One common thread that ties all of humanity together is the need to fellowship with others. We all need community. One of the best ways to find it is by getting involved in a church. At Hillside, our Integration department and Young Adults ministry are designed to help people do just that, and this summer, we have two interns in each of these areas. David Ridout and Sarah Schaefer have been serving faithfully in Integration, while Holden Jannusch and Jessica Jones have been doing amazing work in Young Adults.
David recently transferred to Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia and is majoring in Christian Leadership and Church Ministries. His dream is to work in ministry after graduation. In his free time, he loves to hike, bike, and spend time in nature. So far, he has worked with ministries in four states and three countries, all of which operated in their own unique ways. He loves seeing how church culture can change from place to place while still keeping the same Biblical foundation. His favorite passage in the bible is 2 Corinthians 4:8-11. He loves this passage because it “talks about how the Christian life isn’t easy, however, with God we are able to live the life of a Christ follower.” 
One thing that makes this life easier is building relationships with like-minded people in the body of Christ. That’s one of the reasons Sarah is so excited to be here this summer. She feels that, “We each bring something different to the body, and I’m excited to see how we all function together!” She loves spending time with people, especially her friends and family (particularly her baby nephew), as well as reading, spending time in the mountains and listening to sermons. Her favorite Bible verse is 1 Peter 5:10, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Sarah has been learning recently about God’s redemptive healing power. She’s realizing that reaching potential takes time, but she believes that, “God has sent people to come alongside me, and to help me put down new soil. They’ve helped me prune who I am to increase who God is, they’ve watered me and been faithful to me, and they have also spoken life into me and prayed on my behalf.” Sarah’s community has played a large role in helping her blossom into the woman God is shaping her to be. 
At Hillside, we have a place for everybody to get plugged in to be watered and pruned for growth. The Young Adults ministry is just one of those many options. Jessica and Holden are doing an incredible job serving there this summer. Jessica has a love for people and hopes to learn from and care for the people in this church. She’s learning what it looks like to be a good leader and a strong servant. During the school year, she is a Psychology major at California Baptist University. She is also minoring in Christian Studies and Global Justice. She’s hoping to one-day counsel people or work for a human trafficking agency. In her free time, she loves going on adventures and taking road trips to the beach, game nights, and quality time with her friends and family. Right now, she feels that God is teaching her to invest in the areas He is personally calling her to grow in, as well as other people. She’s been reminded that “everyone has a different story, gifts, and calling.” She believes that “It’s my job as a kingdom worker to invest in building people up and have Christ continually refine and mold me in the process of caring for others.” Her favorite passage, Romans 12:9-21, mirrors this message. Verse 10 says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Holden is also learning what it looks like to love others unconditionally, as well as how to pray without ceasing and rely on Christ in every aspect of his life. Similarly to David and Jessica, he is studying Christian Ministry at Azusa Pacific University. He is also studying mathematics as a minor. When he gets a break from school and work, he loves hiking, lifting weights, and listing to his favorite podcasts. This summer, he has been most excited to see not only how God is continuing to move in his life, but also the lives of all the young adults he’s getting to work with. He loves Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
In order to lean not on our own understanding, we must seek first a relationship with God, then seek a relationship with God’s people. Through community, we can find wisdom, accountability, encouragement and love. Our prayer for these summer interns is that they will find all of these things here at Hillside, and take them along their journies to share with others wherever God leads them next.
By: Tyla Hairston
Communications Intern