Kertson January Newsletter

Answering the Call
A Ministry Update from the Kertsons

Today is the day new interns apply for next year’s internship program!
 
This past year we started a nationally approved internship program called a CMIT Program (Campus Missionary In Training). Students from all over the country can apply to one of the many programs offered around the country (of which we are one) and do a 10-month internship. In this internship they learn about everything needed to be a campus minister from how to read the Bible, to how to lead various ministries, or how to have a good work ethic. They learn more about campus ministry and discern whether God might be calling them to pursue campus ministry as a vocation.
 
This year our staff has gone through the internship. It has been an amazing experience for them learning some of the nuances of and theology behind what they have already been doing for the past years. It has also been somewhat trying as they were all already on staff. This meant that they had some staff responsibilities to maintain while also completing the tasks of the internship. They’ve been working super hard!
 
This year we have two new students from San Diego State applying to do our internship next year (as well as some inquiries by students from other campuses). It is so encouraging to know the modeling we have done has caused our own students to consider pursuing campus ministry as a vocation.
 
One of these students is Gustavo. I already told a bit of Gustavo’s story in a past newsletter entitled “From Thief to Saint.” He came to Christ in the Fall of 2016 at our second ever Fall Retreat and has seen an amazing life transformation since then. He graduated in the Spring of 2017 but has continued to be involved in our large groups and various retreats as an alumnus. Gustavo continually lamented having come to Christ so late in his college career and wished he could have been a student leader. At SALT this year, he felt God telling them that it wasn’t too late and that he was calling him to ministry for this next season. Now, you can say of Gustavo, “From Theif to Minister!”
 
Our second student applying for the internship is Michael. Michael actually joined us quite late in his time at SDSU also. Michael connected with us in Spring 2017 as a junior and made such an immediate impact on our community that we invited him to join leadership with perhaps the shortest amount of notice to date. Michael grew up believing in Jesus but was part of a family that didn’t attend church. They taught him well, but he never knew what it meant to be a part of Christian community. He has grown so much this year and has also felt God’s call to vocational ministry. He put his plans to go to grad school on hold to explore this call through the internship.
 
These students joining our internship is so exciting because our heart is to pioneer more Chi Alpha’s in Southern California where there are currently only 5 Chi Alpha from San Diego to Fresno but well over 50 4-year universities. This is a huge step toward seeing more students lives changed on campuses throughout Southern California.
 
*We also have a number of students graduating this year who I know will also make a huge impact in the marketplace. We’ll celebrate them in May when they graduate!*