational and relational portions of our program; you will advance relationally through the shepherding of people and team coaching sessions; and you will advance vocationally through our specific and shared learning tracks.
Housing Benefits: For single interns only. Upon final acceptance, all interns will receive assistance from the intern coordinator to secure housing during the internship. Please note, all intern housing is a gift from the members of Saddleback Church and require all interns to fully comply with housing polices and procedures. Host homes will provide a room, bathroom and food. Interns who are married must find their own housing. One bedroom apartments in the area run about $1200 - $1400 a month.
Educational Benefits: Because leaders are learners, we strongly recommend that all interns advance their education through seminary. We offer two seminary options for you to choose from...Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (www.ggbts.edu) or Rockbridge Seminary (www.rockbridgeseminary.org). Both of these schools are highly endorsed by Saddleback and will help further your educational career. Seminary education is optional for all interns.
Does Saddleback give benefits to interns?
Saddleback currently does not offer any benefits to interns at this time. However, we have developed strategies to help interns attain affordable benefits and we partner with our interns to make sure they are covered.
Other Facts
Will I be paid as an intern?
NO. We strongly believe that if God has called you to this internship, He will provide the way for you. Interns are fully responsible to raise their own support during their internship. All approved interns can receive coaching on support raising through the internship program. Please check out our ABC's of support raising to help you get started. We do require that 100% of your monthly support is set and that you have 2 months of your monthly support need raised prior to starting your internship. See sample budget for help.
Special note – All interns are responsible to pay their own taxes each year.
Is a married person eligible for the internship?
Absolutely! The only additional challenge would be providing your own housing. However, if