Internships within Baptist churches and contexts offer a valuable opportunity for 18-35s to explore God’s calling on their lives.   In recent years Baptists Together has aimed to intentionally encourage, promote and facilitate internships – and here we share the experiences of three. 

 

 

How an internship deepened faith – & led to a call to accredited ministry 

Jess Marchant had pictured a career as a geneticist – but life intervened. A serious illness forced her to drop out of college. While her health recovered, without college she was lacking direction.  

Her youth minister at Eastleigh Baptist Church suggested an internship at the church – and Jess has never looked back. She worked mainly with children and young people (primarily 11-14 year olds), building up from planning Sunday meetings to midweek Bible studies, social events and even a trip to Satellites youth festival.  

The internship challenged Jess in many ways. “I’m quite a quiet introvert, so being put into a situation of running groups, talking to 15 - 20 people at a time - this was massively out of my comfort zone. And just as I was getting used to that, I was asked to talk at a church meeting, which threw me out of my comfort zone again. It’s been really challenging, but fun to learn to communicate with people well, and I’ve definitely become better at holding conversations.”  

As well as growth in communication and confidence, the internship has impressed on Jess the importance of time alone with God. This in turn has deepened her own faith.  “My line manager was big on this. He made it possible to go on retreat and attend conferences. He encouraged me to take time out of my day to go and sit and just be with God, and make sure I focused on that relationship as much as I had encouraged my young people to do the same.”  

“I’m in a very different spiritual place to when I started all of this,” Jess adds. “With my illness I had been struggling – it was a bad situation in my life, and I remember being angry about it. I was at the point I was ready to just give up on God, and then suddenly I was seeing God everywhere and finding these small pieces and moments of joy and happiness. My whole mentality to life and to my faith shifted.” Jess would go onto study children, youth, and families work at Bristol Baptist College. Through that course she discovered her call to ministry, and is starting as a minister-in-training this autumn. It’s clear the internship has played a key role.  

“That first year was a chance to try anything, and I loved the exposure of all the different aspects of ministry. Every time I discovered a new role, I wanted to try it. And the internship was just the perfect year to do that and discover everything about church life.   

“It turned my life around. I’d 100 per cent recommend it.” 

 

It gives you space to grow, discern & prepare for your God-given assignment 

Abraham Nafah Zimpah began a two-year internship at Seer Green Baptist Church, Buckinghamshire in December 2024 after arriving from Ghana. He was encouraged to explore the different missional projects and activities the church was involved in: including groups for children, youth and families, men’s ministry, and wider community engagement. 

He was also given opportunities for personal development. This included Foundational Apologetics with The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA), Baptist local leader training with The Learning Collective run by Regent’s Park College, as well as various conferences and retreats.  Over time he was especially drawn to the youth and men’s groups, as well as supporting general church activities such as Sunday services and small group meetings.  One conference which had a significant impact on Abraham was the annual Fresh Streams gathering, as it inspired him to start a games evening for young adults aged 18 to 35, which he called Play and Ponder. This is a space where participants gather to discuss topics like faith, God, science, technology, movies, and sport. “It creates a missional environment where people can explore faith in a safe and relaxed setting,” Abraham says.  

There were many highlights, including connecting with the wider Baptist community (Abraham served on the media team at the 2025 Baptist Assembly); and organising a World Cup watch party, which involved managing the kitchen, food, logistics, and programme for a large crowd.  

The internship has deepened his walk with and understanding of God. Coming from a charismatic Ghanaian background with lively worship, drumming, and dancing, Abraham explains he learned ‘how ministry is expressed differently in this context’. In addition, he has seen ‘God place me in the right situations with the right people’.  

“Reflecting on conversations with young people and adults, I can see God’s hand guiding those moments,” Abraham says. “Several of those discussions felt God-inspired, and at least five people are now actively exploring faith with me.”  

There has been much personal development too, “I grew in clear communication and confidence, and many people have noticed this. I highly recommend an internship, especially for anyone wanting to explore their calling and identify their strengths. It gives you space to grow, discern, and prepare for your God-given assignment. 

 

It’s practical, & it gives you space to grow 

Alkistis Stogianni had already been working as a community worker at her local church (Mill Hill East Church) for a year when she realised she wanted to deepen her leadership skills and biblical understanding without committing to a full-time theology degree. Looking for a flexible pathway that included mission, discipleship, and church life, she enrolled in the London Baptists (LB) Leadership Year.   

Alongside weekly study days with her LB cohort, Alkistis continued in her church. She co-led community programs for toddlers, children, and youth, served in the church café, headed up the prayer team, and stepped into preaching, worship, and general church leadership.   

The internship brought significant practical growth, helping her refine how she communicates publicly and organises prayer spaces.

 “I became even better at preparing a sermon without needing to block out two weeks to brainstorm,” Alkistis reflects. “I got a better grip not necessarily on what I do, but how to do it more effectively.” 

Beyond practical skills, the year prompted a profound shift in her personal mindset and faith. Exposure to a range of perspectives on Christian ethics and life stretched her from a ‘black and white, fixed mindset’ to a more ‘freeing’ place led by the Spirit and the Word of God. The supportive environment of her church and cohort also offered space for lessons in healthy spiritual leadership. She learned that taking time-out to heal is just as crucial as pouring one’s heart into a project. “You cannot take spiritual leadership lightly,” she says, “and you shouldn’t expect to be perfect.”   

Looking ahead, Alkistis is stepping into expanded responsibilities at her church. Having stepped back from outside employment, she is choosing to focus fully on leadership, youth and children’s work, prayer, worship, and preaching.  

Alkistis enthusiastically recommends a Baptist internship, highlighting the invaluable practical experience, connection to the wider Baptist family, and accessible learning without the pressure of long essays.  “You have opportunities, you have conferences, and you get to meet the rest of the Baptist family,” she says. “It’s practical, and gives you space to grow.” 


Are you considering taking a year out to explore ministry, or are interested in hosting an intern at your church?  

 

To see current internship opportunities and to access the Internship Best Practice Handbook, visit our internships section on our website