Category: Intern Spotlight

Meet our current intern team

7/24/2023

Front row (L to R): Finn Sheehan (San Jose, CA), Bethany Trull (Salem, OR), Tyler Alexander (Dayton, NV), Danika Young (Winchester, CA). Back row (L to R): Angel Sanchez (Merced, CA), Elliot Barnhill (Portland, OR), Brandon Parrish (Carmichael, CA), Cassie Peters (Elk River, MN).

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Intern Introductions

6/6/2023

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Danika Young, from Winchester, CA, studied Christian Ministries at Azusa Pacific University. She was pursuing international missions when she was redirected to Christian Encounter. As Danika enters her second year of internship, she reflects, “Internship is not a job. It’s a place to be. Internship is purposely putting yourself in a community, and allowing the experience of living in a community to shape and refine you.”

Cassie Peters came to us in January from Elk River, MN. She graduated last May from Moody Bible Institute with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Pre-Counseling. “I’m learning what being a leader looks like and that leadership doesn’t look the same for every person.” Cassie is recognizing the value of the different giftings of her fellow interns and the opportunity to not only serve, but live alongside her teammates. “I’ve never really been a part of a team like the intern team.”

David Choban first stepped foot on the Ranch at Family Camp last summer. From Sacramento, he and his parents along with his brother came with some church friends who had been attending for many years. That weekend, David connected with some of the students and observed the special bond that the interns shared with the students. He saw that there was a more intensive model of discipleship happening... in this relationship - one that was strengthened and fostered through doing life together in a community setting. David joined the team in January.

Angel Sanchez, from Merced, CA, was introduced to the Ranch through the Agony Ride. He was pursuing a different path in life when God redirected him, and he was encouraged by a mentor to take the “narrow road.” Angel arrived in January and in a few months time shared, “This place is starting to feel like extended family.” As he continues to put down roots in this community, Angel recognizes the staying power of these relationships. “I didn’t expect to be as close as I am to people here.”

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INTERN VOICES

2/14/2023

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intern voices

Hannah Cayetano, from Medford, OR, completed her internship last December. She returned to Liberty University to finish her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work this spring.

Hannah shares, “I have never laughed more in my life than I have in the three months of being at the Ranch. I never expected to care this much about a group of teenagers. I never thought that I would want to cry in loss at the thought of finishing my field internship. God made these beautiful, ridiculous, and bold teenagers. He placed them in my life for this time. And yes, they drive me crazy with their antics. But they make me laugh in pure joy and they inspire me through their resilience to get back up again and again after being hurt. What an honor it is to love them. What an honor it is to know them.”

Alec Thies also completed his internship in December, returning home to Kalamazoo, MI.

Alec reflects, “I’m a big picture person; I spend a lot of my life thinking about the overarching truths of my life: God’s purpose in creating the world and me, heaven and hell and what happens after death, and just the mind-blowing fact that I exist.

There’s nothing wrong with dwelling on those realities, but God has begun to show me that there’s a disconnect between these realities and the way that I actually live my life. Maybe I can put together a great sounding dialogue on God’s sovereignty or the problem of evil, but can I fight my selfishness enough to take extra weight from someone’s backpack when they’re struggling? I can spend hours reading the Bible or a theological book, but can I take five minutes to come alongside someone in pain? Jesus didn’t spend his whole life reading books and pondering theology; he was with people, living with them, healing them, loving them. He didn’t keep score with a transactional, this-for-that love, expecting something back from those he loved and growing resentful if it didn’t happen. He loved freely, sacrificially, unconditionally.

I feel that God is calling me to love in that way. To bring the key realities in my life from heaven and down to earth; to live them out in whatever season or wilderness trail or dorm room He’s called me to. I’ve missed this call for a long time, and I will continue to struggle and fail, but I know that God’s grace and the power of the cross will sustain me.”

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Intern spotlight

7/1/2020

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Maren Vodrazka hails from Raleigh, North Carolina. Maren is studying criminal justice with a focus on juvenile rehabilitation at Liberty University.

After arriving at Liberty, Maren eventually adopted her childhood faith as her own. With an impassioned desire to help young people find their way in life, Maren began volunteering at a juvenile detention center. There, she plainly saw the need for “living water healing” and continues on her journey to offer that to others here at Christian Encounter.

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Intern Spotlight: Jacqui

4/29/2020

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Jacqui Nunez joined our intern team earlier this year. Jacqui comes to us from Fresno and is a California Baptist University graduate with a B.S. in Sociology.

When Jacqui heard about Christian Encounter, she was immediately drawn to the opportunity of sharing her faith while living alongside teenagers. “I’ve been in a position of feeling completely broken and lost. I didn’t have a solid support system. I want to be an example of someone who is breaking generational chains...”

Do you know someone looking for a gap year program? Or someone who wants to serve on the mission field? What about that incredible young person helping out at youth group? We’re asking for a minimum three-month commitment and that applicants be at least 21 years of age.

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Meet our current intern team

Intern Introductions

INTERN VOICES

intern voices

Intern spotlight

Intern Spotlight: Jacqui

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