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Annamarie Koster, a senior, was able to plan an entire children’s ministry curriculum this summer during her internship at Granite Springs Church in Lincoln, Calif.

Koster also worked at the church’s booth at the local farmers’ market, designed the church float for the local Fourth of July parade, helped lead worship services, and had the opportunity to plan an entire worship service.

Annamarie Koster enjoyed her summer as a Jubilee Fellow at Granite Springs Church.

Koster was able to gain this depth and breadth of ministry experience as one of 14 students awarded summer internships through Calvin College’s annual Jubilee Fellows program. The program began in 2002.

“We match students with internship sites, taking into consideration the individual interests of the Jubilee Fellows and the needs of the churches,” said program coordinator Kary Bosma.

Koster, who is majoring in both religion and English, found all she had hoped for in her internship at Granite Springs.

“I love this,” she said, “because I gained real ministry experience. Also, working in Lincoln, which is a completely different environment from my home church in (Grandville), Mich., really pushed me out of my comfort zone.”

Granite Springs’ pastor, Kevin Adams, who helped start the church in the early 1990s as a Christian Reformed church plant, has worked with the Jubilee Fellows program since 2007 and plans to stay connected to it.

“We have had five previous Fellows,” he said, “and each year it is a treat—a learning and growing and enriching experience for all of us. It’s a wonderful intersection of the academy and the church.”

The internships benefit not just the students, Adams added, but also the host churches. “We get to know great people who become like family to us.”

Their Fellow from two years ago, K.J. Van Ek, returned as Granite Springs’ high school director this past year during a time of transition.

Last year’s Fellow, Nicole Veenkamp, came back this summer to help lead the church’s music and drama camp.

“We get a chance to connect to the broader church, and we get the joy of helping encourage and train the next generation of Christian leaders,” said Adams.