Reflections from LCC/LLL-C's Communications Internship

Julia Flor (Top Left); Alex Steinke (Top Right); Lisa Jackson (Bottom Left); Anna Kraemer (Bottom Right)

Reflections from Alex Steinke | LCC Communications Director

This past summer marked the first ever paid Communications Internship coordinated by Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) and Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada (LLL-C). Our goal was to give young people an opportunity to be actively involved in their synodical family, and to encourage church workers and young Lutherans to grow together as ‘Communicators in Christ’.

It is vital that we engage and equip our members— enabling ‘our successors’ and future church leaders! Imagine if every elder, pastor, deacon, or organist knew exactly which kid in their congregation would grow up to inherit their role in the church! How would that change the way we involve the younger members of our congregations in routine church work?

Our interns did not serve in a distinctly ‘young person’ capacity. We didn’t attract them with watered-down doctrine. We asked our interns to continue communicating the same ‘old’ (timeless) Word of God that is so effective that it not only pierces to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow... but even transcends the generational gap, reaching and saving the young and the old with equal efficacy!

Lisa and I were so blown away by the applications we received from passionate, faith-driven individuals across the country that we ended up hiring two interns. It was encouraging to see that these applicants were not only seeking to learn and work in a professional setting, but also to serve in an environment that encouraged them in their faith.

Reflections from Anna Kraemer | Communications Intern 2021

This internship was truly a blessing in both my personal and working life. With the desire to practice my skills as a Graphic Designer, I was thrilled when I got hired along with Julia! It was a great opportunity to share my talents and serve the church community, where it is not always easy as a young Lutheran to find ways to contribute to the church. This internship was one of the amazing ways to do so.

As I enter into my fourth year of my Bachelor of Design, it is the last year of school before I enter the work world. This internship was a great opportunity for me to practice working collaboratively in a working environment and to also see what the working world is like.

Working with Alex and Lisa was amazing and I couldn't have asked for better bosses and mentors. They were both very understanding of time differences, as we were all in different time zones, and easy to work with in general. It didn’t feel like they were necessarily our bosses, but rather another co-worker/friend who respected everyone’s voice and contributions. I learned so much from them about communications, collaboration, and more about our faith and the Lutheran Church here in Canada.

Reflections from Julia Flor | Communications Intern 2021

I am very thankful for the opportunity to have worked as a summer intern with Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) and the Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada (LLL-C). My responsibilities were divided between both organizations, and included creating and translating devotional material for children, developing a series of social media posts, and editing videos.

I was also given the liberty to pitch my own project ideas, which were supported enthusiastically by my supervisors. These projects allowed me to advance my skills in communications, as well as to acquire new abilities. However, what I most enjoyed about this internship was the opportunity to work in a Confessional Lutheran setting where I was able to use my gifts to serve the church. In short, this internship is a unique and enriching experience for our church’s youth.

Reflections from Lisa Jackson | LLL-C Managing Director 2021

It was exciting to work with interns who brought fresh, new ideas and energy to the work we do, while also facilitating an introduction of the faithful people of LHM and LLL- Canada to the younger generation.

The summer flew by, filled with projects, brainstorming sessions, and new creative tools! Julia and Anna both contributed to the work at LLL-C with energy and maturity.

I worked hard to avoid imposing my own ideas about work environment and structure on our interns, so that I could benefit the most from what they had to offer. While I’m in Ontario working core business hours, Julia was working remotely from Europe, about 6 hours ahead, and Anna was working remotely from Alberta, two time-zones behind me. We navigated the scheduling with some adjustments and found ways to communicate, meet and work with Julia and Anna where and when they were available—and they exceeded all our expectations!

Mentoring young people in the church requires investment, apprenticeship, and making room for someone else to lead— and it is well worth it.