Meet the Interns -- Carolina Caldes

Bringing in the international flavor, Carolina comes to us from Brazil. Two unique connections concerning her are...

1. In Brazil, she attended the same church as Mauricio Bernades, who did a two-your residence internship with NMC several years ago.
2. She and her family know my Uncle Jim, who was a missionary to Brazil, very well.

Carolina is in the graduate program at Bethel College. She is very gifted in worship dance, and is one of the sweetest ladies you will every encounter. She is is working in our Children's Ministry through the Summer.

So that's all the SOAR interns for the Summer, to review and meet them all over again, click here.

Meet the Interns -- Jared Gregory

Jared is a Bethel Student. Heading into a Junior year. He attended St. Mark Missionary Church in Mishawaka where his father is the Senior Pastor.
In the short time I've gotten to know Jared, I'm loving his straight-shooting sense of humor. His current journey is seeing where God is specifically leading him in full-time vocational ministry. I have a sneaking suspicion, youth ministry will play a role for a season if not a lifetime.
This guys got the stuff, and he'll be hanging with our Sr. Highers this Summer.

Meet the Interns -- David Stehlik

Dave is from Fort Wayne. He is a graduate of Homestead High School, an honor shared with the hottest woman on the planet. His connection to the SOAR program is a very unique one. He was at CDYC (the Missionary Church Central District Youth Conference) in 2003 where Terry Bley was speaking. After one of the sessions he approached Terry, and they took some time to get to know each other. Terry prayed over Dave, and God did some major stuff in their short connection.

Dave is currently at Hillsdale College and is a Political Science major. He's very smart. He's a thinker. He'll be diving into the lives of High School Students this Summer.

Meet the Interns -- Jodi Bontreger

Jodi comes to us from New Life Fellowship. From the Shipshewana area and a recent Hunnington College grad, I first met Jody at last year's Senior High Summer Camp. I was immediately impressed by Jodi's servant heart and relational style of ministering.

Jodi was a total last-minute addition to the SOAR team, but what a blessing she's already been! Jodi will be diving into the lives of Sr. High students all Summer long.

Meet the Interns -- Dustin Gill

Dustin is a NorthWood Grad. The eldest of the SOAR bunch, Mr. Gill graduated High School in 2000. He spent 3 years at Grace Studying Youth Ministry before taking some time off to attend to family business.

Dustin entered NMC through our budding Young Adult Ministry. He spent some time last Spring hanging with Senior Highers, and no has landed as Chris Lehane's right-hand-man in Jr. High (there's a conspiracy theory out there that the two are long-lost brothers). He's best described as a "Teddy Bear." He's pretty much everybody's friend.

Dustin plans to pick up his pursuit of a College degree at Bethel College this Fall. This is a great Youth Pastor in the making.

Meet the Interns -- Alison Gingrich

I met Alison at our Summer Camp last year. She came as a part of the Bethel College team that travels around various camps to serve as camp counselors and "talk up" the college. You ever have those moments when you're talking to someone and you just sense that there's something special that God has in store for them, and he wants you to play a role in that. I had one of those moments talking to Alison at camp last year. I just sensed God telling me that NMC had a role to play in shaping her future.
She's spent the year working with our Jr. High, and this Summer she'll be working with our Sr. High. She's a quality little gal with a big heart, and a burden to serve her Savior.

Meet the Interns -- Ashleigh Taylor

Ashleigh is, like Jess Focht (read below) an NMC grad. Ashleigh just graduated from Purdue with an Elementary Ed degree. She was kind of a last minute addition to the SOAR program. As she was wrestling through the next step in her life, she talked to Terry about the possibility of giving her Summer over to pursuing God's plan while working with the church. I have many great memories of Ashleigh through the years. From Cutting Edge Choir tours, to Wednesday Nights, to a missions trip with Ecuador, to working together with the Junior Class Small Groups this past year, I have seen Ashleigh continue to develop as she's pursued Christ. Ashleigh is full of excitement. She goes into all she does with all her heart.
She clearly has a heart for children, and will be working with our Children's ministry this Summer.

Meet the Interns -- Jess Focht

Jess is an NMC grad. A PK (pastor's kid)... Some may also know her father, most holy reverand Joseph Focht.

When I started at NMC, Jess was a 5th grader. She is now entering her Senior year at Indiana Wesleyan. She's got a story worth telling and hearing.
A natural team builder, great sense of humor, and contagious encourager... Jess will be diving into the lives of our Senior High Students through the Summer. I'm very excited to have her around this Summer, as she has a very special place in Janelle and my heart.

Meet the Interns -- Jason Muckel

Jason Muckel grew up in Constantine, Michigan. He's now going to Bethel College where he is majoring in Elementary Education. Jason has worked with us two years... one year in Jr. High Ministry as a Small Group Leader, and then after taking a year long sabbatical due to the trauma inflicted during that time, he returned this past year to work with our 5-6th grade students (preteens) where he will continue to focus his efforts this Summer.

Jason's story is the story of an underdog... from an unchurched background, a rough Preteens and Jr. High life that included bullying... a ridiculous growth spurt between his 8th grade and Freshman year (grew 10 inches, lost 50 pounds)... and a heart that beats to see preteen students encounter a living God.

Meet the Interns

One thing I love about NMC is the value we place on developing those going into full-time ministry. When I say full-time ministry, that doesn't necessarily mean a church. It simply means those choosing their occupational and life history solely off the potential for Kingdom IMPACT.
The SOAR program over the Summer is a big part of that.

Over the next couple weeks, I will be introducing you to these 9 individuals that make up this Summer's SOAR class in yet another ongoing blog series (what can I say, I'm a youth pastor... I like series) call "Meet the Interns."