Each summer, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) welcomes interns from across the United States for a 10-week opportunity to learn, serve and grow at our headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. Working alongside experienced Christian professionals, interns gain practical experience while supporting ministry areas dedicated to sharing the hope of Jesus Christ around the world.

This summer, Emma served as an intern with the communications team. Read her reflections on the lessons she learned during her time at BGEA.

This summer I saw the realization of a longtime goal, as I had the amazing opportunity to participate in the BGEA internship program. The Lord opened the door for me to take part in this ministry, and I have been blessed with lessons that I will carry with me—not only into my professional career, but also my personal life.

Recognizing the importance of godly community

The love for the Lord that my fellow interns have is something I have witnessed first-hand—it absolutely radiates off of every single one of them. They have inspired me and helped me deepen my relationship with God through our fellowship, weekly Bible studies and daily interactions. I am naturally more of an introvert, but they pushed me out of my comfort zone in a spiritual and personal way, for which I am very thankful. I am grateful that God decided we all needed to be here this summer and in one another’s lives. I have also seen how every staff member lives out their faith on a daily basis. Jesus is integrated into everything we do at the BGEA, and being a part of something like that is not something I take lightly. It’s very rare to see a place so devoted to the Lord and how every person who works here from the volunteers, to interns, to the leadership, shares that sentiment—it’s truly humbling.

Building a team for the Kingdom

Soon after starting my internship, I realized just how many moving parts are involved in every project. Departments and teams work together to create an end product—and that end product is used to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel. One of the greatest benefits we have is access to resources made possible by living in the most technologically advanced society the world has ever seen. From communication devices to computer software, from easy access to transportation to modern training materials, there are always new tools being developed to help further the mission of the Kingdom. The Lord has blessed BGEA with talented people who have the skills to utilize this technology to create an outcome that can be used to draw people to Christ.

Reaching the world with the Gospel

There are many ways to do ministry and share the Gospel. BGEA does its Gospel work through large-scale evangelistic outreach events, partnerships with local churches, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team of crisis-trained chaplains, the Billy Graham Library and many other ministry efforts to share the Good News around the world.

I had visited the Library many times as a child, but my perspective truly changed when I came back to experience it this summer. At the beginning of this internship, I went through The Journey of Faith tour and saw it like I never had before. It highlights how the Lord used an ordinary man to reach so many around the world for His kingdom—I don’t think I understood the magnitude of that as a child. The tour was always my favorite part of the Library when I was little, and today, it remains my favorite—as it demonstrates a tangible yet unique way to share the Gospel, and because I’ve seen how many have said yes to the Lord because of it.