August was the last month of my internship at the River Bible Institute.  This has been an amazing three years.  The first two years were in a classroom setting.  It didn’t matter if you were just recently saved or if you had been born again for years, there was something for everyone.  After all, God called each of us to the Institute so He was going to make sure we got what was intended for each of us individually. The last year was actually working in the ministry and experiencing how a ministry operates on a day to day basis.  The greatest thing I appreciate is how this is like a family.  There was always a pastor available and willing to talk to you about issues.  There was always a friend or two who would come over and pray with you when things got tough.  Then there is the growth.  Any time there are people, there is an opportunity for growth.  We rub against each other and the rough edges get smoother.  No, not in them; in ourselves!  Emotions and attitudes flair and the Lord reminds us they have to go.  It’s not pleasant, but it’s necessary.  As we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, the enemy flees.  Stability and maturity come.  We are building godly character.  That is a life-long project and I’m thankful that I was able to have a good deal of “growth” during my internship.  I’m grateful for all I’ve learned and experienced at RBI.  It’s been an awesome experience.

–Susan

Since I have started my internship in May, it has been a stretching on my inner man. I started my internship thinking ” well this is not going to be any different from what I have been doing.” speaking of me plugging into the outreach dept. Every day of my second year, I thought I was going to stay in the flow of what I was doing before, wow was I wrong. All through my first and second year I was plugged in the outreach department, helping in outreaches, teaching soul winning classes, cleaning and taking out the trash. After doing that for two years I was thinking internship piece of cake. May 27th I started internship and within that week I think I had my first thoughts of dropping out.
The stretching has been mainly in the area of my character and my patience. As in my first and second year, I had other activities with the school to do which took up time. While in internship it is 9-5, just internship. With that comes more responsibility and leadership that is required from you. The Lord has done a lot on the inside of me in the past three months.  He has shown me things that need to be changed and things that need to be increased. I’m looking forward to see what God has for me next.

–Matthew