The Story of Three Saddleback Interns

Growing churches require growing leaders — and growing leaders is the goal of Saddleback’s Internship Program. Through vocational training, leadership opportunities, and a community of purpose, interns are able to step closer to what God is calling them to, even in challenging circumstances.

KATELIN’S STORY

Right off the bat, Katelin knew her internship journey with Saddleback was going to be special. Her first conversation with her supervisor was not about goals or expectations, but Katelin’s day.

“We came in and we had a long conversation just about how I’ve been doing,” Katelin said. “I’ve never felt so immediately cared for by a supervisor.”

This relational aspect would be key for Katelin as her time at Saddleback was rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just weeks into her internship, she had to return home to Hawaii.

But this didn’t stop Katelin from making the most of her opportunity. No matter the situation, Saddleback leaders aim to equip interns to become Christ-like, effective leaders. In Katelin's case, she was to stay connected to Saddleback and her internship through intentional conversations with her supervisor, despite there being 2,500 miles of physical distance between them.

“My supervisor was really intentional about asking me how I was doing during the pandemic,” Katelin said. “She would start all of our meetings with a heart talk.”

With a foundation of trust built between Katelin and her supervisor, she began to flourish. She was very interested in the work she was doing, and knew there was purpose behind it all.

Katelin was also able to contribute in a meaningful way, even from a distance. The Saddleback Internship Program is designed to give significant roles and responsibilities to those who are a part of it, and Katelin courageously took that on as she continued her work remotely for the church’s Central Intern Team.

“One of the biggest projects Katelin did was create a supervisor resource guide that is basically a handbook on how to care for interns,” said Lisa Birle, Saddleback Intern Program Minister. “She got to interface with churches from all over the country who ask Saddleback about how to develop leaders, and we have sent that resource to literally dozens of churches all around the world!”

Katelin also developed a number of other resources for Saddleback’s Intern Program, led applicants through the interview process, and coordinated a social media public relations campaign for the team.

“My internship showed me that my voice was valuable,” Katelin said, “that I had opinions that could be turned into really big projects, that I could speak up, and be wrong, but still contribute to a really great idea.”

Work aside, Katelin discovered over her time at Saddleback that this was a place where she could be herself. Her supervisor had already established that Katelin was cared for as an individual, so she knew she could express herself in the workplace and not be afraid to bring something to the table.

LOGAN’S STORY

“When I started out coming to Saddleback, I had no idea the journey that God was gonna take me on,” said Logan, an intern with Saddleback’s College Ministry.

His first visit to Saddleback was several years ago while he was in high school, and Logan quickly fell in love with the church and many of its activities. He began attending small groups and volunteering whenever he could.

In high school, Logan began feeling there was more behind his love for the church. He felt that he was potentially being called into full-time ministry, so he decided to pursue the idea by volunteering with Saddleback Kids.

“I had a couple different mentors and staff members that were pushing me towards ministry,” Logan said. “But it wasn’t until I started serving with Saddleback Kids that someone pushed me to actually intern.”

He took that next step, and as an intern with Saddleback Kids, Logan learned first hand what it means to work in a ministry role. Going in, he had preconceptions about what ministry work looked like, but he eventually learned that the ultimate goal is to point people to Jesus.

“It’s not about how many people come to an event, or anything like that,” Logan said. “It's about spending time with people and loving them the way Jesus did.”

As Logan was interning, he began finding out more and more about his calling to ministry, and his supervisors were helpful in guiding him. He felt that at Saddleback he could challenge and stretch himself by doing different things, and the leaders at the church supported him along the way. Logan knew that as an intern, he was making significant contributions to the church while gaining invaluable insights into his calling.

“We have this amazing chance to learn and grow,” Logan said. “We’re expected to fail, we’re expected not to do everything perfectly, and because of that this is a place where we are refined and we grow.”

Now a college student himself, Logan has had the opportunity to minister to his peers with the College Ministry team during his second internship with Saddleback. Right now, many college students are struggling with online learning, isolation, and other effects of the pandemic. Through his internship, Logan has been able to relate to and pour into those around him.

“I know later in life that I want to be a pastor, and I’m really being given the chance to live out that calling here,” Logan said.

IAN’S STORY

Having grown up at Saddleback, Ian had always felt like a part of the family at his church. In high school, when Ian began interning with the church, God showed him another level of love and guidance as he began being shaped into who he is today.

During his year-long internship, Ian had the opportunity to explore all sorts of different teams and ministries at Saddleback. What made it extra special, though, was his supervisor, who introduced him to dozens of other mentors at the church.

His supervisor had a list that she gave to Ian, which included the names of multiple other Saddleback staff she had met over the years. She told him to reach out to these people, and that they would help Ian understand his calling and sense of purpose in ministry.

“They have an experience, they have a lesson, and they would love to share with you,” she told Ian.

The Saddleback Internship Program is designed to cultivate personal relationships between staff and interns. Through these relationships, Ian began to learn more about what ministry really is: personal, Christ-centered connection.

“I realized ministry isn’t all books, it isn’t all degrees and theories,” Ian said. “It’s a lot of tears, it’s a lot of heartbreak, and it’s a lot of being present in people’s pain.”

During this time of growth for Ian, he began to grow in his love for ministry. He learned that a love for Jesus is at the core of serving God’s kingdom — and he felt called to serve others in this way.

So, after high school, he began exploring job opportunities, and after filling out applications with multiple different ministries, God opened the door for Ian to come back to Saddleback.

“The Holy Spirit is looking for obedient people who love Christ and just want to serve,” Ian said. “If you have that, if you are that, the Holy Spirit is going to show up in big ways — he did for me.”

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Through Saddleback’s Internship Program, ministry leaders will continue to train effective, godly leaders for the kingdom. This past season has been especially challenging, but it’s also served as an encouragement that we can accomplish anything through Christ. Learn more about Saddleback Internships.