Five Reasons Church Internships Fail

Who is responsible for training future pastors for the unpredictable, ever-changing realities of an increasingly secular, post-Christian world? It appears seminaries and Bible colleges, well-meaning as they are, do not produce pastors ready to step into pastoral leadership. But what about the local church? Is the local church the best place to develop future pastors? Through interviews in my doctoral research, I believe this is the way it should be: local churches as the training ground for aspiring pastors. 

But how do we do this? 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach. However, one step churches can take is developing intentional internships.

But the key word here is intentional.

Far too often, internships have launched in churches, but overseeing interns becomes another to-do list item for already overwhelmed ministry leaders. Developing the interns falls far behind on the priorities list. Interns are then relegated to being merely cheap or free (but I think unpaid internships are illegal now as they should be) labor. Need extra leaders for VBS? Throw in the interns, regardless of whether they like kids or not. Need someone to set up and tear down for the summer event? Call in the interns! A Costco run for summer camp supplies? Have no fear. The faithful, positive, passionate interns are here! 

When a church starts and runs an internship with a lack of intentionality, the internship does not rise to the level of its purpose to develop future pastors and ministry leaders. It becomes a waste of resources for the church and, more importantly, a waste of time for the interns. I have seen interns feel chewed up and spit out, used, and unvalued. They may begin their internship passionate about serving the local church but conclude traumatized and unable to step into a church for a very long time (or ever). I have seen it, and I’ve felt it. I have been there, both as a part of a church internship as well as running an internship. 

If you are interested in running an internship with similar results, follow these five keys to a failing church internship.

 1. Lack of Clarity on Roles, Goals, and Schedule

For an intern about to begin an internship, the excitement is high, but the day-to-day is unclear. Out of kindness for the interns, it is essential to provide as much clarity as possible on their role, their goals, and their weekly schedule. The first day is critical. Clear communication on what the day will look like, the schedule (where to be and when), will be the difference maker for the intern. It is incredibly unfortunate to have one’s first day involve a lot of sitting around, not sure where to be, and bored out of one’s mind. And the first day must lead well into what the rest of the internship will look like. Start strong. And begin with the end in mind. 

 2. Lack of Vision for Development and Plan to Grow

In an internship, there needs to be a healthy balance of “grunt work” (set up and tear down for events), experience work (trying out different tasks and responsibilities), and intentionally focused work in a specific area of interest (i.e. preaching for young preachers, leading a meeting, or planning a serve day). But grunt work cannot be the essence of an intern’s experience. Young people want to be intentionally invested in. They are asking, “Is this internship going to help me reach my goals?” Therefore, it is vital to provide an intern with a realistic plan for their development and growth. If an intern wants to preach, provide a plan for them to grow into that with a couple of opportunities to preach in the youth group. Sit down with each intern before they begin their internship. Find out what they are passionate about, interested in, and dream about doing for a career. Then work on a development plan that aligns with their vision. Without an intentional plan and vision, the internship will be a waste of everyone’s time. 

 3. Lack of Personal Investment

If you want an internship to fail, don’t personally invest in the interns. Don’t meet regularly with one-on-ones to check in, give and receive feedback, coach, and encouragement. Just don’t do it. Otherwise, it will be a successful internship. If you want the internship to be a success, consider partnering each intern with a mentor. In addition to the mentor, make it a point to regularly meet with the interns. Even have the lead pastor meet with the interns (either once one-on-one or as a group). They will feel invested in, developed, and more relationally connected. If you want the internship to be a failure, don’t invest personally in them. Otherwise, they will feel like you care about who they are rather than only caring about what they can do for you. 

4. Lack of Authority Entrusted 

To have a failed internship, it is essential to not entrust interns with leading in any capacity. Don’t give them real responsibility for the success or failure of an event, meeting, or worship service. Whatever you do, don’t give them a taste of the burden and blessing of leadership. But if you want the internship to be successful, give them an opportunity to lead, to fail and learn, to make decisions, and navigate the consequences of those decisions. In addition to handing over authority, one must be willing to give support and coaching. Don’t leave the intern to sink or swim. But don’t micromanage. This is a tension to manage. But to see them grow into being the best leaders they can be, they need experience with authority along with support and coaching. 

5. Lack of Off-Boarding

As mentioned earlier, in order for the internship to not be a failure, one must begin with the end in mind. The intern is not an intern forever. But in addition to beginning with the end in mind, we ought to end with the beginning in mind. Beginning of what? Ideally, of what’s next for the intern. An internship that sets up the intern for failure involves an ambiguous end date to the internship, a lack of celebration and appreciation for the intern, and zero discussion of the intern’s future after the internship. When I was an intern, as my internship came to an end, I had to go to the supervisor of the ministry I interned with and ask him, “So, what’s next?” It was clear there was no job available to me at the end of the internship, though I was hoping that was the case. That’s understandable. But what was difficult was the lack of direction on a next step other than waiting around for a job to open up. Fortunately, a job did open up nine months later. But I was lucky. What could it look like to off-board and end with the beginning of what’s next in mind for the intern? How can we end an internship with intentionality and an eye to the future for the intern? 

A Final Thought

This is all focused on the practical. However, there is one more key ingredient to ensuring the church internship is a failure. And this one trumps the rest. One could have a successful internship by doing the opposite of these five keys to a failed internship. But if this one final piece is lacking, it is still a failure. What I am talking about is this: Not intentionally focusing on the intern’s love for Jesus. What good is it for an intern to learn all of the work habits, skills, and gain the experience necessary for what’s next without a deepening love for Jesus and the Church? What good is it to develop future pastors for the church if they end up losing their love for Jesus along the way? Loving Jesus, and growing in one’s love for Jesus, must be priority number one for a successful church internship.