Friends of the Church,
I cannot say I have ever been a part of something with more daily evidence of God on the move. Behind the scenes, there is a daily surrender to God to expose the needs of our non-profit partners, the gifts of our interns, the matches in mentorship, and the experience that plants an eternal seed. When you do what you can with what you have, and you bathe it in prayer, God takes it and multiplies it beyond your imagination. This is what we have seen in 2019.
I couldn’t possibly describe all of the victories we witness in each of our students. We are learning how detailed and specific God’s purpose is for every person. Transformation in one is not the same as transformation in another - and yet it is happening in each of us.
College students are finding freedom from the world's expectations and chasing after the Lord, mentors are connecting and guiding students into meaningful places, and nonprofits are receiving gifted interns who push their mission forward.
We have a big vision for ServeHere, a vision to grow the program to reach more students, and give everyone the tools to live a purposeful life.
Iesha Boitmann
ServeHere Program Director
2019 at a glance
This year we welcomed new leadership, embraced transition, and stepped out in faith. We prayed God would lead us every step of the way, and He exceeded our expectations. Not only did we get the chance to shepherd tomorrow's leaders towards Christ, but we met our goals and gained clarity towards bigger dreams.
What we learned is that God provides flourishing when we put our hope in Him alone.
What we learned is that God provides flourishing when we put our hope in Him alone.
1,600total Hoursof on the job experience in our non-profit partners.
100+applicantsprayed for and considered before filling 16 spots.
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80total hoursof one-on-one mentorship.
97%of your donationswent directly to our programs supporting our student's work with our non-profit partners.
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PROBLEM: COLLEGE BELIEVERS STRUGGLE TO MAKE FAITH-ROOTED
CAREER DECISIONS BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN THEIR WORK-LIFE AND THEIR LIFE'S-WORK.
CAREER DECISIONS BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN THEIR WORK-LIFE AND THEIR LIFE'S-WORK.
what we do
we carefully select students
Our students are extraordinary rising juniors and seniors in college who want to use their gifts to make a kingdom impact, while engaging in a world-class workplace and ministry experience. ServeHere works with academic and ministry organizations at universities to find high-potential students who excel in the classroom and have committed to pouring themselves out for others.
we partner
We work with local faith-based non-profits who provide great opportunities for our talented ServeHere interns to plug-in, make an impact and learn a lot in the process. Our non-profit partners receive capable, passionate interns with a heart for service. In addition to serving the underserved, each of our partners embodies these characteristics: A commitment to developing the next generation of leaders, an impactful ministry, an available supervisor and workplace mentorship, a strong sense of place, a faith-based mission, and a logistical fit.
we match
Qualified students are placed into meaningful internships with our non-profit partners, enabling students to gain valuable workplace experience while contributing to the mission of the non-profit. The internships are carefully designed to give students a chance to make a real impact, while honing their skills and working with dynamic leaders inside the non-profit organization.
We invest
Outside of the daily activities of the internship, students meet as a small cohort. They follow a curriculum developed to: prepare the students for success in their internships; expose them to a series of inspiring, missions-minded leaders; engage with like-minded students; and receive one-on-one coaching from their mentor.
we mobilize
By the time students leave the program, our hope is that the voices of the world have quieted. We pray for a generation of believers who follow God, use their gifts, and are ready to share the good news in a small non-profit, or a large corporate office... and we believe we are raising up this generation.
"I have been encourages to be active instead of passive, live into the freedom and the responsibility that God gives me, and listen for the the Spirit's direction as I move forward and make life decisions."
- Kate Kaiser (2019)
2019 programs recap
In short, our 10 week program is centered on exposure. We ensure that our interns have been exposed to people groups to serve, Christian leaders, successful business professionals, wise counsel, scripture, and community.
INTERNSHIPS | Students are placed in roles where they apply the skills they are learning in school — in places where they can make a Kingdom impact. We tune each placement to suit the interests and capabilities of the student.
EQUIPPING | Beyond the internship, each student participates in a program designed to accelerate their development spiritually and on-the-job. They are placed in a cohort with other ServeHere interns and follow a specially designed curriculum led by their mentor.
MENTORING | Each intern is paired with a ServeHere mentor with substantial marketplace and Christian leadership experience. Additionally, each student is assigned a workplace mentor to ensure they’re giving and getting the most during their internship
INTERNSHIPS | Students are placed in roles where they apply the skills they are learning in school — in places where they can make a Kingdom impact. We tune each placement to suit the interests and capabilities of the student.
EQUIPPING | Beyond the internship, each student participates in a program designed to accelerate their development spiritually and on-the-job. They are placed in a cohort with other ServeHere interns and follow a specially designed curriculum led by their mentor.
MENTORING | Each intern is paired with a ServeHere mentor with substantial marketplace and Christian leadership experience. Additionally, each student is assigned a workplace mentor to ensure they’re giving and getting the most during their internship
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
- Ephesians 2:10
Interning
the student
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This year has held phenomenal internship experiences! We placed 16 students in internships suited for their unique gifting. Each student had the opportunity to use their major, passions, and hard work to explore their impact in a professional setting. ServeHere mobilized them to navigate their calling and discover how that calling might be used to meet the needs of the world.
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Program highlight
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Russell is a Management Information Systems (MIS) major with a minor in Finance, this track in itself secures a wealth of opportunity for Russell. Like many of our applicants, Russell wasn’t just searching for the answer to the question "what do you want to do when you grow up," he was asking the question, “where does God want me”? And he was looking for the opportunity to have an experience that would help him discern his direction. We are passionate about giving our interns the tools they need to hear God's voice the loudest, particularly when it comes to making career decisions. Russell was faithful, obedient, and diligent in his work and faith. His internship led to an invitation to join the Mission of Hope team in a permanent capacity.
IN HIS WORDS:
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"Career is one of the most, if not the most daunting thing any college student faces. God used ServeHere to squash all my fears and doubts away. This summer, I’ve learned the joy and importance of obedience. Despite all my fears and running away, there is no where too far for God to find me and pick me back up. God took my fear of the future in a nonprofit and showed me that he not only had a path forged already, but knew what was best for me. My obedience to step into ServeHere and challenge myself to explore my calling to a nonprofit, only showed me more and more of God’s passionate heart for his kingdom.
Over the course of this summer as a Project Management Intern at Mission of Hope, I was reminded of Philippians 4:7 where it states that there is “the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding”. Looking back, I find it ironic that I remembered and thought I knew the peace of God who had shown me the way all along, when in the verse it states that his peace is beyond understanding. ServeHere showed me that God’s peace is simply that big. There is nothing that surpasses it and nothing that understands it. God’s peace is a promise. God’s peace is ‘just’ there. God affirmed my calling to nonprofits in the future and for the billionth time, picked me back up and hugged me."
Interning
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Our non-profit partners receive capable, passionate interns with a heart for service. They prepare and entrust impactful projects for the students. These projects are designed to intimidate, challenge, and provide invaluable experience to the interns. The students gifts, combined with these projects allow our interns to do amazing work. The work of the students forward the non-profit in their mission. In addition, our non-profit partners pour into the students as an example of a believer in the workforce, doing all things for the glory of God.
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The Non-Profit
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2019 Partners & Intern Roles Filled
Mobile Loaves & Fishes: Finance, Health Services
Mission of Hope Haiti: PMO, Accounting, Mobilizing & Marketing
Texas Reach Out: Storytelling & Marketing
Makarios: Marketing
Fostering Hope Austin: Storytelling & Media, Marketing
ABBA: Development & Fundraising
Mt. Nebo: Programming & Development
The Refuge: Marketing
Starry Foster Care: Social work Apprentice
Mobile Loaves & Fishes: Finance, Health Services
Mission of Hope Haiti: PMO, Accounting, Mobilizing & Marketing
Texas Reach Out: Storytelling & Marketing
Makarios: Marketing
Fostering Hope Austin: Storytelling & Media, Marketing
ABBA: Development & Fundraising
Mt. Nebo: Programming & Development
The Refuge: Marketing
Starry Foster Care: Social work Apprentice
"The interns that have worked with us through the ServeHere program have been the absolute cream-of-the-crop in terms of work ethic, desire to learn and grow, and passion for seeing how their education and skills can successfully intersect with a fast-paced non-profit. Our team is better for having had them as hart of the MOH family!”
- ANNETTE BOORMAN (MISSION OF HOPE HAITI 2019)
Investing & Equipping
This part of ServeHere is the most transformative. We have 10 weeks with these students and have so much of their attention in that time frame. It’s our mission to steward the time we have with the students to pour into them at such a pivotal time in their lives. Each student participates in a program designed to push the students to grow spiritually and on-the-job.
The ServeHere curriculum is centered around three questions: What does it mean to love God? Why do I use my gifts to serve others? And how can I discern my life’s direction?
Under the umbrella of three questions, we also dive into supported scripture, group discussion with fellow interns, guest speakers who speak to living a life of obedience to God first, and weekly meetings where students explore the questions on a personal level with a trusted mentor.
Our prayer is that when students leave the program, they are:
1. Equipped to be on mission in their workplace, homes, and neighborhoods
2. Grounded in a foundation of Christ. They do not place their identity in work or works but live to serve God
3. Confident in their ability to discern God's plan daily with the intention of walking in obedience
The ServeHere curriculum is centered around three questions: What does it mean to love God? Why do I use my gifts to serve others? And how can I discern my life’s direction?
Under the umbrella of three questions, we also dive into supported scripture, group discussion with fellow interns, guest speakers who speak to living a life of obedience to God first, and weekly meetings where students explore the questions on a personal level with a trusted mentor.
Our prayer is that when students leave the program, they are:
1. Equipped to be on mission in their workplace, homes, and neighborhoods
2. Grounded in a foundation of Christ. They do not place their identity in work or works but live to serve God
3. Confident in their ability to discern God's plan daily with the intention of walking in obedience
2019 Guest Speaker list
Kim & Chris: Co- Directors of Jail to Jobs
Hallie Graves : Single Foster mom and Lawyer TAP board member
Amber Fogarty : President & Chief Goodness officer of Mobile Loaves and Fishes
Austin Evers: Pastor & Construction Director for Habitat for Humanity
Chris Buster : Makarios Executive Director
David Pena : Executive Director at Texas Reach Out
Nick Runyon and Allie Chandler : Creative Director and ED of The Archibald Project
Hallie Graves : Single Foster mom and Lawyer TAP board member
Amber Fogarty : President & Chief Goodness officer of Mobile Loaves and Fishes
Austin Evers: Pastor & Construction Director for Habitat for Humanity
Chris Buster : Makarios Executive Director
David Pena : Executive Director at Texas Reach Out
Nick Runyon and Allie Chandler : Creative Director and ED of The Archibald Project
"Each of the interns were so different and ServeHere met each of us where we were at and loved us week in and week out. They were willing to share the good days and the ugly days when things were hard and through all of that pushed us to love Jesus more!”
- Corrin
Mentoring
We had an incredible team of mentors walk alongside us this year! The age range of mentors spanned over 30 years, and God breathed wisdom and healing into our students every week through the 10 weeks. Each mentor took our curriculum and questions as tools to guide a deep relationship with their mentee on these themes:
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Loving God
Prayer & worship- Mission & Community Scripture |
Serving Others & Using Your Gifts
Vision of your life Working for God Action & Gifting |
Discerning Direction
Radical Obedience Identifying Barriers / Roadblocks Dreaming & Setting Goals (and holding it all loosely) Running your race: free, unleashed, equipped! |
our mentors
Erika Fletcher: Technology sales, Mother
Lauren Schutz: Full-Time mother, Elder at Church at East
Brian Boitmann: Father, Church elder, Founder of Acts of Sharing, Head of Sports at MVP Index
Savannah Lovelace: Founder of Pedal the Pacific, Development Coordinator at National Center
for Missing & Exploited Children
Iesha Boitmann: Program Director of ServeHere, Mother
Lynda Townsend: Recently retired nurse, Mother & Grandmother
Lauren Schutz: Full-Time mother, Elder at Church at East
Brian Boitmann: Father, Church elder, Founder of Acts of Sharing, Head of Sports at MVP Index
Savannah Lovelace: Founder of Pedal the Pacific, Development Coordinator at National Center
for Missing & Exploited Children
Iesha Boitmann: Program Director of ServeHere, Mother
Lynda Townsend: Recently retired nurse, Mother & Grandmother
"From the sacrificial love, guidance, and support of my mentor, to learning from and building friendships with other interns and coworkers, I have experienced the life-giving unity of the body of Christ. What I learned this summer will impact me for life, and I am so grateful that ServeHere is a part of my story. ”
- Allie yoder
Where are we going?
We have spent the year praying about the direction of ServeHere and the kind of growth to pursue. It’s our dream to glorify God, and we believe now that means working to increase the size of our programs, our team, and our partnerships. We want to grow wisely, and use what we have to expand sustainably. Our first year with paid staff has been so fruitful, and has re-ignited our passion to unleash a generation of leaders who know God, love God, and serve God everywhere.
Our goals for 2020:
Our goals for 2020:
- Increase our class size by 25% students
- Increase the number of mentors for a 1:1 mentor-mentee ratio
- We want to increase our content output and reach college students who would benefit from access to our curriculum even if they're not in the program
- Partner with people passionate about mobilizing a generation of mission-minded leaders to raise funds for our programs
financials
We believe in paid internships because don't believe college students should have to choose between an internship and paying rent. We also believe in stewardship, so we run our organization as lean as possible. In 2019, 97% of your donations went to our programs supporting the work our students are doing with our non-profit partners.
We are so grateful to ACF and other financial partners like them for their generosity and belief in what we are doing at ServeHere. They have invested in our mission, but more importantly, in our students.
In 2020, we are raising support to grow our programs and our reach, and to open our doors to additional highly qualified students. We are excited to see who God provides to invest in the lives of our students and the people they're called to reach.
We are so grateful to ACF and other financial partners like them for their generosity and belief in what we are doing at ServeHere. They have invested in our mission, but more importantly, in our students.
In 2020, we are raising support to grow our programs and our reach, and to open our doors to additional highly qualified students. We are excited to see who God provides to invest in the lives of our students and the people they're called to reach.
