The Dakotas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and Office of Leadership Development are piloting a new program, Samuel project, this summer. The 10-week program is for high school students discerning God’s call of ministry. Alec Paulson will be the Samuel intern for 2017 at Watertown Cornerstone UMC working with Rev. Steve Anderson.

Paulson will graduate from Watertown this May and is headed to Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota in the fall.  “I would like to see the difference in ministries that we offer at Cornerstone and see which one that God leads me closer towards,” stated Paulson in his application.

He has been involved at his church in by attending camps, being a camp counselor, going on mission trips to the Pine Ridge Reservation and teaching Sunday school. “I have been bleeds to be about to go out to Oglala, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, for the past four years.  Each year a group goes out for a week to serve the Native Americans that live there. This has taught me many aspects about life and how I should live in a Godly way,” sated Paulson.

At Presentation College, Paulson will major in nursing, minor in general religious studies,  and play football.  One of his favorite football traditions in high school, that he started, is praying before every game.

Deb Kjerstad, director of leadership development outlined the goals for the Samuel Project. “It is our hope to provide an experience for high school age youth that desire to understand what a calling into ministry might feel like and look like prior to heading off to college.” The project is designed to take place at the intern’s home church.  “It is for a unique individual that desires a deepened look at ministry at a young age,” said Kjerstad. “We would like to see one-two individuals each year in the Samuel Project.”

The Samuel Project is another building block in creating a culture of call throughout the Dakotas Conference.