pastoral internship

The pastoral internship at Cornerstone offers an opportunity for men pursuing pastoral ministry to experience the daily rhythms of local church life.  Interns will learn to serve in this context by experiencing opportunities to deepen their relationship with God, grow in their faith and ministry experience, and serve in a variety of meaningful ways.

About Our Pastoral Internship

At Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN, we are all about helping people KNOW GOD, GROW TOGETHER, and SERVE OTHERS. Interns at Cornerstone will learn to serve in this context by experiencing opportunities to deepen their relationship with God, grow in their faith and ministry experience, and serve in a variety of meaningful ways.

The pastoral internship at Cornerstone offers an opportunity for men pursuing pastoral ministry to experience the daily rhythms of local church life.  We are looking for men who desire to make disciples, teach and preach God’s Word, and care for souls. We are not hoping to raise a generation of coffee makers or room set-up specialists.

We have high expectations of our interns, and we want them to develop leadership skills and professional ministry experience throughout their time with us. Our desire is to raise up qualified pastors who are able to preach the Word, shepherd the flock, and lead healthy churches in accordance with 1st Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and 1st Peter 5:1-4.
Qualifications
Interns must be faithful followers of Jesus who aspires to full-time pastoral, counseling, youth, or campus ministry. Interns should be in general agreement with Cornerstone’s Statement of Faith and philosophy of ministry. The ideal intern has completed an undergraduate degree and is seeking further education for pastoral ministry. For example, an intern might attend Faith Seminary in Lafayette, Indianapolis Theological Seminary (ITS), or Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY via online courses.  

A pastoral intern must be disciplined, hardworking, and able to set and follow his own schedule. He should be prepared to think deeply, discuss ideas, practice servant leadership, and use time wisely to serve well through their ministry tasks and goals. One goal for interns is that they would have time for reading and thinking about pastoral ministry during their residency.  
Compensation
The salary is $2400 per month, with housing and utilities provided by the church. This is loosely based on a 40-hour workweek, divided between local church ministry and seminary studies. The intern will receive office space, a laptop, and a small expense account for books, hospitality, and other ministry-related expenses.
Duration
This is a one-year residential internship starting in August 2025, with the possibility of renewal for up to three years.
Our Commitments
•  To provide experience in leading people and ministry initiatives
•  To give opportunities to preach and teach the Bible
•  To expose you to the inner workings of a local church
•  To offer helpful feedback in your ministry to people, including your teaching and preaching
Expectations
•  Be a learner – be teachable and resist the urge to be cynical. A good intern will come with curiosity and be eager to listen.
•  Be prepared – know your schedule, show up on time, and be ready for meetings or discussions.
•  Be professional – communication regularly with the pastors, church members, and staff in a timely manner, dress appropriately for the ministry context, and treat others as you would desire to be treated.
•  Be involved – be an active member of the church, attend worship services, participate in a grow group, serve others locally/globally, and give faithfully.
Job Description
•  Assist the pastors in ministry work as needed
•  Participate in the pastors, staff, and church leadership meetings as requested
•  Participate in other church ministries and opportunities as directed and time allows, including student and kids ministry
•  Meet regularly with the lead pastor and accompany him for ministry as appropriate (hospital visits, counseling, discipleship, etc.)
•  This position reports to the lead pastor who will determine what accountability, scheduling, and assignments are appropriate
Church Constitution
SAMPLE BUDGET AND SCHEDULE
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