SOR professors partner with North Georgia Church of God to integrate C2 program
Photo by Senior Photographer Sara-Kate Dixon
Lee University’s School of Religion has partnered with North Georgia Church of God to collaborate on C2, a ministry program seeking to help students secure ministerial internships.
Dr. Terry Cross, dean of the School of Religion, Dr. Bob Bayles, chair of the Christian Ministry Department and Tom Madden, administrative bishop of North Georgia Church of God are leading the program.
The C2 ministry program seeks to equip, empower and connect the next generation of leaders, according to their website.
The program is meant to help students secure an internship with one of four churches in Georgia.
The internship will take place in May 2022 and will include residency for four weeks. Students will have the opportunity to travel across churches, familiarizing themselves with the distinctions among the churches and immersing themselves in various areas of ministry.
“I think what Tom Madden wanted to do with C2 with our students is let them see not just one, but multiple, models of church. Hence, Cornerstone, Mount Paran, City of Refuge and Stevens Creek,” said Bayles. “They're all Church of God. They're all in Georgia, but I guarantee you they're different in a nuanced way.”
The students will remain connected to Lee professors throughout the internship, and faculty involvement will correlate to the area of ministry.
The fifth week of the internship is optional. C2 leadership is hoping to provide an opportunity for students to travel to Prague, allowing them to experience different ministries and leadership. The optional trip will be at the students’ own expense. This opportunity may fulfill the requirements for an individually arranged Cross-Cultural Trip with prior approval from the Global Perspectives Office. Bayles said the trip is not intended to be a mission trip, but rather, a continued internship experience.
Madden said he recognizes the transition between receiving an education and establishing a job and wants to provide opportunities for “real, practical experiences” for students at local institutions.
“Coming to our retreat center, we're going to just talk practical aspects of ministry formation from skilled, long-term pastors,” said Madden. “Practical aspects of ministry according to their particular calling and gifts, whatever that is.”
Madden wants to implement long-term engagement. The program will provide opportunities to engage with specific areas interesting to students, such as counseling, urban ministry, children’s ministry and outreach organizations.
“This will be an intro to what can be when one leaves their educational experience, and plug into some of these institutions and churches,” said Madden. “[There will] definitely be more to come after this.”
Lee University alumnus and previous chapel speaker Coleman Bailey has been promoting the C2 program. Bailey shared his testimony of being called to China with no intention of conducting ministry. Bailey said the move to China revealed his lack of experience within a different culture, and “completely rewired every component” of who he was. After months of being more “immersed” within a community and witnessing individuals become believers, Bailey participated in different areas of ministry. Since then, Bailey has launched orphanages and conducted ministry in various locations.
Bailey said he is motivated to impact students who are seeking support in their field.
“I'll always do anything in my power to make sure that this doesn't happen [to] anybody else,” said Bailey. “You know, if anyone ever wants to do any kind of field, called [to] any kind of ministry, I'm going to do whatever. I'll drop what I'm doing, and I'll do whatever I can to help that person out.”
Bailey will be hands-on with students throughout the program, training students on conducting social ministry and building their strengths.
“We came up with this idea of C2 as just a way to kind of be that bridge between people who feel this innate sense of calling, and getting them to the place where they're operating in that call,” said Bailey.
By applying for the C2 program, students will be directed to the churches based on callings or areas of ministry. The churches will make the final decision to accept an applicant as they attempt to match distinct interests with opportunities to serve in those areas.
Students can use a print application or the online version to apply. Students are required to submit a video explaining who they are, their major and their calling. To apply or learn more, visit the C2 website.
