You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Summer Intern

Appalachia Reach Out
Email

Duration and Time Commitment:

  • Minimum 40 hours / week. Flexibility required.
  • Internship runs June 1st through August 10th, 2027 (10 weeks). 
  • Interns are placed at either ARO’s Martin County, KY site or its Scioto County, OH site. Placement is decided in a meeting with the Academic Director, Scioto Co. Work & Witness Coordinator, and Executive Director, so please be prepared to serve at either location.
  • The first two weeks in July (July 5–9 and July 12–16) are considered “off days.”
  • Interns choose one of those two weeks to remain at ARO and help with daily functions; the other is a paid vacation week for traveling home. Please notify the Academic Director in advance.

Purpose:

  • Gain valuable compassionate ministry experience that will allow you to build relationships with a variety of people, including but not limited to:
    • People who are in recovery from a substance use disorder
    • People experiencing poverty and/or unemployment
    • Work and Witness volunteers from all over the USA
    • Children and the elderly
  • Be mentored by ARO’s Academic Director or Scioto Co. Work & Witness Coordinator to engage in spiritual formation activities, including guided reading of books relevant to missions and ministry in the church today.
  • Discover how your gifts, abilities, and vocational callings can be utilized in ministry.
  • Experience Appalachian culture and hospitality, and better understand the unique challenges the region faces, including rural poverty more broadly.
  • Observe and participate in a small community’s close-knit network by working together with churches, community leaders, local elected officials, addiction recovery centers, and the Martin County school district.
  • Learn about balancing the demands of ministry with personal spiritual development, friendships, and the other responsibilities of life.
  • “Do life together” with ARO staff and friends.

 

Qualifications:

  • Must have a deep conviction and calling to work with one of the most impoverished areas in the United States.  No matter your major (it doesn’t have to be ministry!), there must be a desire to give of yourself in a very rural ministry setting in the heart of Appalachia.
  • Be teachable, humble, and have a servant’s heart.
  • Be an example to others in Christian character and integrity.
  • Be a self-starter as well as a team player.
  • Possess gifts for ministry, such as teaching, leadership, compassion, administration, and others.
  • Have completed at least one year of college or trade school (rising sophomore or higher).
  • Be between 18 and 25 years of age. Interns carry real responsibility and walk alongside people in difficult circumstances, and this range helps ensure the maturity that work asks for.
  • Be able to provide own transportation to Appalachia Reach Out and have access to transportation during your ten-week internship at ARO. (If this is a problem, it can be discussed during Zoom interviews)
  • Dedication to ARO’s mission to be Christ’s Love in Action through being Christ’s hands, feet, heart, and mission in all we do in ministry!

 

Job Description:

  • Fully participate in the weekly summer ministry work with Work & Witness teams, ARO’s Food Pantry (Wednesdays), ARO’s Thrift Store, and other responsibilities as assigned by the Academic Director or Scioto Co. Work & Witness Coordinator. 
  • Attend Sunday worship and Sunday School in one of our local churches each Sunday.
  • Help coordinate Work & Witness teams coming into partner with ARO during the summer.
  • Lead and give direction to small groups of volunteers, helping to delegate tasks, manage projects, and handle minor conflicts.
  • Meet weekly with the Academic Director in Martin Co. or the Scioto Co. Work & Witness Coordinator to debrief the week, mentoring and team planning.
  • Attend monthly staff meetings once hired and for the duration of the internship.
  • Be coached and encouraged to communicate with ministry partners in the coordination of projects.
  • With the assistance of ARO’s Academic Director or Scioto Co. Work & Witness Coordinator, choose an aspect of the ministry to serve in throughout the summer that utilizes your unique gifts, abilities, and vocational calling.

Examples:

  • An art major may choose to bring art supplies and a guided project during our visits to the addiction recovery centers, to bless the residents, encourage them in their faith, and help them de-stress.
  • An education major may work with the Martin County school resource directors to choose a family with academic and financial need to do in-home tutoring with for the duration of the summer.
  • A social work major may help with our Food Fun Run summer feeding program, getting to know families, providing social interaction and support as we deliver hot meals to them once a week.
  • A ministry major may want to help lead our annual Vacation Bible Schools, partner with a local pastor to assist in church functions, outreach, and ministry, or participate in Celebrate Recovery on Tuesday nights.
  • A musically gifted person who is familiar with hymns chooses to visit Martin County Health Care Facility - a nursing home to lead worship or could volunteer to lead worship at Celebrate Recovery or a local church.
  • An engineering major can aid in the work of helping with home repairs in the community. 
  • Feel free to be creative, there are so many opportunities for ministry! Ask questions, offer and implement your ideas, seek servant-leadership opportunities, take risks, learn, and see God work through you to make an impact in the lives of others.
  • Any additional assigned task that is given to you by the Executive Director, Academic Director, or Scioto Co. Work & Witness Coordinator.  These are tasks that are given to assist in the overall impact and mission of ARO.

 

Stipend and Benefits:

  • $50 / a week for 10 weeks ($500 total)
  • Expenses paid during the summer include: dinners out with the ARO Work and Witness Teams, special events, work travel expenses, and ministry expenditures.
  • Lodging will be provided with all utilities paid.
  • A $1,750 scholarship will be awarded upon completion of the 10-week internship. Returning interns receive an additional $250.
  • One paid vacation week in July, plus a second July week spent supporting daily functions at ARO (see “Duration and Time Commitment”).