This semester, theHeart is blessed with the opportunity to help cultivate the identities of 12 young college-age students as members of the body of Christ. Through theInternship e'll be taking a journey of self-discovery and faith together. Read on to get to know a little more about each our interns.
By offering an internship, theHeart is committed to fostering the growth of Christian leaders through God’s ministry of reconciliation to Himself, ourselves, and each other.
In just two years, theInternship has proven to be an incredibly fulfilling and edifying experience for our interns as well as our church staff and family. Sharing office space, dining tables, and living rooms has made it possible for all of us to create and nurture loving relationships of trust and support with each other.
In just over two years, theInternship has grown to include a dozen first-time and returning interns. The spring semester is the largest group of college-age students we've ever had intern with us. And we're excited for what God has planned for all of us as we grow in deep and meaningful relationship with one another.
“I want to give back to those who have given so much.” Kendall Whortan, returning intern
First-Year Interns
First-year interns spend 10-15 unpaid hours a week participating in spiritual development, social engagements, and service opportunities. This culminates in a group project that encourages teams to create and organize ministry initiatives of their own design. This semester we have three first-year interns joining us.
Abby Bumgarner
Oak Island native, Abby Bumgarner, is a sophomore in Elementary Education at Appalachian State University. Growing up, she has always had a passion for teaching children. Abby always believed as a kid that her teachers’ job was inspiring and important. She found theHeart during the fall of 2017 when she also learned about theInternship. Abby is excited to get more involved with theHeart and the Boone community. She knows she wants to serve in ministry in her day-to-day life and hopes theInternship helps connect her with people of all ages.
Alex Curry
Alex Curry is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is a junior at Appalachian State University, majoring in Criminal Justice. Alex was on the team that traveled to South Africa in November 2018. It was then that he said he found direction for his life, which inspired him to apply for theInternship. He started school with the intention of becoming a police officer, but after some soul searching, he realized he wanted to help children, especially those who have fallen victim to sex trafficking. Alex wants to help children find homes where they will be loved and cared for just as he was by his adoptive parents. His hope for the internship is that he will “grow as an individual and as a member of the community.”
Emme Nederbrock
Emme Nederbrock, originally from Minnesota, has lived in Boone for the past 18 years. She is passionate about fitness and works as a CrossFit trainer at Seven Seals CrossFit. She was connected with theHeart through her Young Life leader at Watauga High School and has been attending for three years. During the “She” series, Emme realized she wanted to pursue the mission field, but she wasn’t sure about which area of ministry she wanted to pursue. So she applied for an internship with theHeart. She hopes it will help her find a sense of direction in relation to where God calls her to serve in ministry.
Returning Interns
Returning interns apply to partner up with staff leadership to help support and grow those respective disciplines within theHeart. Their experience allows for self-guided spiritual development, social engagements, service opportunities, and participation in the life of the church. This semester we have nine returning interns joining us.
Susanna Anderson
Susanna Anderson is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She is majoring in Child Development because of her heart-felt love for children. After graduation, Susanna plans to become a Child Life Specialist and work with kids in the hospital. Susanna's older sister introduced her to theHeart her freshman year of college, and she became an intern to better understand how this church takes a simple approach to reconciling people to God and each other through Christ's Love. She is excited to work with Next Generations Director, Ethan to support and help grow Kids Ministry at theHeart.
Mikayla Brown
Mikayla Brown is from Burlington, North Carolina, and has been singing in church since she was 11-years-old. By the age of 12 she knew worship ministry was her calling. Since then, she has led worship in various communities of faith. Once she came to Boone, she wanted to find a way to serve in a local church. She found theHeart and applied for theInternship. She is a senior, on pace to graduate this year with an interdisciplinary degree in Creative Writing and Music. As a returning intern, Mikayla is excited to grow in wisdom and knowledge at theHeart as she works alongside Worship Director, Erin, and the Worship Team.
Natalie Brown
Natalie Brown is a senior majoring in Business. She is from Wilmington, North Carolina. Natalie found theHeart during her junior year of college. Her passion lies in prison reformation, and after college, she hopes to start a non-profit to help prisoners recover and start fresh once out of prison. She is excited to make new friends and cultivate deeper relationships with those in the High Country. She loves how theHeart “feels like home.” Natalie's responsibilities as a returning intern will include helping Community Life Pastor, Josh, further develop some of the essential administration functions at theHeart.
John Caldwell
John Caldwell is from High Point, North Carolina. He is a junior at Appalachian State, majoring in Social Work. He found theHeart through his friend and former intern, Matthew Wilson. Since his freshman year of college, he has been involved with the youth group. This is his third semester as an intern where he will be working with fellow intern Hannah Siegel and Next Generations Director, Ethan, in youth ministry. He is excited to continue working with the youth group by planning events that provide avenues for everyone to grow closer to the Lord and to each other.
Grace King
Grace King is from Dunn, North Carolina. This is her third semester as an intern with The Heart. She is working with Pastor, Josh Anderson, focusing on how to use digital media to share the stories of those within our growing and diverse church family. She found theHeart after church-hopping her sophomore year of college. Grace enjoyed growing in worship and in knowledge about the Bible during her first internship. She is excited to establish deeper connections with people and share their stories. Already she has helped improve many communications efforts within our church family.
Kemp Kornegay
Kemp Kornegay is from Pleasant Grove, North Carolina, and he has been attending theHeart since his freshman year of college. He is passionate about music and worship. Kemp started playing piano at the age of eight and began leading worship at 14. After a taking a break from college to focus on what's next for his life, Kemp is excited to be at theHeart participating in the worship during our Sunday Gatherings. Kemp looks forward to learning more about God’s Word and the people of theHeart this semester. Kemp is working behind the scenes with Worship Director Erin to help coordinate and grow our Stage Crew.
Hannah Siegel
Hannah Siegel has interned with theHeart for four semesters. She is from Apex, North Carolina, majoring in Art Education. Hannah feels a deep calling for ministry and hopes to share Jesus’ word around the world once she graduates college. In November 2018, she helped Relational Care Pastor Graham lead a mission team to South Africa. She is working alongside Next Generations Director, Ethan and fellow intern John Caldwell to nurture and strengthen our youth ministry. Her desire this semester is to develop even deeper friendships with those in the youth group.
Kendall Whortan
Fifth-time intern, Kendall Whortan, is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After graduating this spring, she hopes to land a job that will lead to her eventually ministering to prison inmates. She describes theHeart as her “first home church.” Her passion to help others has led her to relational care, where she has been working with Relational Care Pastor Graham. She has loved getting to know and work with the people within theHeart church family.
theInternship
theInternship is a 13-week discipleship opportunity for young adults/college-aged students who want to develop as Christ followers and Christian leaders. It is a commitment to enter into deeper service, study, and church life. theInternship will take the shape of the giftings of the theInterns, but will also stretch and grow them beyond their areas of familiarity in church life. Applications for Spring Semester 2018 will be coming soon. Watch for more information.