Are you a church work student, gearing up for your internship? Have you ever considered doing your internship overseas? Hear from Jennifer Edwards about her experience as a DCE Intern in Slovakia and how that experience prepared her for ministry in the States.
Introduce Yourself:
I went to Concordia University Texas in Austin. I studied Religious Education in the Director of Christian Education (DCE) program. I am currently serving as a full-time DCE in northern Illinois overseeing the children’s and youth ministries at my church.
Why did you decide to do an international DCE internship?
While I was in high school, I had the opportunity to do a home-to-home exchange program through my German class. I spent six weeks in Germany one summer and fell in love with Europe. After that trip, I kept saying I wanted to go back. After a couple of international mission trips in college, I started talking about doing my internship overseas. I always thought I would end up back in Germany, but God had different plans, and I ended up in Slovakia.
Going into internship I wasn’t sure if I would come back to the States at the end of my internship, so I never really had many concerns about an international internship and then seeking a call in America. At that time all I wanted to do was live abroad. Now that I am back serving in America, I think my time in Slovakia has been a huge blessing on my ministry here, definitely not a hindrance.
How did your overseas experience shape your view of your role as a DCE?
Serving overseas had a huge impact on how I viewed the world and my faith. Recognizing there is a lot that is simply different about people, rather than believing some do it “right” while others have it “wrong,” has been a valuable viewpoint to have when talking to people and building relationships. It feels like America has become more polarized and being able to hear different perspectives and understand both is really important now. I don’t know if I would have developed that skill had I not served overseas.
What’s something you encountered on internship that you didn’t feel prepared for? How did God grow you through this?
There were a lot of things I encountered on internship that I didn’t feel prepared for. The transition from college (where you have your best friends and trusted professors all around you) to living on your own is tough. I also was living alone in a country I had never been to before moving there. I also am not the best person at asking for help, which probably didn’t help things . . . however, God definitely showed up!
He showed up in the people from the church I was serving at. He brought me friends and incredible support through those people. Even though I wasn’t great at asking for help, they knew I had never been to or lived in Slovakia, so they regularly were asking what I needed and what questions I had, and when I was brave enough to ask for help they were ready and eager to help me. One of the most beautiful parts of Slovak culture is how hospitable they are, and it goes beyond sharing a meal! I definitely shared a lot of meals with people there, but they also shared their time, their friendship, their prayers. Being someone who likes to do things on my own, God definitely challenged me to learn to lean on others and especially lean on him. He showed me what Christian community means!
How did your international internship prepare you for church ministry in the states?
From the outside it can be a challenge to see the similarities of international ministry and church ministry in America. They really are different in a lot of ways, but what is the same in ministry no matter where you are serving is relationships. Relationships are the foundation to a strong ministry and serving overseas only emphasized the value of getting to know people. Serving in a different culture also opened my eyes to the beauty of living life with people from all different walks of life. I currently serve in the Chicagoland area, which is a pretty diverse population culturally, economically, and religiously. Serving internationally challenges you to be more curious about people, and that has been an incredible gift that has supported my current ministry in America.
What advice would you give to a current church work student considering an international internship?
There are few experiences that will stretch you like serving internationally. While international ministry may look different than what you do or will do in America, I believe it has shaped me to be a better DCE than I could have been. My time in Slovakia broadened my worldview, challenged and strengthened my faith, and brought richness to my life. It is scary to leave the country you know, but if you have even a slight inkling toward this type of ministry, now is the time to explore it. I have never once regretted my choice to go to Slovakia, and it has continued to bless me and my ministry in ways I never could have imagined! So I say, go for it!
