2024 Interns

Written by: The Communication Team

Summer is here (unofficially), and so are our summer interns (officially)! The Gateway Church summer internship program kicked off this week with five outstanding interns: Rissa Green, Hope Ludwig, John Wesly Korani, Sam Shaferly, and Alaina Webb. They'll all spend a week with each ministry department to sample the ins and outs of vocational ministry. We're excited for them to experience life on a church staff and look forward to having them all summer. If you see them at either campus, take a second and say hi!

Here are some questions we asked them to help you get to know them a little better:

Rissa Green

School: Asbury University

Major: creative writing and art and design double major.

How did you end up at Gateway Church? I have been attending Gateway Church since I was about 11 years old, and both my parents happen to work here.

What's one thing you hope to learn from this internship? I hope to gain a better understanding of the church body as a whole.

What's one thing everyone should know about you? I am a missionary kid, and I love to travel.

Favorite Bible verse: Micah 6:8 "And what does the Lord your God require of you? Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God."

Does pineapple belong on pizza? Yes absolutely it does. Sometimes in order to create culinary masterpieces one must think beyond what makes sense. Wonderful things can happen when you are brave enough to combine pineapple and pizza.

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Hope Ludwig

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School: Taylor University

Major: graduate 2024 elementary education middle school math concentration

How did you end up at Gateway Church? I had moved from California with my mom in 3rd grade and a friend from school invited me to come to Gateway Church. From that day on I have been a part of the Gateway Church community!

What's one thing you hope to learn from this internship? I hope to learn about the importance of each ministry and how they connect together to form the body of Christ, the church.

What's one thing everyone should know about you? I have never been stung by a bee.

Favorite Bible verse: Romans 12:2 "do not be conformed by the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing, and perfect will."

Does pineapple belong on pizza? Of course! Although the pineapple cannot be too mushy but the sweetness from the pineapple and the saltiness from the ham is a perfect combination to place on top of a pizza.

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John Wesly Korani

School: University of Findlay

Major: Computer Science

How did you end up at Gateway Church? I came to the States in Aug 2023 and learned about Gateway Church through one of my friends and I started coming here.

What's one thing you hope to learn from this internship? Leadership and the Functionality of a Church/Organization

What's one thing everyone should know about you? That I am from India and I love Music!!

Favorite Bible verse: "8. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9. not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9

Does pineapple belong on pizza? Nope! I strongly Disagree.

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Samuel Shaferly

School: Indiana Wesleyan University

Major: Pastoral and Youth Ministry

How did you end up at Gateway Church? I saw the opportunity on an announcement slide one week while visiting and thought that it was a very good opportunity given my career of choice.

What's one thing you hope to learn from this internship? I hope to learn the ins and outs of the church and how a church operates during the week and everyday life.

What's one thing everyone should know about you? When I was 12, I got rabies from being bit by a bat. And when I was 13 I had an accident while woodworking and cut two fingers off. (They told me to both of them)

Favorite Bible verse: 1 Peter 1:15-16 “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.” ‭‭

Does pineapple belong on pizza? Absolutely not. There are very few sweet/savory combinations that go well together and this is not one of them. Like, would you put grapes on a burger? Absolutely not. Or a banana in pasta? Absolutely not. It just doesn’t make sense. Things like orange chicken or barbecue is on a thin line. But for the most part, sweet and savory do NOT go together.

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Alaina Webb

School: Bowling Green State University

Major: Human Development Family Science

How did you end up at Gateway Church? I ended up at Gateway Church through my connection to a campus ministry I am involved in at Bowling Green State University, Campus Outreach. A couple of my friends and community from the ministry introduced me to Gateway Church, and I instantly felt a strong connection to the church from the Lord. In early Fall of 2022, I began serving in the Kindergarten classroom at the County Road 9 Campus and have been attending ever since.

What's one thing you hope to learn from this internship? I hope to learn further about the different areas of ministry within the church. I am excited to grow further in my desires for teaching the Bible, ministry and leadership. I desire to potentially pursue Christian Counseling as a career, and am curious to learn further about incorporating a career with both ministry and the vocational workforce. I am not originally from Findlay, and am excited to learn more about the city this summer and experience it while living with a host family. Lastly, I am looking forward to meeting new people from Gateway Church and connecting with them.

What's one thing everyone should know about you? I am very thankful to be an intern at Gateway Church this summer, and am excited to become more connected and involved within the community at Gateway Church. From the moment that this internship was first introduced last December, I immediately knew that the Lord wanted me to pursue it. However, I definitely had fears as to if I was "qualified" enough in my faith. The portion of scripture the Lord continued to remind me of was Jeremiah 1:7... "The Lord replied, 'Don't say, I am too young, for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you." This verse continually reminded me that the Lord does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called. Through prayer, patience and faith the Lord graciously opened up the door for me to become an intern this summer.

Favorite Bible verse: Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." This is my favorite Bible verse because the Lord guided me to it the summer prior to moving to college and starting a very new chapter of my life. After reading the verse, I felt a sense of unwavering hope and peace that God was going to provide for me.  The verse always gives me hope, comfort and peace in the Lord. That he will be faithful to always call us back to him and on the path he has for our lives.

Does pineapple belong on pizza? I definitely would argue that pineapple does belong on pizza. Pineapple belongs on pizza because pizza should be both sweet and savory. Pineapple contributes to the sweetness. The combination of the salty, garlicky dough and sauce mixed with the taste of pineapple creates a delightful blend of flavors. It also adds an element of surprise and fun to pizza... sparking curiosity.