Young Adult Ministries Toolbox

Looking to engage in Ministry?

• Mission Intern Program: For young adults post high school - 28. An 8-week summer program at United Methodist congregations and related non-profits across Michigan. The goal is to develop young adult leaders, through an on-boarding training and ongoing site supervision.  Interns at congregations will lead summer children’s programs or serve at Cass Community Social Services, Motown Mission, or God’s Country Cooperative Parish where interns coordinate volunteer groups to meet the needs of the community. Apply to be a mission intern here 

• Ministry Exploration Internship: The Ministry Exploration Intern program enables congregations to identify a young adult in their congregation who displays gifts for the ministry of the elder.  Ministry Interns serve 15-20 hours weekly in their home congregations, meeting with their pastor regularly, reading together, engaging in the ministry of elder, preaching a sermon, and participating in a week long mission, camp or social justice project.  Ministry Interns are expected to participate in an orientation day and engage in self reflection. Ministry Exploration Interns receive a $2000 stipend. Apply to be a Ministry Exploration Intern by emailing: [email protected]. If you're a Pastor or Local Church interested in hosting an intern, email: [email protected]

• Global Mission Fellows:For adults ages 20-30: This program is a 2-year mission opportunity to serve internationally or in the US.  Participants will engage with local communities while addressing the root causes of social injustices with other young people from around the world. For more information on how to become a GMF, click here

• CDF-Freedom School:An intergenerational leadership model staffed primarily by college students and recent college graduates, with a 10:1 child to adult ratio. Rooted in the Mississippi Freedom Summer project of 1964, the CDF Freedom Schoolsprogram is a six-week summer literacy and cultural enrichment program designed to serve children and youth in grades K–12 in communities where quality academic enrichment programming is limited, too expensive, or non-existent. The CDF Freedom Schools program enhances children’s motivation to read and makes them feel good about learning. To apply to be a Servant Leader Intern, contact Lisa Batten at [email protected]

• Seed to Harvest : A program of the MI Conference of the UMC where young adult leaders bring their ministry ideas to fruition. The program offers support in the form of monthly one-on-one coaching, as well as group support with other entrepreneurs, allowing young adults the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences with peers. During the eighteen-month cohort, participants will be challenged and supported in tandem. Their ideas and energy will drive their progress, with consistent support from coaches, peers, and events to keep the motivation high to launch a new missional ministry. Quarterly co-hort gatherings cover financial models, models and prototypes, time management, and how to pivot when an idea inevitably gets stuck. 

  The process begins with an exploring conversation in which participants share the “seed of an idea” with supportive listeners. Those who commit to the process begin with the first cohort call with fellow entrepreneurs and get matched with a coach.  Six months in, cohort members engage in a key part of the Seed to Harvest process, a two and a half day event in which participants focus attention on moving the seed of an idea from concept towards realization. At this event participants will lay the groundwork for their ministry idea, including creating framing documents and getting comfortable delivering a pitch. At the one-year mark, cohort members engage in a two day “pivot event” in which they name and work through obstacles.  At the eighteen month mark participants celebrate the launch of their new missional ministry idea! Sign up for an initial conversation here

MI1 Young Adult Program: A one year experience for young adults between 18 and 28 years old designed to be mutually transformative for the young people involved, the communities in which they'll live, and the organizations they'll serve with. 

Placements are made to foster meaningful outreach. Participants are matched with organizations based on education, interests, experience, and desire. 

Young adults are provided a monthly stipend to cover living expenses, as well as free housing, utilities, healthcare, and assistance with student loan deferment. Participants also receive paid vacation and sick days. 

The MI1 program allows young adults the chance to build their resumes and provides a fulfilling gap-year experience before grad school, seminary, or a career. Intentional community living with other young adults also provides an opportunity to make connects with peers who share their values. Young adults will be welcomed into their new city and local community, helping them to expand their horizons and view the world for new perspectives all while they do meaningful work that focuses on social justice. 

Unlike the US2 program, the MI1 program lasts only one year, and participants are placed within the state of Michigan. In order to be a MI1 participant, young adults are expected to:

• Complete application (linked below)
• Complete program interview and placement site interview 
• Participate in all expected and relevant meetings, i.e. staff meetings, team meetings
• Establish a regular meeting schedule with the site supervisor and be fully engaged
• Ask questions and seek clarity regarding workplace expectations, i.e. cell phone use, scheduling time off, calendaring, appropriate dress code
• Participate in all programmatic retreats and trainings
• Quarterly check-ins with site supervisor and program director for assessment
• Meet monthly with assigned mentor
• Fully engaged with intentional community living

Interested in becoming an MI1? Apply below.