Internship Program Introduced
The current trimester sees the introduction of a Field Education Internship
Program. The purpose of the internship is to offer students an opportunity
to experience ministry in a given community. The student participates in
the daily life of the community through teaching, counseling, pastoring,
and participating in administrative concerns under the guidance of the
local UC minister.
At present, 11 students are working in five locations: Los Angeles, Chicago,
Newark, Westchester, New York and Brooklyn. Dr. Kathy Winings who, with
Dr. Shawn Byrne, directs the Field Education program, reports that most
of the students are supporting the True Family Values ministry and Pre-Blessing
programs in their areas. “This means that they are spending a great deal
of their time discussing True Family Values content, the situation of American
Christianity and religion, as well as community needs with various ministers
and religious leaders,” she wrote. “Of course, with the Pre-Blessing and
Family Festivals, the students are also learning how to plan, organize
and direct such an event.”
Since the 11 interns are all Japanese, they are also finding value in the
fact that they are forced to practice and improve their ability to speak
English and this was foreseen as a significant benefit of the program.
The original proposal for the program states that “In particular, the internship
is most valuable for the non-American student in that it affords him/her
the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture and language of the
community - much as they might if they were sent to the mission field after
graduation. Further, it will help their total language development as well
as their ministerial development by immersing them so totally in the life
of a community for the 10 weeks. Further, by working and living in the
culture of a particular community, it will enable the student intern to
recognize what skills and attitudes are necessary in order to assume responsibility
for the ministry of a particular community.”
President Shimmyo places more emphasis on the spiritual dimension of the
program. “Students are expected to know the heart of God through faith
and endurance in a given, difficult situation of reality in order to become
victorious leaders in the future,” he said.