My Intern Year - the final edition

By Sorcha Brown

As July marks my last month working at Christ Church  (get the tissues ready), I thought the only way to round this year off is by talking about my internship and what I’m doing next in my final blog. Also, apologies in advance, this will be a long blog. I just have so much to say.

I do have to begin by saying that I never did intend to work in youth ministry at all, but here I am. I was complaining about my A-levels to Hannah a bit too much in the office, to the point that she offered me an internship to do after the summer. I said no. But after sitting my exams, I needed a break from being in education, so I went back to Hannah and agreed to do it. She would say it was last-minute, I would say it was perfect timing. So, I then convinced my parents that this was indeed a good idea. I then began my internship in September.

In the beginning, I had no idea what to expect. I mean, I had spoken to Hannah about what I wanted to achieve, but didn’t know what that would actually look like. I knew that at some point, I would be planning and leading sessions, going into the university to volunteer and help out in events. I wasn’t familiar with all the aspects of youth ministry. There is so much more than just Sundays and Friday nights. What struck me was the number of emails that need to be written, then rewritten when people don’t read them. I created a new email layout to make it more enticing and allowed the information to be seen more clearly, which didn’t really solve the problem, but it’s prettier than what Hannah was doing, so I’m happy. Being put in charge of the snack sheet was not what I was thinking. But it has become a part of my weekly routine, and I have grown to love organising the cupboards and inputting all the use-by dates. 

 

I have been able to do so much and help in so many things over this year. Hannah and I went to the National Youth Ministry Conference in Birmingham for the Weekend. It was amazing to go to so many seminars, to learn about Gen Alpha, how we can make our disciples make disciples, and so much more. Getting free resources was a good bonus as well. I was also able to help with the HOPE event. This has been so exciting, being able to see how these kinds of events run is very eye-opening. I would recommend getting involved, even if it is just for the night. We then went into full Christmas mode. I LOVED IT! Christmas in church has always been fantastic, but being able to help is way better. Not only because you get to talk about Christmas all the time, but because you have to talk about Christmas all the time. Yes, you do get quite tired, but then the office is shut for a few days, so it’s all good. You get away with being just that little bit more whimsical and silly (for example, dressing up as a star, for no real reason). Coming more to the end of my year, being able to help with the Church Weekend away was brilliant, I loved seeing everyone come together and worship, learn, and spend so much time together as a community. We were all able to meet new people, from different aspects of the church that we may have always missed.

    

In the new year, I helped open the youth cafe in the church. I have loved helping to start this, to see more and more young people come into our building and share so much of their joy with us. To create a space where relationships can be built and trust can be created, to provide them with another safe space and warm food, or cold ice lollies (in a heatwave), whenever they walk in. To teach them new games, allowing for organic conversations, and giving them opportunities to share things they may be going through. It really is a wonderful thing.

 

Now, I can’t really talk about this internship without talking about all the young people, can I? We, as a church, are truly blessed with so many wonderful young people. They have so much light and joy that they want to share, they are so eager to learn from everyone in the church, and they are eager to share things too. They are so loving and welcoming to new young people who join, and the children when they come up too. To have led them in Sunday Morning Youth sessions has been so fun. To be challenged by their questions, to question things together and find the answers together has been so much fun. I am so grateful that Hannah has taught me the skills to run these kinds of sessions, to have these kinds of discussions. Without it, we would probably just have been watching ‘The Chosen’ the whole time (though I do recommend it). To help guide them on their faith journey and highlight areas of growth or gifts they have that they have missed is a blessing. On Friday Nights, when it’s more laid back, to teach them fun and slightly stupid games, have deeper conversations and catch up on day-to-day things, has been so delightful. To be able to see them grow together and grow in their friendships is beautiful. I am so grateful to have been able to be a part of their journeys, to guide them, and see Jesus at work within them.

  

There is so much more that I can include, but that would make this far too long for anyone to read. So, as I come to the end of my final blog, I thought I’d tell you about what I am doing next. I am off to University! I have got a place at the University of Salford, and I will be studying Journalism: Multimedia. I am so very excited to be moving up North and to learn so much more about myself. I look forward to studying and working for my degree in journalism, to then hopefully begin work in the journalism world. I look forward to finding a church and meeting so many more people in different aspects of their lives. If you had asked me this time last year how I felt about Uni, I probably would have waffled on about how amazing it would be, but deep down, I felt very unprepared. Now, if you asked me, I would mean what I say. I am looking forward to this next chapter in my life and to seeing what God has in store for me.

    

Before I finish, I would like to say a massive thank you to the staff team. Without their support and guidance, I would not have been able to accomplish quite a few things over the course of the year. They were always there to lend a helping hand while giving me room to grow and try things myself. I also want to thank the youth team. Thank you for being so awesome! For donating so much of your time and talents to our wonderful young people. For being so patient as I was learning and guiding me when I needed it. For always being there when we need you and for doing so much for each young person. I would also like to thank Gwyeneth, who has been my mentor for this year. We were able to talk about so much, delve into deep topics that I needed guidance in or just simple things as well. Having a space I knew that I could bring anything to, and be supported in that, was so beneficial to my growth. 

     

I also want to especially thank Hannah (obviously); without her, this internship wouldn’t have happened. If she didn’t turn around one random Thursday and ask if I wanted an internship, and then kept asking after I said no, then I would not have had any experience like this. She has been such a wonderful manager, support person, and friend over this past year. I will treasure so many good memories that we have been able to create together, going from the National Youth Ministry Conference, through to Christmas, leading sessions together, doing the shopping, and just being able to laugh in the youth room. She has been a good sport when I make fun of her, though it takes her a while to think of a retort; I love it when she does. I like to think I have taught her the art of quick wit. Without the wisdom and guidance that she has been blessed with, I would not have been able to learn half of the things I have. She even got me enjoying budgeting. I have to give credit to her patience, I tend to forget a lot of stuff - including tasks she’s asked me to do that I forgot to write down. But she was always polite to remind me and double-check that I did, in fact, put it on my to-do list before we got other things done.

    

For my final prayer paragraph, I would like to ask that you keep me in your prayers as I go off on this adventure. That I will be protected by God, and surrounded by his presence and that his guidance will continue to keep me on the path he wishes. I would also like to ask that you continue to pray for the church. They have given me so much that I am thankful for, but they do need support. I ask that we continue to pray for resources and guidance, so that we know what God wants us to do and can then do all those wonderful things. 
 

 

In case you've missed them, here are our old editions:
June 2026: HOPE Youth Bedford
May 2026: Youthscape Essentials Course
Apr 2026: Chatting with Hannah
Mar 2026: Youth Café
Feb 2026: 2025 Wrapped
Dec 2025: Christmas Memories
Nov 2025: What is Youth Alpha?
Oct 2025: Our Youth Weekend Away