Rev. Russ Gunsalus and The Division of Education and Clergy Development partnered with Indiana Wesleyan University to bring three interns to gain real-world experience at the World Headquarters of The Wesleyan Church. During their stint, the interns gained practical experience in a non-profit with national and international impact; participated in an environment that fostered self-reflection in order to develop deeper self-awareness, and developed a more realistic sense of the complexity and the responsibilities within a non-profit workplace.
Jessica Landes, a public relations major, Catherine Harris, a business major and Jennifer Davis, a writing major all participated in this years internship. Together these three worked on three different primary projects utilizing a three-tiered process:
- Converse, collaborate and brainstorm to create a strategy for completing projects and initiatives.
- Implement and execute strategies.
- Evaluate and analyze strategy execution and effectiveness.
The interns focused on three primary projects. Jessica Landes gave leadership and administration to a communication and PR strategy. Catherine Harris gave leadership to a marketing strategy. Jennifer Davis lead a writing and production strategy. Working together collaboratively on each of these projects allowed each intern to gain experience both leading a specific project team as well as to participate as a team member.
Specifically, the communication and PR strategy helped to develop a more clear process for communicating with the vast network of constituents of the Division of Education and Clergy Development. This includes over 3000 pastors, 1000 ministerial students, 5 Wesleyan Colleges, and 32 District Superintendents. The marketing strategy helped to develop a more clear process for highlighting the various events, initiatives and programs of the Division of Education and Clergy Development. This includes The Gathering, a 3-day conference of 1500+ Wesleyan pastors, New Pastor Orientation, The Doctrinal Symposium, the Called Initiative, FLAME/FLAMA, and the DBMD Institute. The writing and production strategy helped to develop a more clear process for producing written pieces. This included pieces related to the marketing strategy, the PR strategy, WesLife articles, Wesleyan Life articles, printed booklets and manuals.
Jessica, Katherine and Jennifer are going into their senior year at Indiana Wesleyan University. For more information regarding the internship, contact Joel Liechty at liechtyj@wesleyan.org
Rev. Russ Gunsalus is the Executive Director of The Division of Education and Clergy Development of the Wesleyan Church. Rev. Joel Liechty provides additional leadership to the internship program.
The Division of Education and Clergy Development of The Wesleyan Church seeks to develop healthy, fit, and effective ministers and to advance strong, effective and sustainable Colleges and Universities in order to transform lives, churches, and communities through the hope and holiness of Jesus Christ.
