Internships
Fellowships with UrbanPromise International include two key components: a one-year internship with UrbanPromise and attending the UrbanPromise School of Entrepreneurial Leadership.
Interns are college-aged students interested in working with children and youth in the inner city. The UrbanPromise Intern Program provides urban youth ministry training, combining theological education with hands-on ministry experience. By inviting people who are foreign to inner-city communities (interns come from across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa, and Korea), UrbanPromise also seeks to bridge the chasm between ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Fellows with UPI make a commitment of 12 months, playing a key role in the ministry and participating in the UrbanPromise School of Entrepreneurial Leadership.
Fellows live in homes with several other interns and are provided with food and a small stipend every two weeks. Interns at UrbanPromise typically raise their own support. Many fellows travel from countries where this is not an option, therefore UPI fellows are asked to assist with fundraising throughout the year, which helps to cover expenses and support existing ministries.
During the academic year (September to May), fellows serve in AfterSchool programs (ASP). There they will have the opportunity to be a vital part of the kids’ lives by building mentoring relationships. Fellows also volunteer at other ministries in Camden and Wilmington, getting a fuller picture of the city. Throughout the year they will be living in a Christian community where they will learn, grow, and go through the intern year together. During the year, fellows will participate in the following:
- Fun evening ASP activities
- Leading your own ASP class
- Interacting with local families
- Volunteering in local schools
- The joys and challenges of community living
- Weekly community Bible study, prayer, and worship
During the summer (June to August), fellows have a week of innovative and motivating training to prepare them for relational ministry in the inner city. The fellows work together to lead summer camps: teaching classes, participating in crazy games and skits, and running small discipleship groups. Fellows also participate in daily devotions, weekly inner-city ministry classes, and Sunday fellowship, where fellows are able to learn, reflect, and share about their experiences. On the weekends, there are optional trips to New York City, Washington D.C., Ocean City, MD and Atlantic City. This is an action-packed summer experience where fellows are stretched to learn and grow, and hopefully at the same time, have the best time of their lives. Summer activities include:
- A week of training, team-building, and prep
- The joys and challenges of community living
- Mentoring
- Coaching basketball and softball teams
- Interesting intern classes exploring political, sociological, and spiritual issues
- Saturday trips to Washington D.C., NYC, the Jersey Shore
- Challenging daily devotions
- Fun Sunday night fellowships