Learning as interns
For high schoolers and college students wanting to take a deep dive into the life of the Church, First Church offers two special internships. This year high schoolers Katie Ragland and Abigail Weierbach are serving as Ignite interns while The University of Tulsa (TU) graduate Alexis Milford-Rosales is the Heather Davis intern.
The internships give students a better understanding and behind-the-scene look of what goes into planning for youth ministries, says Steve Wilson, director of high school ministry.
“Typically, students accepted for the internships are grounded in their faith and have a service attitude and heart.”
– Steve Wilson
Typically, students accepted for the internships are grounded in their faith and have a service attitude and heart. Steve says he has been impressed by the cohesive mindset of this year’s interns. “They are not skittish or shy and are very focused and determined and work really well together … they’ve embraced it."
Alexis Milford-Rosales has been interested in ministry since high school, especially youth, young adult and family ministries, or camp and conference ministry. In 2018, she attended General Assembly as a young adult advisory delegate alongside her father, a San Antonio pastor, who was a commissioner the same year. She also has been involved with conference planning at Mo Ranch in Texas.
She learned about the Heather Davis internship through Julia Metcalf during an event at TU. Alexis says it has been fun working in the office and learning from all sorts of people. Asked to pick one word that best describes herself, Alexis says, “empathetic.” “I care a lot about people and how they feel … I’m very intentional to make sure I communicate with people in a way that is best for them,” she says.
The Ignite internship first became available in 2007. Katie Ragland applied for the internship for various reasons, but mainly because she wanted to further her relationship with the Lord and understand him in a different sense. “I wanted to learn more about scripture and how I can strengthen my relationship and build a community around me that influences that daily,” she says.
“So far, we have been reading different books that examine the different lenses of Christianity and different relationships people have with God. We are also looking into how being WITH God is very different from loving him and obeying him,” Katie says.
Abigail Weierbach says, “I am new to the Church and wanted to be more involved in the Church. So far, the most rewarding thing has been getting to know Katie and the people in the Church community.” In the future, Abigail plans on attending design school.
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The history of the Heather Davis Memorial Internship
The Heather Davis Memorial Internship is a three-month internship for college students (sophomores and older) that was started in loving memory of Heather after she was killed in a car accident several years ago.
“She was traveling back from Oklahoma City with her sister Tiffany, who was visiting from United Arab Emirates, when they hydroplaned on the turnpike, went off the road and hit several trees,” says Patricia Hall, Heather’s aunt. “They were trying to make the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday, October 27.”
They were taken to a Stroud hospital where Heather was diagnosed with a broken pelvis with bone bleed. Tiffany had a major concussion. Heather was transported to Hillcrest Hospital, and a couple of days later at age 27 she died from a massive pulmonary embolism. The Pathfinders sang at her service.
“Because Heather was heavily involved in the Pathfinders, her parents wanted to sponsor an internship for a college student who was interested in doing youth ministries or exploring ministry possibilities,” says Steve Wilson, director of high school ministry.
About 23 students have gone through the internship program. Patricia says she hopes the interns “grow in their faith and relationship with Jesus Christ” and “experience and practice living out that faith through their relationships with the leadership and students they shepherd.”
For more information about the 2022 internship program, contact Steve Wilson in the Church office.