Go to Africa! / Revolutionaries // Africa Revolution's Internship Program
"The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us? When we begin to take the lowest place, to wash the feet of others, to love our brothers and sisters with that burning love, that passion, which led to the cross, then we can truly say, 'Now I have begun'." -Dorothy Day

Do you want to discover the face of Jesus in the world's marginalized and poor? If so, consider committing a year of your life to serving in Southern Africa. Come explore what the Gospel lived out in intentional community and service can look like. Pour yourself into something that really matters, by building God’s Kingdom through the local church. Come and learn, ask and see what God is doing. Be part of God's redemption in Africa by reflecting His love.

Intro- Going.  Knowing.  Being.

Our internship program is designed to meet the needs of communities in Southern Africa struggling under the consequences of a tragic history, the HIV/AIDS crisis and  the effects of poverty.  The program is also designed to equip team members with life long Biblical convictions regarding the things that are close to the heart of God. Interns spend their year serving in and through a local church into the community. They spend their time transferring skills and serving in various opportunities. Our goal is not to send saviors to Africa, but to send humble, teachable, learners and workers. 

Who?

Applicants may include men and women, married and single aged 19 and older. He or she must have at least one year of college or equivalent life experience. Maturity and stage of life are exceedingly more important in qualifying individuals than age.  

As well, applicants should have ministry or community service experience and be part of a church/community of believers where they live.

Students- College credit can be obtained for students needing credit hours for their internship. 

1 Year- Incarnational Community

Interns must make a commitment to live and serve in Southern Africa for 1 year, from August to July.  They will begin their year in Chicago where they will participate in a week-long orientation; then they will fly to South Africa for two additional weeks of intensive training. Interns will receive weekly training while in country. Each intern will be a member of a 6 person team that will live in a house together in intentional, incarnational community in or near the area in which they will be serving.

Spiritual Formation- Life Together

For team members, a chief focus of the year will be the formation and development of life-long Biblical convictions regarding  suffering, poverty, restoration and justice, as well as other key issues that make Africa the perfect classroom for these critical lessons of life and faith.  Each team will participate in an intentional spiritual formation program.  Our informal reading and discussion curriculum and daily hands on experience will lead the interns to a thorough understanding of what it means to be part of the Kingdom of God in today’s world. Team members will truly do life together. They will eat together, serve together, read together and pray together each day as they grow in their understanding of not just their community and its needs but the King and His Kingdom.

For a list of books used in our

curriculum click here or use the navigation at the top of the page 

When & Where?

Beginning in the Fall of 2008, Southern African churches and their communities will host our intern teams.  Interns will attend our affiliated local church in their assigned community.  They will sit under the teaching of an able pastor and become part of the congregation for the time they are there.
 

Doing What?

For 6 days of the week interns will spend time in their community serving, building relationships and living out the Gospel.  They will be using their gifts and talents on a daily basis through their church and will also report to other ministry service sites in the community where they can apply practical skills to assist and equip local residents. (For a list of service sites click here or use the navigation at the top of the page) 

Our desire is that people not come with the idea that they are going to save Africa, but that they have come to serve Africa.  Through service, they will learn about what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ in hard places. They will become part of their community by building relationships with its residents.  Interns will begin to understand the joys and struggles that the residents in their communities experience on a regular basis. 

A Typical Week
 

Folks Back Home

We believe that each intern should feel fully supported by his or her community of believers back home.  Therefore, each sending church will have access to online journals, pictures, and regular e-mail updates documenting the intern’s experiences.  It is our hope that this will also work to build a greater awareness of global issues within the intern’s home church.  We want each home church to feel a part of the journey.  As well, each intern will be responsible for raising financial support for the year. We will help equip you for this process. (Please click here or use the navigation at the top of the page for more details regarding the cost of the internship.)  

When its all said and done...

Africa Revolution wants to provide a unique opportunity for people to be able to build God's Kingdom in an international context and be transformed by it.  At the end of the year, interns will participate in one full week of debrief in Cape Town, South Africa before traveling home.  This will be a time of discussion and reflection on their experiences, as well as a time for them to relax and enjoy one of the most beautiful cities in the world!  One month after they return home, the interns will be invited back to Chicago for a reunion with their team mates and the Africa

 Revolution staff for a final debrief.

We believe this experience will radically change individuals lives as well as communities in Africa. We look forward to hearing how individuals were transformed by their year in Africa. We hope one of those stories is yours!

If you are interested and have more questions, email Annie at

annie@africarevolution.org

Or if you would like to proceed to download the application form click on the button below. If you know someone who you think should really hear about this opportunity. Click on the link here for a 1 page in a nutshell description of the program. (In-a-nutshell-flyer PDF)

We ask that all individuals moving forward with the application process fast and pray before filling out the application.  

We hope you’ll join the revolution with us!
 

“Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. But with the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say, "We have done it ourselves”.”

-Lao Tzu