Assisting a current GCM member

Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

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[HelperMom]

I have been asked to donate to a young acquaintance's internship with a GCM group.  After reading some of the postings here, I am not anxious to support an organization like this but she is an adult (although young) and I am inclined to let her make up her own mind.  Since most or all of you have been where this person has been, what would you advise someone like me: donate and tell her my concerns? Don't support? Support without any comments?  Thanks a lot in advance.  And PS, I have limited financial means.

[LucyB]

They do not have any formal preparation for their pastors. The pastors are men in the church who are "recognized" by the other pastors. They do not have positions for these "interns" after the internship is finished. What is the time frame of the internship? Most churches hire youth pastors and pay them a salary. An internship with a church should involve a clear time frame, specific goals, and the supervision of a seminary-prepared pastor. In my opinion, the internship may not be legit. It might derail your friend from her goals, and make it more difficult to advance in the work force later on. I can't judge without the specifics, but I would be suspicious.

[Huldah]

What, exactly, does she mean by "internship"? To me, having done a real internship in college with a real-world business, the word means specific things. For example:

Is the internship being performed under the auspices of an accredited college? Will the intern receive college credit?

Does the internship provide specific training, or is it just an opportunity for the young person to spend a summer running random errands for a pastor?

Who will evaluate the internship when it's over? To whom will she be accountable? To whom will her trainers be accountable?

Please don't be shy about asking her these questions, or any other questions you have. If this is legitimate, she will welcome the chance to provide details.

Personally, I would not contribute unless this were a genuine internship with specific educational benefits, specific career-related responsibilities, and third-party oversight (most likely an accredited university not affiliated with GC). If it doesn't have those elements, then I would suspect that it's not so much a legitimate internship as a chance to be spend the summer as an unpaid evangelist and/or girl friday. By all means she can make up her own mind, but if it were me I would not help fund something I considered fraudulent, especially if it were fraud committed in the name of Christ.

[MidnightRider]

Personally, I would not contribute unless this were a genuine internship with specific educational benefits, specific career-related responsibilities, and third-party oversight (most likely an accredited university not affiliated with GC). If it doesn't have those elements, then I would suspect that it's not so much a legitimate internship as a chance to be spend the summer as an unpaid evangelist and/or girl friday. By all means she can make up her own mind, but if it were me I would not help fund something I considered fraudulent, especially if it were fraud committed in the name of Christ.

HelperMom, Normally an internship gives the intern valuable experience toward a future (paying) job in some line of work. I do not see what the eventual payoff is in this case. I suspect Huldah is right - this is an opportunity for the ministry to get some cheap free labor. Please do ask the right questions.

Be sure to read our discussion about one particular GCx sub-ministry and its job ads:
http://forum.gcmwarning.com/people-and-places-of-gc/tom-short-is-recruiting/

[BTDT]

Hi, HelperMom -- I have 2 friends that I used to support financially through GCM.  One of them is still with GCM, and leads a student ministry at a major university; since it's a GCM ministry, I no longer support him/them.  That is/was the "easy" one for me.

The other is a missionary to Ukraine, and also a very close personal friend. As hard as it was, I didn't feel comfortable supporting him through GCM, not because of him, but because of the GC problems I'm all too familiar with. He recently left GCM, so once our finances stabilize a bit, I may start supporting him (after researching his new sponsor organization).

I hope this helps you with your decision.
-Ed-

[AgathaL'Orange]

After talking with people who have left staff at GCx, I would not support, and I would lovingly say why.

[HelperMom]

Thanks to all of you for the responses.  I received one via email and thought I would receive others that way too.  When I didn't, I went ahead and donated.  So sorry I didn't check back here first but I might have decided to donate anyway.  This is a real internship in a foreign country working through a church there to help out in the community (they only gave details of past programs as an example, not definite plans for this one) and spreading the gospel.  It is vague enough to sound like many other aid programs and of course, can mean a lot of different things, but I'm hoping this will be a fulfilling experience or maybe just a good life lesson.  Blessings to all of you in your journeys.