International Center interns receive hands-on training

From left, LCMS International Center (IC) summer interns Lauren Humphrey, Evan Magness and Ben Rauh clean windows as part of an IC “Sent to Serve” volunteer event at Salem Lutheran School in Black Jack, Mo., on July 15. (Jason Law)

Each year, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) International Center (IC) welcomes a group of college students to the building to gain hands-on experience and nurture their professional development while serving a summer internship. The Summer 2024 interns and their areas of service were:

Owen Bartle, senior, University of Missouri, Columbia — Information Technology Services, Concordia Plans (CPS)

Megan Bishop, senior, Lindenwood University, St. Louis — Business Product Administration, CPS

Lauren Humphrey, junior, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis. — LCMS Youth Ministry

Evan Magness, junior, Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill. — Human Resources, CPS

Joshua Maichel, senior, University of Missouri, St. Louis, — Accounting and Finance, CPS

Mason Pritchett, senior, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Ill. — Information Technology (IT) Data Management, CPS

Ben Rauh, senior, University of Alabama–Culverhouse College of Business — Finance and Investment, LCMS Foundation

In addition to serving in their respective areas, the interns participated in a “Meet and Greet” with IC staff; volunteered for a “Sent to Serve” service project at Salem Lutheran School in Black Jack, Mo.; and enjoyed an after-hours get-together at Top Golf in Chesterfield, Mo.

Jason Law, LCMS Human Resources manager, described the internship program as “a wonderful opportunity for us to guide young students and prepare them for a successful career in their chosen profession. They also learn about the work of the LCMS entities and see the impact of our mission.

“We would love for them to find their calling inside our church body, but we are still proud to send them out as Christ-centered beacons into the secular world. The program continues to grow and evolve every year. The interns build friendships and a network of support that carries on beyond the end of the summer. I witnessed the fellowship of this year’s group and was extremely joyful with the connections that were made. We were blessed to have them.”

Asked about their time serving at the IC, the interns highlighted both the practical experience they gained and the people they worked with. Pritchett noted that, in the area of IT, “Seeing [a task] and doing it are two completely different things. That’s been a really good experience — teaching me how things actually work.”

Maichel agreed. “[Serving an internship] is like learning a language just by being placed in the country, by immersion.”

Bartle appreciated being trusted to work on projects without excessive supervision while still being able to ask for and receive help when needed. “[The supervisors] help you, but they don’t hold your hand,” he said.

Several interns spoke positively about the supportive work environment in the building. Bishop recalled falling ill and being concerned about missing work. She was relieved her supervisors were understanding and encouraged her to take time off to heal. “They were so nice, so kind,” she recalled.

Bartle agreed, noting the cheerful, positive environment not just at CPS, but throughout the IC: “Everyone greets you with a smile.”

In her work with Youth Ministry, Humphrey helped with the planning of the National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference. She finished the summer “overjoyed with the work the Synod is doing for our youth. I was blessed to work with incredible people and to grow relationships with so many. … I left feeling developed not only as a future church worker but also as a person.”

Magness appreciated learning more about workplace and employee management issues, especially since he is planning to become a pastor. He was also thankful for the daily IC chapel service: “It’s wonderful to hear the Gospel preached to you every morning. I think everyone should take advantage of this blessing.”

Posted Oct. 15, 2024