Cultivate is a program designed to provide opportunities for youth and young adults to grow their leadership skills and explore their faith. It’s similar to the VIM program that EPA hosted in the past. “The goal,” says the Rev. Kate Monahan, “is to help students of all ages connect to God, discover their purpose, and provide them with experience and leadership development so they can go and change the world.”

Youth and young adults who feel like God might be calling them to ministry, or who feel a tug towards loving service can apply to be part of the 2025 Cultivate Leadership Exploration cohort. Applicants can indicate if they want to serve in a particular ministry site, or they can apply to be part of the program and be assigned a ministry location.

Similarly, churches, camps, or ministry centers can apply to be a host site. They can have an applicant in mind, or merely indicate that they are open to receiving an intern. Arch Street UMC has already taken the plunge and offered to host an intern this summer. The church or ministry site would pay half of the student’s stipend, and the Board of Ordained Ministry would pay the other half.

Each experience is tailored to the needs of the intern and the ministry site. Some students come into the program with a clear sense of a call to ministry, others come in to explore and grow in their faith.

Through weekly check-ins with their supervisors on-site and facilitated conversations led by pastors and conference leadership, the program is designed to help young people engage in spiritual practices, explore their purpose, and support one another through the joys and challenges of leading and launching ministries.

Lexi Maese, participated in the 2024 Cultivate Cohort, and found the experience transformational. The internship helped Maese grow not just in her connection with God but also in her confidence.

“I feel like this internship gave me a purpose in a way. I was so lost these past few years. When I started doing this internship, I feel like God directed me back onto the path that I was supposed to be on. It’s been such an amazing growth journey, personally. I feel so much more confident in my leadership skills and my ability to advocate for myself.”

If you are a young adult who is interested in growing in your faith as you work to transform the world around you, you can find out more about Cultivate here. You can ask your local church to see if they might be willing to sponsor you, or you can find a site. Currently Arch Street UMC is looking to host a Cultivate intern during the summer of 2025.

If you or another young person in your life wants to discover their purpose, grow in their spirituality, and develop leadership skills, consider applying for the next round of Cultivate internships. The application deadline is March 10, 2025. Don’t hesitate, apply today!