Hope Fellowship- Intern/practicum/missionary FAQ
Do I need to speak English and Spanish?
YES, you must be bilingual English/Spanish. However, you don’t need to be fluent in both. Speaking at the college proficiency level is sufficient (ILR 2+).
What experience is required?
International living can be stressful and we desire a level of maturity that a previous overseas internship or missions trip brings. This should not be your first rodeo. You must have a college degree.
How long is the internship/practicum/mission?
Generally 12 months. The work program is 11.5 months long, allowing you to have home leave or repatriation at the end of a year. You will have most Mondays off. Once a quarter you will have 3 extra days off. You can repeat the program twice more for a total of 3 years. After that we want you to leave the nest and fly.
-or-
We can consider an 8-9 month program where grad students combine a spring semester with the summer (Jan-Aug) or a summer/fall combo (May-Dec).
When can I start?
Most anytime, but generally at the end of a semester/quarter. Keep in mind your lead time for getting college academic credit approval.
Will I be paid?
No. We strongly believe that if God has called you to our program, He will provide the way for you. Interns are fully responsible to raise their own support during the program. We will ask you to outline how you plan to fund your program. One level of maturity we seek is being able to budget, as well as to cast a vision and have others support it.
Can you accommodate a disability?
Unlikely. A prime ministry of ours is home improvement for local people in poverty. While you won’t need construction experience, you will need to do heavy, physical labor.
Is housing provided? We have arranged access to shared housing at $400 per month. Food will run roughly $225 per month and incidentals another $100. You will live with other interns and doing chores such as cooking/ cleaning are part of the experience of communal living. Be aware that there is also a curfew as an alarm is set in the evening. Married missionaries likely will have alternate arrangements.
What will it take to live?
After room and board (food) at $625 mo, you will need funds for phone, occasional restaurants, occasional cab rides etc budget about $200. A bike will cost about $200. Plan to budget $1,000 a month.
Will I need a car?
No, the bus system will suffice for long trips. Walking and a bike are the most common modes of travel. Budget $200 for a bike. Cars are expensive in Costa Rica. If you do drive, you must have a valid US license.
Is there a difference between an intern and a missionary?
Not really. Interns tend to be in a college program, but both will be much the same.
What if I’m married? Have a child?
Married couples with children are eligible. If this is the case, it’s expected the spouse will also serve as an intern. We will work with you to arrange alternate housing.
What about travel expenses? Visa?
You will need to fund your own trip to Liberia (LIR) airport and back. You are your own travel agent. A return ticket home is required. No visa is needed to enter Costa Rica. You will be on a tourist visa rather than a missionary visa. Travel outside Costa Rica, generally by bus to Nicaragua, will be required every 90 days. Duh, you need a passport.
Who will supervise me?
An experienced missionary will provide day to day supervision and written evaluations depending upon your school requirements. Informal direction, coaching and mentoring will also come from a steering committee, the church pastor, elders and lay members. Applicants should be prepared to be self motivated /self directed as we are a relatively small church with limited infrastructure.
Can International students be accommodated?
Only Canadians, US and Costa Rica citizens at this time, but that will likely change as the program evolves.
Do I need a laptop?
Yes.
Are there benefits?
Sorry no. All interns are expected to show proof of international medical insurance with air ambulance coverage. Note: there is a top notch, 24 hr Emergency room 20 minutes from us and medical care in Costa Rica is excellent.
What are you looking for?
All discipline areas are welcome. People with experience in youth ministry, home construction, or videography are of high interest. That said, allowing you to focus on your strengths rather than pigeonholing you is in everyone’s best interest and we don’t want to constrain the gifts of the Spirit.
What should I know about Hope Fellowship? We are a sovereign, non-denominational, unaffiliated church located in the pacific NW coast side of Costa Rica in the beach town of Playa Coco. Our worship style is contemporary. We have a very loose relationship with The Vineyard. Our congregation members come from all denominations. Roughly 50% of our 200 member congregation are Ticos/Nicas and the other 50% gringos (US & Canadian) and their attendance spikes during the winter when they snowbird. Perhaps a little unusual and something we focus on, is that about 30% of our budget is involved in missions. Skills training, feeding the poor, home improvement and providing backpacks are our 4 prime focus areas http://hopefellowshipcr.org/
What will my work be like?
You will serve in multiple areas. Much of the work is helping and administrative such as fundraising for our backpack program. Often you will be handed a program and asked to optimise it or even run it. (Note: This is our first year offering an internship program. Flex with us as we build a model.) Typical work assignment might be as follows:
30% Assist feeding program
30% Assist youth program including Friday night activities
30% videography or home improvement or backpack or office administration or fundraising or ???
5% Sermon, communion, baptism, mentoring, counseling & pastoring
5% personal development (online school)
Can I get Seminary/College academic credit for this experience? Can I be enrolled in school?
Yes, we will support academic credit if your college/university/seminary offers it. You are responsible for seeking out such opportunities and applying for them. We anticipate all interns will be enrolled in MS/Doctoral level online courses at a university of their choosing, but this enrollment should should be limited as not to interfere with work. Pairing grad school or a seminary education along with an internship/ practicum will provide you a rich learning experience. Please budget for your education.
Can I do this as a GAP year after college?
Sure, but we still encourage you to take at least one online class.
Are there rules and a code of conduct?
No. If you want rules read Leviticus. You are an adult, act like one. And don’t do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
Can I still be an intern/practicum/missionary if I don’t follow all the doctrines of Hope Fellowship?
We are nondenominational. We don’t have doctrines other than basic Christian beliefs that can be found in thousands of other mainline churches. If you’ve read this far, you are interested. We do ask that you consider doing an internship ‘cause God is calling you and you believe it will glorify Jesus. Sometimes, occasionally people in the secular realm seek an internship to get away from a broken relationship, they have a dead-end job, their parents kicked out of the house or they get a travel bug. We don’t think those are good reasons for doing a Church internship. Pray that you are doing an internship for the right reason. Talk with your pastor or college advisor.
What about phones, money, safety, zip lines, electricity, clothing, sunscreen, bugs, shots, gym membership, food etc?
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
Links:
I still have questions or How do I apply?
Email [email protected] and we will get back to you.
Do I need to speak English and Spanish?
YES, you must be bilingual English/Spanish. However, you don’t need to be fluent in both. Speaking at the college proficiency level is sufficient (ILR 2+).
What experience is required?
International living can be stressful and we desire a level of maturity that a previous overseas internship or missions trip brings. This should not be your first rodeo. You must have a college degree.
How long is the internship/practicum/mission?
Generally 12 months. The work program is 11.5 months long, allowing you to have home leave or repatriation at the end of a year. You will have most Mondays off. Once a quarter you will have 3 extra days off. You can repeat the program twice more for a total of 3 years. After that we want you to leave the nest and fly.
-or-
We can consider an 8-9 month program where grad students combine a spring semester with the summer (Jan-Aug) or a summer/fall combo (May-Dec).
When can I start?
Most anytime, but generally at the end of a semester/quarter. Keep in mind your lead time for getting college academic credit approval.
Will I be paid?
No. We strongly believe that if God has called you to our program, He will provide the way for you. Interns are fully responsible to raise their own support during the program. We will ask you to outline how you plan to fund your program. One level of maturity we seek is being able to budget, as well as to cast a vision and have others support it.
Can you accommodate a disability?
Unlikely. A prime ministry of ours is home improvement for local people in poverty. While you won’t need construction experience, you will need to do heavy, physical labor.
Is housing provided? We have arranged access to shared housing at $400 per month. Food will run roughly $225 per month and incidentals another $100. You will live with other interns and doing chores such as cooking/ cleaning are part of the experience of communal living. Be aware that there is also a curfew as an alarm is set in the evening. Married missionaries likely will have alternate arrangements.
What will it take to live?
After room and board (food) at $625 mo, you will need funds for phone, occasional restaurants, occasional cab rides etc budget about $200. A bike will cost about $200. Plan to budget $1,000 a month.
Will I need a car?
No, the bus system will suffice for long trips. Walking and a bike are the most common modes of travel. Budget $200 for a bike. Cars are expensive in Costa Rica. If you do drive, you must have a valid US license.
Is there a difference between an intern and a missionary?
Not really. Interns tend to be in a college program, but both will be much the same.
What if I’m married? Have a child?
Married couples with children are eligible. If this is the case, it’s expected the spouse will also serve as an intern. We will work with you to arrange alternate housing.
What about travel expenses? Visa?
You will need to fund your own trip to Liberia (LIR) airport and back. You are your own travel agent. A return ticket home is required. No visa is needed to enter Costa Rica. You will be on a tourist visa rather than a missionary visa. Travel outside Costa Rica, generally by bus to Nicaragua, will be required every 90 days. Duh, you need a passport.
Who will supervise me?
An experienced missionary will provide day to day supervision and written evaluations depending upon your school requirements. Informal direction, coaching and mentoring will also come from a steering committee, the church pastor, elders and lay members. Applicants should be prepared to be self motivated /self directed as we are a relatively small church with limited infrastructure.
Can International students be accommodated?
Only Canadians, US and Costa Rica citizens at this time, but that will likely change as the program evolves.
Do I need a laptop?
Yes.
Are there benefits?
Sorry no. All interns are expected to show proof of international medical insurance with air ambulance coverage. Note: there is a top notch, 24 hr Emergency room 20 minutes from us and medical care in Costa Rica is excellent.
What are you looking for?
All discipline areas are welcome. People with experience in youth ministry, home construction, or videography are of high interest. That said, allowing you to focus on your strengths rather than pigeonholing you is in everyone’s best interest and we don’t want to constrain the gifts of the Spirit.
What should I know about Hope Fellowship? We are a sovereign, non-denominational, unaffiliated church located in the pacific NW coast side of Costa Rica in the beach town of Playa Coco. Our worship style is contemporary. We have a very loose relationship with The Vineyard. Our congregation members come from all denominations. Roughly 50% of our 200 member congregation are Ticos/Nicas and the other 50% gringos (US & Canadian) and their attendance spikes during the winter when they snowbird. Perhaps a little unusual and something we focus on, is that about 30% of our budget is involved in missions. Skills training, feeding the poor, home improvement and providing backpacks are our 4 prime focus areas http://hopefellowshipcr.org/
What will my work be like?
You will serve in multiple areas. Much of the work is helping and administrative such as fundraising for our backpack program. Often you will be handed a program and asked to optimise it or even run it. (Note: This is our first year offering an internship program. Flex with us as we build a model.) Typical work assignment might be as follows:
30% Assist feeding program
30% Assist youth program including Friday night activities
30% videography or home improvement or backpack or office administration or fundraising or ???
5% Sermon, communion, baptism, mentoring, counseling & pastoring
5% personal development (online school)
- All interns will pitch in for Friday night youth program.
- All interns will teach 8 hrs English
Can I get Seminary/College academic credit for this experience? Can I be enrolled in school?
Yes, we will support academic credit if your college/university/seminary offers it. You are responsible for seeking out such opportunities and applying for them. We anticipate all interns will be enrolled in MS/Doctoral level online courses at a university of their choosing, but this enrollment should should be limited as not to interfere with work. Pairing grad school or a seminary education along with an internship/ practicum will provide you a rich learning experience. Please budget for your education.
Can I do this as a GAP year after college?
Sure, but we still encourage you to take at least one online class.
Are there rules and a code of conduct?
No. If you want rules read Leviticus. You are an adult, act like one. And don’t do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
Can I still be an intern/practicum/missionary if I don’t follow all the doctrines of Hope Fellowship?
We are nondenominational. We don’t have doctrines other than basic Christian beliefs that can be found in thousands of other mainline churches. If you’ve read this far, you are interested. We do ask that you consider doing an internship ‘cause God is calling you and you believe it will glorify Jesus. Sometimes, occasionally people in the secular realm seek an internship to get away from a broken relationship, they have a dead-end job, their parents kicked out of the house or they get a travel bug. We don’t think those are good reasons for doing a Church internship. Pray that you are doing an internship for the right reason. Talk with your pastor or college advisor.
What about phones, money, safety, zip lines, electricity, clothing, sunscreen, bugs, shots, gym membership, food etc?
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
Links:
I still have questions or How do I apply?
Email [email protected] and we will get back to you.