Chris Goeke 2016-17 Intern

The Erēmos Internship has been an out-of-the-way place where I've been free of the noise and striving that once controlled my life. It's brought me to a place where I could hear God's truth about who he made me to be and have the faith to allow him to direct my life. God has done a lot of valuable preparation in me and filled me with confidence that he has more wonderful things in store for me than I could ever have believed for myself otherwise. I’ve gained awareness of many internal barriers, along with the encouragement and guidance needed to overcome them. Where I used to stay silent in fear, I now offer my thoughts and ideas with confidence. The challenges I used to run away from, I now face head on. I’m no longer being held back from the great things God has for me, and it brings me incredible joy and anticipation of what’s yet to come!
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The staff at Mid-Valley Fellowship have poured so much dedication and love into the interns, but it's not just what the program offers in itself that makes it so amazing. What I've found incredibly valuable is how it's design has made it a perfect platform for God to do anything he wants in my life. I’m constantly seeing God using the Erēmos experience to help me engage with very specific personal things in my life that need attention for me to grow. Everything from the materials we have studied to the leadership responsibilities I've stepped into and even the relational interactions and conflicts I've been able to work through have been perfectly woven together by God to help me experience exceeding progress and the joy of being who God created me to be.