OUR VIEW ON INTERNSHIPS
Hyland Heights Baptist Church believes it is the local church’s responsibility to train and equip the next generation of gospel-centered leaders (Ephesians 4:12). Our Residency Program consists of semester internships, as well as one-year residency and two-year residency opportunities. Each option is a part-time leadership training program designed to give hands-on experience by working as part of one of our ministry teams. Personal mentoring and leadership training will also equip emerging church leaders for a lifetime of ministry significance.
Why Internships Matter
We believe that an internship is an opportunity to develop meaningful and memorable relationships with ministry leaders that can become part of your ministry network as you pursue God’s will for your life. The people you serve with will be available to you whenever you need a guiding hand in ministry.
Developing Leaders for Ministry, Church Planting, and Missions
The Hyland Heights Leadership Development Pipeline helps emerging leaders explore ministry calling, gain hands-on church experience, grow through intentional development, and prepare for future ministry, church planting, or missionary service.
Why Leadership Development?
Hyland Heights exists to make disciples for the glory of God and the good of others. One way we live out that mission is by identifying, developing, and sending faithful leaders for ministry, church planting, and missions.
The Leadership Development Pipeline is rooted in the life of the local church and combines hands-on ministry experience, personal supervision, mentoring, cohort-based training, and ongoing evaluation. It is designed to help participants grow in character, calling, conviction, and competency while serving in a healthy church context.
A Clear Pathway for Ministry Development
The Leadership Development Pipeline is organized around three developmental movements:
Discover
Explore ministry calling, gain practical experience, and begin discerning whether God may be leading you toward deeper ministry involvement.
Develop
Grow through intentional ministry responsibility, supervision, mentoring, education, and leadership formation.
Deploy
Prepare for church planting or missionary sending through focused development, assessment readiness, and church affirmation.
Time Commitment
10–15 hours per week during fall or spring; summer internships may be structured for up to 20 hours per week
Fit
College students or emerging leaders exploring ministry calling
Ministry Areas
Children’s Ministry, Student Ministry, Adult Ministries, Worship and Creative Arts, or Pastoral Ministry
Compensation
Generally non-compensated educational experience; host-home housing may be available upon request
L1: Ministry Internship
The Ministry Internship is a 16-week experience for emerging leaders who are exploring ministry calling and seeking hands-on experience in the local church during the Fall, Spring, or Summer.
L2: Ministry Residency
The Ministry Residency is a year-long development process for leaders preparing for vocational ministry, significant ministry leadership, or future sending from August through July.
Time Commitment
15-20 hours per week.
Fit
Students or emerging leaders pursuing ministry education and seeking deeper preparation for ministry leadership
Ministry Areas
Children’s Ministry, Student Ministry, Adult Ministries, Worship and Creative Arts, or Pastoral Ministry
Compensation
Approximately $800 per month in total support value, which include:
- $400 monthly stipend
- $200–$400 monthly personal fundraising goal
- Host-home housing is also available upon request and availability
Time Commitment
Approximately 20 hours per week
Fit
Individuals with a clear calling toward church planting or missions who are ready for focused sending preparation
Ministry Areas
Church Planting & Missionary tracks
Compensation
Church Planting Track Support
- Approximately $1,000 per month in combined stipend and expected fundraising support:
- $500 monthly stipend
- Approximately $500 monthly personal fundraising goal
- Host-home housing may also be available when appropriate
Missionary Track Support
- Compensation and support are determined case by case based on the candidate’s timeline, needs, and sending pathway
L3: Sending REsidency
The Sending Residency is a year-long preparation pathway for qualified leaders who are moving toward church planting or missionary sending from August through July.
More Than an Internship—A Formation Process
Participants are developed through consistent rhythms of ministry practice, personal investment, and guided evaluation.
- Weekly ministry supervision
- Biweekly mentoring or coaching
- Monthly Pipeline Cohort gatherings
- Hands-on ministry responsibility
- Assigned training content
- Major projects and leadership opportunities
- Speaking, teaching, or public leadership opportunities where appropriate
- Feedback, evaluation, and next-step guidance
ABOUT OUR INTERNSHIPS
TIME COMMITMENT
Interns – 15 Total hours per week (unpaid)
THREE ASPECTS OF OUR INTERNSHIPS
Ministry Experience & Coaching
Personal Mentorship
Leadership Training
Personal Mentorship
Leadership Training
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Sunday Life Groups & Service
Wednesday Night AWANA Program 6:30PM
- Teaching – Preschool/Nursery
- Teaching – Grades 1-6
- Event Planning & Coordinating
- Administration
Student Ministry
Sunday Life Groups 9:30am
Wednesday Student connect 6:00PM
- Teaching
- Event Planning
- Spiritual Formation
- Girls’ Ministry
- Administration
Pastoral Ministry
Sunday Morning Worship Service
Life Groups & Men’s/Women’s Groups
- Teaching
- Missions/Outreach
- Administration
- Event Planning
- Spiritual Formation
- Shepherding/Care
Worship & Creative Arts
Sunday Worship Service
- Vocal
- Instrumental
- A/V Tech
- Social Media & Communications
- Children’s & Student Worship
- Photography/Film
Steps To Get Involved
- APPLY & TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
Fill out our application - FOLLOW-UP & INTERVIEW
Once you’ve applied, we will contact you to set up a coordinated visit to Hyland Heights and conduct an interview. - BACKGROUND CHECK
For the safety of our children, students, and adults, all of our staff, volunteers, and interns must go through a background check prior to serving at Hyland Heights. - INVITATION
Once all of the above steps are completed, we’ll extend an invitation for you to join us on mission here at HHBC.
If you have any questions about our Internship program, you can contact our offices. We would love to connect with you!
FAQs
Yes. The pipeline is designed to serve students and emerging leaders at several stages. Ministry Internship is especially accessible for students exploring ministry, while Ministry Residency may be a strong fit for students pursuing ministry education and more intentional development.
Academic credit may be possible depending on the school’s requirements and approval process. Hyland Heights is an approved OnSite internship location for Liberty University and is willing to cooperate with other educational institutions when appropriate.
Host-home housing may be available for L1 interns, L2 residents, and certain L3 residents upon request.
Support varies by level. L1 is generally non-compensated. L2 includes a support package of approximately $800 per month in combined stipend and expected fundraising support. L3 Church Planting includes approximately $1,000 per month in combined stipend and expected fundraising support. L3 Missionary support is determined case by case.
Yes. Because leadership development is rooted in the life of the local church, participants are expected to become members. L1 interns and L2 residents may begin the membership process at the start of the program, while L3 residents should already be meaningfully connected to the church.
No. Advancement is based on readiness, affirmation, and invitation—not simply completion. Participants may also enter at the appropriate level if they meet the qualifications.
L1 interns and L2 residents may serve in Children’s Ministry, Student Ministry, Adult Ministries, Worship and Creative Arts, or Pastoral Ministry. L3 residents are connected primarily to a Church Planting or Missionary sending track.
Interested individuals should complete the inquiry form or contact the Leadership Development Pipeline contact person for more information.