Fund Established by Foundation to Support Music Ministry Internships

A new fund has been recently established by the Second Presbyterian Church Foundation to provide internships at the college level to support the music ministry at Second. The Music Ministry Internship Fund is the result of a planned gift by anonymous donors totaling $52,500 given over a ten year period. The Fund may receive other gifts which will enhance the overall goals.

Music Director Gabe Statom stated, “The goal of this program is to use the ongoing work of Second’s music ministry as a training ground for college students pursuing careers in church music and/or music education. Students exhibiting a heart for worshipping God and fulfilling the Great Commission through music (as set forth in Matthew 28:16-20) will be provided various opportunities to be active participants in the comprehensive music ministry and receive hands-on training. We are grateful for both the gift and the Foundation, which will administer a gift of this nature.”

The fund is structured in such a way that internships will be awarded this summer and beginning with the 2011-12 academic year. Academic Year Interns will serve in the adult choir as section leaders and assist in leading rehearsals for those sections. The goal is to have up to four interns, allowing each section to have an intern. Highlights for the Summer Interns will be to assist in serving the various summer music programs for children, such as VBS and summer arts camps, and participate in planning and directing the Patriotic Pops concert.

Individuals selected as interns will be students advanced in their academic careers and majoring or minoring in music or music education and be active members of a Protestant Christian congregation. Academic Year Interns will have a professed interest in pursuing church music as a vocation following graduation.

“The goal of this program is to use the ongoing work of Second’s music ministry as a training ground for college students pursuing careers in church music and/or music education. Students exhibiting a heart for worshipping God and fulfilling the Great Commission through music will be provided various opportunities to be active participants in the comprehensive music ministry and receive hands-on training.”
— Gabe Statom

Second member Hannah Good has been selected as the Summer Intern for this summer. Hannah is a rising senior at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. She grew up participating in Second’s children’s and youth music ministry and has served as soloist for both morning and evening worship services.

“I’m looking forward to the music internship so I can begin to use the gifts that God has blessed me with to further His Kingdom,” Hannah says. “I look forward to putting into practice some of what I’ve learned in my Music Education courses during my work this summer. I’ve grown up loving the music at Second and am looking forward to working with something I love.”

Individuals interested in the 2011-12 Academic Year internship should contact Gabe Statom. It is through the establishment of funds such as this that the Foundation is able to achieve one of its primary goals, which is to develop future Christian leaders. Other examples of support by the Foundation in this area include grants for seminary students and support for the youth ministry internships at Second, as well as the pastoral internship program.

Other persons and entities are welcome to make gifts to the Music Ministry Internship Fund. If you would like to make a contribution, please send it to the Foundation noting the designation in the memo line. If you would like further information about the Fund or the Foundation, contact Vicki Simmons at vicki.simmons@2pc.org.