Summer Young Adult Volunteers 1976 in front of Ila Step's (the original location of ARO)
Summer Interns 2024 on ARO
Martin County Campus
ARO has had the privilege of hosting "interns" since the very beginning. It all started with 5 young people helping ARO to have a successful Vacation Bible School in 74' and then 16 young people for the summer of '75!
While some things have changed in the past 50+ years, our mission and desire to show young people that they can explore and use their gifts in rural settings has stayed the same. Applications open every Fall, with interviews beginning in the early winter. We strongly urge that applicants have completed at least their freshman year in college.
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The internship takes place May-August and lasts for 11 weeks. Students are given the opportunity to gain valuable Compassionate Ministry experience with a tailored focus on their major and interests. All expenses are taken care of, including lodging, food, and gas. Students will recieve a stipend of $50 a week. At the end of the summer, a $1,750 scholarship is awarded to the student.
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Responsibilities include assisting with hosting summer mission teams and summer ministry programming (home repairs, community service projects, VBS, addiction recovery outreach, aiding in our thrift store and food pantry, and more!). Students will get to engage with Appalachian culture and are encouraged to seek to understand the nuances of generational rural poverty.
Andie Bishop
Summer 2020
Olivet Nazarene University
Chemistry & Criminal Justice Double Major
ARO’s mission statement is “To be Christ’s love in action through being His hands, His feet, His heart, and His mission.” Through my internship at ARO I learned just what that meant—to practically live out my faith on a day-to-day basis. To unconditionally love individuals I just met, from a culture drastically different than my own. To strive to give a hand-up instead of a hand-out. And to do what’s right out of love and obedience to the Lord, despite if I feel like it or not. Under the teaching and guidance of the ARO staff, the summer of 2020 became a season of deep intimacy with the Lord. Martin County now holds a sweet place in my heart, and I will forever cherish the memories made there.