This past year, Astrid Skye was the first ever intern that New Church Berkeley has had.  But we have been deeply involved in training young men and women for ministry from the very start. In fact, New Church couldn’t have ever existed except for the involvement of ones like Peter Olson, Andrew Park, and Dennis Heida — and their wives — who, right out of college, worked hard in the church, and went  through systematic training, to prepare themselves for lives of Christian service, and to make New Church more effective.  Since that time, Andrew has gone on to plant a church in Oakland; Dennis is in his third pastorate, now in Seattle, and Peter is working as a scientist — and a follower of Jesus — in the pharmaceuticals industry in San Diego.  The next wave included Steve Childs and David Collister, both of whom earned their Master of Divinity degrees in a joint project of New Church and ABSW; and now, Brian and Neil Turner, who are on the verge of their M. Div’s, too.  But we’ve put more emphasis on making this available for women, too, and the present group of trainees includes three.

Perhaps you would be interested in a school-year long internship starting next fall.  If so, please contact Pastor Allan, and be thinking about what you personally could add to the ministry of the church.  Then, we’ll take it from there, with applications and interviews later in the spring.  It could be a great experience, learning and having an impact on Berkeley for a one year stint.

(Sorry.  At least for now, this is only for those who either are members or regular attenders of New Church.)