Shepherd of the Hills is pleased to announce that we have received final approval for an Immersion Experience Intern over the upcoming Summer months!  Our intern will be Tara Fleck, a Special Ed major at WCU. Tara is currently an active member of Lutheran Campus Ministry and this opportunity will give her the chance to see what professional ministry looks like from the inside as she continues her vocational discernment process.  

So, what IS Project Connect anyway?

Project Connect: Calling Leaders for a Changing World, is an initiative of the Eastern Cluster of Lutheran Seminaries (Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and Southern). These seminaries are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Project Connect is funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.  The purpose of Project Connect is to organize an enthusiastic network of church leaders to mentor and provide theologically sound vocational discernment programs for young adults. 

Project Connect seeks to identify and nurture young adults who are active in church life and to assist in healthy, faithful vocational discernment 

What are Immersion Internship Experiences?

 Immersions provide for theological exploration in the midst of deep congregational engagement which will combine to deepen discernment and test a call to pastoral ministry. They are designed for young adults who are considering ministry as a career, although it isn’t necessary to have fully decided. The internship experience is designed by the young adult and the pastor of the congregation in consultation with the congregational council. 

An Immersion Intern will be able to experience many different aspects of ministry, including such things as:

• Visitation of sick and homebound members.
• Administration, including council and committee meetings.
• Study and preparation for worship leadership and preaching.
• Experience with a broad range of age-specific ministries.
• Exposure to social ministry organizations and community groups.
• Exposure to synods, including face-to–face conversations with key leaders.
• Exposure to and involvement with cross-cultural communities.
• Spiritual formation.

Tara’s Immersion Internship will begin in late May. Please visit the Project Connect website to learn more.