Interns. In the movies, they devotedly fetch coffee, shadow veteran professionals and clean up the office. Typically, they’re fresh out of college with great dreams to climb the ladder of success. But there is another breed of interns.

As one of our summer assignments, this summer I’ve had the privilege of supervising interns as they seek to complete their team of prayer and financial partners by August 1. All of them graduated in May 2015 from different schools. All have given at least one year to reach college students with the message of Jesus.

Mike hails from Rowan University in N.J. Although he intended on interning in the fall, the Lord led him to pursue a research program to get his masters. He has a deep love for the Lord, and he’ll continue campus ministry through the year.

Jimmy is from Towson University in Maryland (same region as N.J.). The son of a pastor, he’s had a heart to reach people for Jesus for some time. His biggest motivation comes from Matthew 24, where Jesus explains that no one knows the time or hour when he’ll return. For Jimmy, this is driving force behind his desire to evangelize and disciple college students.

Zara graduated from Monmouth Univ. in N.J. Although she prayed to receive Christ at age 12, she says, “I didn’t really understand what it meant to walk with Jesus or to fully surrender my life to Christ until I was in college. After my first Cru meeting, I surrendered my life to Christ.”

“I’m excited to do full time ministry,” Zara shared. “Evangelizing is one of my favorite things to do. I can’t wait to go alongside students and help them grow in that area. I understand that the need for laborers is so great on college campuses and I’m overjoyed that I get to be apart of it for my full-time internship.”

Alex comes from Stockton Univ. in N.J. She expressed some of her fears: “I’m most nervous about the uncertainty. This is the first time in my life that I never had a full plan, but now it’s just God’s plan. I have to trust He will make it work how He sees fit.”

In Matthew 9:36-38, it reads, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” Amen! There are close to 2 million college students in the Mid-Atlantic region; over 400,000 of those are in New Jersey! There is indeed a plentiful harvest.

Would you pray for these interns? They’re an answer a prayer, which Jesus said we ought to pray. It has been a privilege to get to know these guys, walk them through weekly Bible studies as a group and coach them individually. They all have a great love for Jesus, and they have taken big steps of faith as they pursue completing their team of ministry partners in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for continuing to pray for us as laborers in the harvest. We are convinced the college campus is one of the most strategic missions fields, and we’re so passionate about connecting students to Jesus Christ!