Explore Summer Ministry Intern Highlight: Anna Cheek, Intern at West Market Street UMC, Greensboro

Anna Cheek, a junior at Pfeiffer University, interned at West Market Street United Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC.
One of Anna’s majors, Religion and Practical Theology, grew out of her love for seeing the ways people interact with one another and seeing how God works through people in a church setting.
Anna says, “I feel as though my call story will never fully be written because as I have learned through this internship and a previous class, vocation is defined as where your deep gladness and the world’s needs meet, and as we have seen through the past year and a half the world’s needs change. Although I might not know my exact calling, this internship has affirmed the direction I need to follow. I love teaching and sharing the gospel to others, and I feel that best with kids, youth, and young adults. Whether it is through teaching in a public or private school setting, being a director of children or youth ministry, or being a campus chaplain, I know the direction God has called me to.”

Anna is thankful for her mentors at West Market, Rev. Jill Alventosa-Brown, Associate Pastor and Rev. Beth Crissman, Lead Pastor, “I know that as I continue to discern and narrow my calling down, I will have these amazing people to help guide me and just be present in my life’s journey.”
 
Experiences that stood out for Anna was getting to see first-hand what goes into planning a funeral, preparing a sermon, and helping plan vacation bible school. Anna reflects on her summer, “I know that moving forward in my life as I discern my calling further this will be one of the biggest steppingstones. Going into my junior and senior year of college I will be able to use this experience as a resource to help me grow into the person God has called me to be….”

Anna preached during the July 25, 2021 Traditional Worship at West Market Street. If you would like to hear her sermon you can us this link Facebook
 

The Explore Ministry Internship is for young adults, ages 18-25, interested in exploring ordained ministry through 10-week summer internships in United Methodist settings within the Conference. All interns are placed in a context where they can explore their gifts and particular aspects of ministry in a safe and encouraging environment. Each intern is matched with an ordained clergy mentor, and they get to shadow their mentor to do all the things pastors do.