Ministry Residency Intensive (MRI) Program
TESTIMONIALS
Ricardo Zamora interned both at Calvary Church in Oak Lawn, IL and at Grace in Garfield in the Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago.
RICKY'S REFLECTIONS ON MRI: “One of the greatest gifts of this summer was experiencing theological formation in the context of genuine relationships. Whether through spontaneous conversations, early morning Bible Study of Ephesians, shared meals with Dr. Ribbens' family and local pastors, or late-night conversations with fellow residents, I found that faith and ministry were woven naturally into everyday life. These experiences created space for honest questions, meaningful mentorship, and friendships that were both encouraging and challenging. I especially appreciated having a meal with a pastor each week, because we were able to learn about the realities of being a pastor, see the different personalities and their pastoral types, and hear about their journey into ministry. Through the MRI, I did not simply learn about ministry; rather, I experienced what it looks like to live it in community, and that is something I will carry with me.”
Bobby Markey interned at Palos Heights Christian Reformed Church in Palos Heights, Illinois.
BOBBY'S REFLECTIONS ON MRI: "This summer was one of the most unique and life-giving summers. My internship allowed me to fully commit myself to serving the church. Without the distractions of school and other activities, I was able to experience what full-time ministry would look like, and I was encouraged that God was calling me into ministry. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the pastor dinners. It was refreshing to sit down with pastors in their homes and to see what their life was like. I am also thankful for the opportunity we had to be part of the Bible study with Dr. Ribbens, and I am grateful for the way that he poured into us. I would recommend an internship like this to anyone considering full-time ministry or any leadership capacity in the church."
Sviat Tarasov interned at Faith Christian Reformed Church in Elmhurst, IL.
SVIAT'S REFLECTIONS ON MRI: “What if you were to spend your entire summer living in the suburbs of Chicago, sharing the house with your friends, serving God in a local church alongside hundreds of passionate Christians, and diving into the Scripture and discipleship under the careful guidance of pastors? Well, this was exactly my experience with the program. Something that started out of both curiosity about whether I should go into ministry and a need for a summer job turned out to be one of the best summers in my life. This program, the fruit of the partnership between Pastor Ben and Pastor Dan, has been a true blessing in my life, and I’m sure it can bless many young folks after me.”
Elisai Fernandez interned at Calvary Church in Oak Lawn, IL.
MRI TESTIMONIALS
MRI TESTIMONIALS
MRI TESTIMONIALS
Faith Christian Reformed Church
1070 S. Prospect Ave, Elmhurst, IL 60126
Sunday Services: 9:30 AM | 5:00 PM
630-279-1776