Welcome to our page regarding the internship program. I am glad you’re here. I invite you to read the information below and pray about whether this internship program is right for you. If you have any questions that are not covered here, or just want to chat about it, send me an email to Intern Program Director.
May the Lord richly bless you.
Alonzo Garcia, Intern Program Director
Purpose:
The CCOV Internship Program was created in order to help develop and deploy a new generation of leaders devoted to Jesus Christ. Interns will have real life ministry experience that they can take with them and draw upon in whatever ministry the Lord leads them.
All throughout the scriptures God has called out individuals to serve as interns; Joshua for Moses, Elisha for Elijah, the disciples for Jesus, Paul for Barnabas, and Timothy for Paul.
The purpose of the Calvary Chapel of the Ojai Valley can easily be summed up in Ephesians 4:11-12,
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”
And in 2 Timothy 2:2,
“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Our Program is as Unique as our Community
We believe there are numerous advantages to programs such as this – and there are particular benefits to this program at Calvary Ojai – especially for those who would be called to church plant (or missional type ministries) in small to mid size communities – where God given passion, determination, and creativity are essential, and faith and clarity in the call are critical to lasting impact.
The Ojai Valley is a beautiful art community ten minutes from the beach. It is renowned for liberal ideas and as a spiritual center for many cults and religions of the world, and is a ripe field for experience in Biblical apologetics. Those engaged in front line ministry here learn to understand realities of the spiritual battlefield intimately in applying God’s armor regularly. As a result, the Holy Spirit filled ecclesia of Christ in the Ojai Valley are uniquely united in ways that are rare. Further, the flexible and supportive culture at Calvary Ojai affords opportunities to gain experience in consequential ways doing meaningful ministry that is more than mere support roles. You will make a difference right away!
Intern General Requirements:
- Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Must have the genuine desire to be discipled, to make disciples, and to minister to others.
- Must agree and adhere to the CCOV Statement of Faith (see page 3).
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must be willing to respect, obey, and submit to the expectations and responsibilities of the CCOV Internship Program and the ministry leaders.
- Must be willing to serve and complete the entire term of the internship program commitment.
General Questions:
- Does the CCOV Internship Program cost anything?
No. There is no cost to apply or enroll in the program. Interns are responsible for their own personal expenses, including room & board, travel, and spending money. However, some of these expenses may be offset by fundraising, sponsorships, or housing hosts, if available. This can be discussed with the Internship Director if needed.
- Do the interns get paid?
While the work performed by the interns are of great value to promoting God’s Kingdom and to CCOV, there is no monetary compensation.
- How long are the internship terms?
Internship term lengths vary depending on the nature of the intern position and on the availability of the intern. Term lengths are flexible.
- How much time weekly will the ministry require?
Depending on the nature of the intern position, weekly commitments vary but should be about 15 to 25 hours per week.
- What are the areas of ministry for internship?
CCOV interns are encouraged in the following areas of ministry: worship, children’s ministry, youth ministry, technical, church administration, event coordination, and pastoral teaching. (See job descriptions for further information)
- Do interns receive credit for the work performed as interns for CCOV?
Depending on their particular school or college, the interns should receive life work credit for the time spent working as an intern at CCOV. Interns will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from the CCOV Intern Program.
In conclusion, the purpose of the CCOV Intern Program is not to bring “cheap labor” to CCOV. Interns perform a valuable service to the Body of Christ by relieving the Pastors and ministry leaders, allowing them to give themselves to prayer and to ministry of the word (Acts 6:2- 4). The CCOV Internship Program looks for young people with a calling and desire to serve God and to receive some real practical experience in the areas of church ministry. Our desire is that interns will take what they glean from their experience of working alongside experienced pastors and ministry leaders and put it to practical use in church planting or in other areas of ministry.
Intern Positions
(Click on title for more information)
Administrative Intern
Audio/Video Technical Intern
Bookstore Intern
Children’s Ministry Intern
Events Coordinator Intern
Pastoral Intern
Worship Ministry Intern
Youth Ministry Intern
General Ministry Intern: A general ministry intern would serve in each of the above areas on a rotational basis. The specifics would be negotiated with the Internship Director according to the specific needs, experiences, and skills to be developed
Additional Information/Forms
Click Statement of Faith to go to the Calvary Chapel’s Statement of Faith.
Click Applicationto open up and complete the Intern Program application. Click the email button on the application to email your application to our Intern Program Director or you can print and mail the application to Calvary Chapel of the Ojai Valley, Attn: Alonzo Garcia, P.O. Box 1443, Ojai, CA 93024.
Please also complete the Permission to Obtain a Background Check and send to us at Calvary Chapel of the Ojai Valley, Attn: Alonzo Garcia, P.O. Box 1443, Ojai, CA 93024. This form requires an original signature. Click Background Check Form to download and print the Permission Form.