Student Ministry Experiences
If you and your organization are interested in having a student as a ministry intern you have several options for the implementation and hiring for this ministry. To ensure that you, our students, and the college are all using the same terminology we have several definitions below that will help you determine which ministry opportunity you wish to offer our students.
Directed Field Experience
A Directed Field Experience (DFE) is required in every ministry degree program of the college. It is a practical experience directed by a qualified person in the student’s major field. Four hundred hours of work experience is needed. The major professor and student prepare together before the DFE. On site the DFE involves mentoring, guiding, observing, and reporting by the field supervisor. The student keeps a journal and completes self-evaluations. Evaluations are also completed by the field supervisor. Such requirements must be met by the student and field supervisor for the student to receive academic credit.
As part of the academic process certain guidelines have been established to turn a standard church internship process into what is called a directed field experience. The requirements include:
- The field supervisor must be working in the student’s major field.
- Four hundred hours of practical experience is needed.
- Mentoring, guiding, and observing are provided by the field supervisor.
- The supervisor completes a four-week evaluation and a final evaluation (forms provided below). These evaluations are discussed and signed by the supervisor and the student. The evaluations are then mailed to the major professor.
- The student keeps a daily journal of lessons learned and completes self-evaluations.
Church/Parachurch Internship
Many churches and parachurch organizations have developed internship programs that provide practical experience for students interested in ministry. In those cases the organization defines the duties and role of the student and makes a private arrangement with a student. MCC does not provide any direct supervision or official endorsement of the students’ readiness for ministry. Academic credit is not available for this type of internship. The student may, or may not, report to a supervisor in his/her major field of study.
Part-Time Student Ministry
A student ministry is a private arrangement between a church/parachurch organization and a student. MCC does not provide any direct supervision of students involved in student ministries or any official endorsement of the students’ readiness for ministry. Again, academic credit is not available for part-time ministry positions. Faculty members, of course, are available to consult with students in student ministries if the student seeks such advice.
Churches/Organizations wishing to hire a student for a part-time ministry should contact the Institutional Advancement office for placement on the list of churches seeking Christian leaders.
Directed Field Experience (DFE) Student/Supervisor Handbooks, Checklists, & Forms
All forms below are PDF documents. You will need Adobe Reader to view these files (download
Adobe Reader).
| Major |
Student |
Supervisor |
Evaluation Forms |
| Cross-Cultural Ministry |
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| Educational Ministry |
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| Family Ministry |
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| Pastoral Ministry |
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| Worship Ministry |
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| Youth Ministry |
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