Summer
Missions Internship

As a member of EM's Spring or Summer Staff, you’ll work with a team of 3-5 fellow interns to lead week-long mission trips throughout the spring or summer. With training and support from EM’s full-time staff, you’ll take ownership of the day-to-day experience, from coordinating schedules and managing logistics to building relationships with local ministry partners and leading groups through meaningful service opportunities.

You'll be challenged to think on your feet, work as a team, and grow in confidence as a leader. It's a job that comes with real responsibility, but also an opportunity to develop skills, build blasting friendships, and see how God is at work in the communities you serve.

What are the 4 Summer Staff roles?

EM Summer Staff members fill 1 of 4 roles within an EM missions community: Trip Coordinator, Outreach & Hospitality Coordinator, Work Projects Coordinator, or Construction Coordinator. Together, your team is responsible for all practical aspects of running mission trips in your community: logistics, projects, meals, schedules, budgets, and building strong relationships with community partners.

• Trip Coordinator: Leads the staff team and oversees the overall trip experience, schedule, and budget.
• Construction Coordinator: Plans and leads construction and home repair projects. A great fit for trade school students or anyone with hands-on building experience. Construction communities only.
• Outreach & Hospitality Coordinator: Coordinates outreach with local partners, leads meal prep, and keeps lodging & food running smoothly.
• Work Projects Coordinator: Leads service projects like painting, yard work, and basic repairs. Being handy helps, but no certifications are required.

You can apply for more than one role. Each role has its own responsibilities, but everyone steps in to support the team as needed.

Read the full 2027 Job Descriptions:
→ TRIP COORDINATOR
→ OUTREACH & HOSPITALITY COORDINATOR
→ WORK PROJECTS COORDINATOR
→ CONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR

How is a missions internship different from a mission trip or missionary work?

A mission trip is a short period of service, often one week, for volunteers. A summer missions internship is a paid season of intentional ministry leadership: Summer Staff host those volunteer groups week after week for 6-11 weeks. A missionary typically commits to longer-term work in one place, while Summer Staff serve for a season before returning to school or work.

What are the benefits of the EM internship?

EM Summer Staff experience full-time ministry and missions firsthand. If you're considering ministry, leadership or non-profit work, this experience will help you discover what fits you.

During this internship, you can expect to:

• Grow individually, professionally & spiritually
• Build leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Be challenged & stretched
• Love others through practical service opportunities
• Build your resume
• Build your references (we love to cheer you on in life after the internship!)
• Receive college credit (we are happy to complete any forms needed by your school)

How does EM prepare Spring and Summer Staff?

Preparation starts before you arrive:

• Before the season: Complete leadership development readings, videos, and training modules. Meet your EM Community Coordinator over video and connect with your fellow staff team members.
• Staff training: Summer training is May 17–21, 2027 in West Michigan. (Spring training dates and location TBD.) Training covers our approach to missions, best practices for leading groups, and how to handle challenges. It's also a great time to worship together and get to know fellow staff.
• On-site set-up week: Before your first group arrives, your Community Coordinator walks you through the community, introduces you to local partners, and prepares your team to hit the ground running.

Who do EM Spring and Summer Interns report to?

Your team is trusted to make decisions and solve problems together, but you're never alone. Your EM Community Coordinator checks in with your team each week to debrief and plan ahead, and is available throughout the week for questions, problem-solving, and emergencies.

What does EM expect from Spring and Summer Staff?

This is a paid position with real responsibility: a set schedule, a supervisor, and clear expectations, like any job. But the staff who thrive here don't wait for direction. They see what needs doing and do it. They reach out to partners to offer help before anyone asks, and they take ownership of their team's success.

We're looking for people who believe in this work and will treat each week as their own. You're not helping with someone else's mission trip. You're the one leading it.

How do Spring and Summer Staff rest and stay healthy?

Rest is part of the job. Leading groups well means showing up every morning with energy, patience, and a clear head, and that depends on the choices you make the night before. We expect staff to go to bed at a reasonable hour, be up on time, and treat sleep as a responsibility to your team and the groups you serve.

Is this internship right for me?

This role is a great fit if you want to grow as a leader, love serving others, and are ready to work hard on a team. It's probably not the right fit if you're looking for a relaxed summer or a travel experience. Weeks are full, mornings start early, and your team depends on you. For the right person, it's the most rewarding job you'll ever have!

What if I want a longer commitment?

EM also offers IMMERSION, 1-9 month cross-cultural experiences for young adults, age 18-30, and Gap Year programs of 6 or 9 months, depending on the program. Learn more about IMMERSION and Christian gap year programs.

How much will I get paid as EM Spring or Summer Staff?

EM Spring and Summer Staff Compensation in 2027:

• Weekly Stipend:
  • Trip Coordinators: $325/week
  • Outreach & Hospitality Coordinators: $325/week
  • Work Projects Coordinators: $325/week
  • Construction Coordinators: $500/week
  • Returning Alumni (Non-Construction): $425/week
• Living Expenses Covered: Food, lodging, and most transportation (some locations we will provide a vehicle, while in others will pay mileage and cover gas for using a personal vehicle)
• Travel Stipend: To help cover travel to and from your placement
  • $700 for most placements
  • $800 for Navajo Nation or international placements
• Suggested Fundraising: A personal EM fundraising profile and resources to raise additional support are available for Summer Staff to utilize. 100% of raised support will be paid to you at the end of the summer. (See next question!)

Pay will be the same weekly stipend for weeks with and without volunteer groups. Summer Staff are paid as 1099 contracted workers, with payments made once per month, at the end of each month you serve during.

Am I able to fundraise any additional support?

Yes! Once hired, you can fundraise alongside your weekly stipend. And we strongly encourage it! It's a great way to invite family and friends to be part of your summer. You'll get a personal online donation profile on the EM website and help from our experienced staff to get started.

Will I have to pay for anything myself?

Not very much! Food and lodging are covered during training and your time of service. You'll only pay for personal items and extra snacks or food you choose to buy.

Will I have to pay for my travel?

You're responsible for arranging and paying for your own travel to EM's training in West Michigan and to and from your community of service. You'll need to cover these costs up front, but EM provides each intern with a travel stipend during training week that should cover most of them (see "How much will I get paid" above). Because fuel prices change, your tickets may sometimes cost more than the stipend. If that ever becomes a burden, please reach out, and we'll see what we can work out.

Am I able to receive college credit through this internship?

Many staff have! It depends on your school's requirements. Talk with your academic advisor about what's needed. EM is happy to complete evaluations or paperwork for programs that require internship or apprenticeship hours.

Where do EM Spring and Summer Missions Interns serve?

Summer Staff primarily lead trips in the U.S., with a few international positions. Communities may change, but for Summer 2027 we plan to send staff teams to:

• Highland Lakes, Texas
• Marion, North Carolina
• Muskegon, Michigan
• Navajo Nation in Arizona
• New York City
• Newport, Tennessee
• Pikeville, Kentucky
• Portland, Maine
• Savannah, Georgia
• Costa Rica*

Spring 2027 communities:

• Navajo Reservation in Arizona
• Appalachia (Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee)
• Burnet County, Texas

*Interns serving in this community must be fluent in Spanish. When applying, please indicate your ability to speak Spanish to be considered!

How are EM Spring and Summer Staff placed in communities?

We work hard to find the best location and team fit for each staff member. We consider the preferences on your application, but final placement depends on team dynamics, needed skills, and other factors. We ask all applicants to be willing to serve wherever they're most needed.

How likely is it I will serve in an international location?

EM interns primarily serve in U.S. mission trip communities. Aside from a few exceptions, international positions are extremely limited and require applicants to be fluent in Spanish. If you speak fluent Spanish, please let us know in your application!

When do the EM Spring and Summer Missions Internships start?

All Summer interns start in late May, with a 5-day training event from May 17-21, 2027, in Norton Shores, Michigan. Some intern teams leave directly from training to begin their time of service. Other teams have a 3-4 week break after training before beginning their work in the field. (All Spring interns will begin with a 3-4 day training event (location TBD) in late February or early March.)

How long is the internship commitment?

All hired Summer Staff can expect to serve for 6-11 weeks, from late May to early August (Spring internship may be shorter). If you have a strong preference for how long you would like to serve, please let us know on your application!

What does a typical week look like for EM Summer Staff?

Each week leading a mission trip team will start with preparation for the upcoming week (shopping for groceries and construction materials, planning work and outreach projects, etc.) beginning on Friday or Saturday and culminating in the volunteer teams’ arrival and orientation on Sunday evening.

Once teams arrive, EM Spring and Summer Staff are responsible for almost every detail involving missions volunteers—work and service projects, connections with local Christian ministries, daily schedule, meals, morning devotionals, evening debrief, and more.

Monday through Thursday each week are “typical” days, with breakfast and devotional time in the mornings, service or outreach projects and some learning opportunities during the bulk of the day, and dinner and debriefing in the evening. Most mission trips end after breakfast on Friday morning.

This can make for full days! But over and over, we have also seen how people who are willing to genuinely engage with partners, volunteers, and community members find a lot of joy and life amidst the busy schedule! Life-long bonds can form over the course of a whole season in one place.

Do interns have any weeks off?

Hired interns serve anywhere from 6-11 weeks during the summer or 4-11 weeks in the spring. We don’t traditionally build in extended periods of time off, aside from weekends and a few hours throughout the week. However, there may be weeks in the middle of the season when no volunteer groups have signed up to serve in your community. During these weeks, EM interns are encouraged to stay in their community, using their time to rest, experience more of the culture and life of their community, and connect deeper with local partners and community members. This time is so valuable in making your experience successful!

If there are dates during the spring or summer when you are unavailable due to a prior commitment, please make this clear on your application and during the interview process. Time off for these types of commitments can be requested, but may not always be granted.

What is the core mission of Experience Mission?

In an ever-changing world, we want to love God and love our neighbors. We believe God is at work in all people and cultures. We desire to be creative connectors across diverse and historical divides, participating in God's work of reconciliation, justice, affirmation, and hope. EM invites groups and individuals from all different backgrounds to participate in the work of loving their neighbors around the world, serving as equal parts connector, partner, and encourager.

→ EM’S MISSION & VALUES

What do EM trips look like?

We firmly believe the people we serve on mission trips are not our “mission project.” They are valuable creations of God with so much to offer. While it may be obvious that change needs to happen in certain communities, we believe change needs to happen in each of us as well. EM's approach to missions seeks to enter into these service and learning experiences in a healthy way. We believe there is a better way than forcing change or imposing our thinking, values, and beliefs on others.

→ EM’S APPROACH TO MISSIONS

What denomination is EM a part of?

Experience Mission is an inter-denominational Christian organization and is not directly affiliated with any specific denomination. Participants from all Christian denominations and backgrounds are welcome on our service-learning mission trips and to serve as summer staff. Our statement of faith, how we share the gospel, and how we engage people of different faiths can be viewed HERE.

s Experience Mission a registered nonprofit?

Yes. Experience Mission is a 501(c)(3) interdenominational Christian nonprofit that has led service-learning mission trips since 2003. Learn more about EM's mission and values