Elisha Project: Beth’s experience

“You never know what the job is going to entail until you are in it,” said Beth Hult, Elisha intern at Brookings First UMC. “I had no idea all of the details that go into making children’s ministry happen.”

Beth Hult spent the summer at Brookings First UMC as an Elisha intern. Beth wanted to explore if she would be fit for her dream job, Christian Education Director. She applied for the ten-week Elisha internship and was granted the opportunity to work with Gretchen Knutson, Christian education director at Brookings First UMC.

“I have always admired or wondered if I could do Gretchen’s job,” said Beth Hult. “One day I went up to Gretchen and told her, I want your job, what do I have to do?”

Hult spent the summer planning Vacation Bible School, mapping out Sunday School for the 2016-17 year and planning a day at Lake Poinsett Camp for youth in the Brookings Community.

“I was surprised at how much planning and communication goes into the job,” said Hult. “The number of contacts you have to make to get volunteers and communicate what needs to happen is just amazing.”

The day camp at Lake Poinsett was organized entirely by Hult.  She had to gather the volunteers, plan the curriculum for the day, arrange for transportation, registration and permission slips. 

“It was a huge task, but I loved it. I was shocked but how much goes into one day,” said Hult.

Gretchen Knutson, Hult’s mentor, spent time each day with Holt discussing, organizing and planning.  The summer is the time for coordination and planning for the entire Christian Education program. 

“I was so excited to mentor someone in this ministry,” said Knutson. “The children are the church. This ministry is so critical to the lives of the families and children you touch. It is really neat to think that someone is thinking of doing this ministry. Ministry is not always preaching in the pulpit.”

Hult is a sophomore at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. She is majoring in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Family Studies. This summer affirmed her desire to be a Christian Education Director.

If you know of a person who would like to consider the Elisha Project, click here for details.

Elisha Project – Beth's experience from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.