Great Falls Church of Christ Intern Training Program
Update
Justin White and Jeremy Myers have been offered the intership in Great Falls and both have accepted this opportunity. Both are are graduating from Sunset International Bible Institute and will arrive in Great Falls shortly after their graduation. Justin should be in Great Falls in the summer of 2007 and Jeremy is planning on arriving in February 2008. Please keep these two men and us in your prayers as we prepare reliable men to preach the good news of Jesus Christ.
Purpose
Prepare reliable Christian men for the work of an evangelist. (2 Tim. 2:2)
Plan
Provide a two-year internship that will partner the practical side of ministry in a local congregation with the biblical and ministry training of Harding University Graduate School of Religion.
Intern Candidates
Must be a reliable and faithful single or married man who will be qualified to teach others. The intern must be a Christian who has a desire to serve as an evangelist, preferably in the north, in a military ministry, or as a missionary. The candidate will need to be eligible to pursue a graduate degree through Harding University Graduate School of Religion. He will also be required to go through an interview process involving both the Great Falls Church of Christ and Harding University Graduate School of Religion.
The Great Falls Church of Christ
Established in Great Falls on May 9, 1948 in a room at the YMCA with 5 members in attendance the congregation has seen steady growth through the years. Our attendance averages just over 250 today. The church is served by five elders, nine deacons, and two evangelists, along with many whom diligently minister in various areas.
Just over 30% of the families identified with this body are associated with the United States military. Most of these families have one or both spouses serving at Malmstrom Air Force Base. It is this military emphasis that has allowed us to prepare men who have served the church in Turkey, Japan, Italy, Germany, Iraq, Afghanistan, and much of the United States.
The church has a number of small group ministries including, weekly evangelist home studies, bi-monthly LIFE Groups, ladies’ prayer groups, a weekly ladies’ study, weekly teen meetings, along with the more common meeting times of Sunday and Wednesday evening.
The youth group (middle school and high school) is composed of 41 students. Besides the weekly youth activities, we host a yearly youth rally which draws students from across Montana along with students from North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and even Alaska.
Great Falls Information
Great Falls is situated in central Montana between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. The Missouri River with its series of waterfalls and 5 dams split the city primarily north and south. We have a population of approximately 60,000 including Malmstrom Air Force Base. Agriculture, livestock, and defense form the backbone of the industrial base. Malmstrom Air Force Base is located at the east end of Great Falls and has a population of 3,000.
There are 2 hospitals, 3 long-term care centers, and 8 first-rate clinics. Great Falls is known for a high quality of education with high standards. It has 15 elementary, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools in the public system. There are numerous religious elementary schools and the University of Great Falls, a Catholic university. It is the home of the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind, and Montana State University College of Technology.
Numerous transportation options are available to Great Falls including air travel by Delta, Northwest, and Horizon Air. There are many recreational activities from hunting and fishing, to boating and golfing. Snow skiers have a number of options, and the area has a number of museums and historical sites. The two most notable are the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the Charlie Russell Museum. More information about Great Falls can be obtained at www.greatfallschamber.org and www.malmstrom.af.mil.
Areas of Ministry Training
God
Ministry is first and foremost the privilege and responsibility of being a servant of God. We will help you develop the foundations for a great relationship with God that will assist your walk with the Lord throughout this sojourn on earth.
Evangelism
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. As Christians we are to share the good news of Jesus with others. We will assist in training you for evangelism by providing mentoring and outreach experience.
Equipping
One work of an evangelist is "to prepare God's people for works of service." Another focus of your training will involve equipping Christians through personal relationships, small groups, and teaching opportunities.
Education
Our partnership with Harding University Graduate School of Religion is critical to this internship. Ministry requires preparation to meet today's challenges. You will be expected to take at least one course each semester during the internship.
Personal Life and Time
The balance between ministry and one's personal needs is often a challenge for even the most experienced preachers. We will help you develop some principles for that balance in a safe and healthy church environment. Ministry is not a 9 to 5 job; it is a calling and will require more than a traditional 40-hour workweek. We will help you understand some of the blessings, responsibilities, and demands that come from ministry.
Ministry Experiences
Mentoring/Discipleship
You will be mentored in your personal relationships with both Scott Laird and Chris Crooks. Other members of the body will develop close relationships that will influence both ministry and personal life. There will contact with someone from Harding University Graduate School of Religion as a mentor and to evaluate progress in the intern program.
Small Groups
You will participate and eventually lead evangelistic, discipling/mentoring, and fellowship groups.
Military Ministry
One of your two years will focus on Malmstrom Air Force Base. This will include outreach and ministry to military personnel and their families.
Youth/Teen
Approximately six months will involve a focus on the ministry with teens.
Group Leadership
Training will involve participation in numerous meetings. Some of these will include meetings with; elders/evangelists, elders/deacons/evangelists, L.I.F.E. Group Leaders, congregational meetings, and time with the evangelists. A goal for this involvement is to develop the ability to read what is going on in a group and exert influence for good.
Preaching /Teaching
There will be opportunities to preach and teach as your skills warrant.
Bible Camp/Youth Rallies/Lectureships/Seminars
The church in Great Falls has a lot of involvement in Yellowstone Bible Camp. There will be an opportunity to serve at one of the camps. There will likely be opportunities to serve at other state functions.
Financial Support
Our existing financial resources are committed to the support of two evangelists, one elder, a mission work, and the expansion of our existing facility. We are raising $26,000 yearly for the internship. That support would includes $6,000 projected education expenses and $20,000 for living expenses including housing, food, clothing, transportation, insurance, debts, and miscellaneous expenses. This will not provide for luxuries, but should provide for an adequate standard of living.
Our approach to raising support has been to diligently pray that God will either open or close this door of ministry and commit $16,000 of the 2007 budget to the intern program. Our next steps are; (1) obtain commitments from our own members to support the internship above and beyond their regular contribution, (2) contact the members who have been sent out from Great Falls and ask their assistance, (3) solicit members who have visited the body as vacationers over the past number of years, and (4) seek help from other congregations in the state.
Your Role
If you are interested in applying to participate in this intern program or you want to help with your prayers or financial resources please contact us at (406) 453-3379 or by email at gfcc@imt.net. May the Lord bless you and your work.
In Christ's love,
Scott Laird
