Taylor Ballard, 2023-24 Intern
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a desire to be in leadership and to serve others. Prior to coming to Mid-Valley Fellowship, I've served in youth ministry, kids ministry, and camp ministry. God has clearly put a passion and gifting to work with people in my heart, but I have not always done that in a healthy way. I took on others' burdens in unhealthy ways and felt massive amounts of pressure to “have it all together, all the time.” God has shown me that this is not the foundation of a healthy leader and disciple.
After burning out from a career in healthcare at the age of 22, I felt the call to dedicate the rest of my life to ministry. I struggled, though, with lots of shame, fear of not being enough, and imposter syndrome. The shame I carried from my sexual and relational sin was tearing me apart and holding me back from being able to serve genuinely and deeply. I was encouraged to consider the internship after doing a year or more of individual counseling at MVF. After doing some research and attending the information night, I felt God calling me into the Eremos Internship as a way of deepening my emotional and spiritual health. This has included showing me how to lead and serve from a place of dependence on God and not a misguided dependence on myself that has led me astray so many times before.
The Eremos Internship has been an incredible answer to prayers. This internship has been an environment that has harbored deep personal healing in the areas of sexual and relational health. As well, I’ve gained a greater awareness of how God has designed me and how my past has shaped me (good and bad). I have also learned so many valuable skills that I have already begun to apply in my life and in the lives of those I serve. The love and grace that I've experienced at Mid-Valley Fellowship has helped me step into areas of healing, growth, and relationship with God that I thought I would never step into.
I have a passion for discipleship and serving people who are hurting, whether that be emotionally, physically, or spiritually. Through my journey, I have learned that God has created us so intricately and purposefully. He has woven our emotions, spirit, and body altogether. I’ve learned that true health lies when all of those are in alignment with Christ at the center. I believe God is calling me to use my story to lead others back to him and back to that kind of health. I still don't specifically know what that will look like, but I know the skills, healing, and growth God has done in my life through the Eremos Internship will be a part of that mission/ministry, as well as in my relationships, my community, my church, my view of myself, and my relationship with the Lord.
After burning out from a career in healthcare at the age of 22, I felt the call to dedicate the rest of my life to ministry. I struggled, though, with lots of shame, fear of not being enough, and imposter syndrome. The shame I carried from my sexual and relational sin was tearing me apart and holding me back from being able to serve genuinely and deeply. I was encouraged to consider the internship after doing a year or more of individual counseling at MVF. After doing some research and attending the information night, I felt God calling me into the Eremos Internship as a way of deepening my emotional and spiritual health. This has included showing me how to lead and serve from a place of dependence on God and not a misguided dependence on myself that has led me astray so many times before.
The Eremos Internship has been an incredible answer to prayers. This internship has been an environment that has harbored deep personal healing in the areas of sexual and relational health. As well, I’ve gained a greater awareness of how God has designed me and how my past has shaped me (good and bad). I have also learned so many valuable skills that I have already begun to apply in my life and in the lives of those I serve. The love and grace that I've experienced at Mid-Valley Fellowship has helped me step into areas of healing, growth, and relationship with God that I thought I would never step into.
I have a passion for discipleship and serving people who are hurting, whether that be emotionally, physically, or spiritually. Through my journey, I have learned that God has created us so intricately and purposefully. He has woven our emotions, spirit, and body altogether. I’ve learned that true health lies when all of those are in alignment with Christ at the center. I believe God is calling me to use my story to lead others back to him and back to that kind of health. I still don't specifically know what that will look like, but I know the skills, healing, and growth God has done in my life through the Eremos Internship will be a part of that mission/ministry, as well as in my relationships, my community, my church, my view of myself, and my relationship with the Lord.