Australia: Attunga Internship
Donation protected
Hello,
My name is Tessa McKelvey and from August 14-December 19 I am so excited to have been accepted into the Attunga Internship Program in Australia! Attunga is located on 300 high country acres at Canyonleigh in the southern highlands of NSW, Australia and has operated as a Christian camp and confe rence center in their present location for over 30 years. “Attunga” is an aboriginal word that means ‘High Place’, which so adequately describes Attunga’s location, situated high above the Wingecarribee and Wollondilly rivers, near the summit of Mt Penang in the Bangadilly National Park. Although Attunga has no denominational ties, they enjoy partnering with and serving biblically-based, evangelical churches and para-church ministries as well as the many schools, community, corporate and family groups that stay with them regularly.
I will have the opportunity to serve as the front line in every aspect of operations and ministry at Attunga including cleaning, housekeeping and food preparation. I, along with my fellow interns, will learn to plan and run small group activities or devotions for church youth and schools as well as an outreach ministry to overseas backpackers. I will also assist in the planning of our Taste of Australia tour and be an important part of the ministry program for some regular church and rehabilitation support groups. There is also an academic aspect of the internship which includes a great apologetics subject "Authority and Authenticity of the Bible" as well as practical units that can count towards a Cert IV in Christian Ministry and Theology.
Feeding into and discipling the Interns is Attunga’s ministry. The camps and other things that Attunga facilitates are an out flow of that. So Attunga will feed into us, the interns, and in return we will feed into the campers, guests, etc. Rather than help out other staff, the interns essentially become the staff team and steps into a position of responsibility for this ministry, taking the place of the interns that have gone before them. I am excited to grow in this area and have the opportunity to learn new methods of leadership!
While I am there I will have the chance to use my creative and performing arts skills through painting, drama and dance, which can be used to develop and perform a variety of thought-provoking art works, skits and performances that will be a contemporary way to share a message of hope through faith in Jesus. I will also be encouraged to use my musical abilities to form a worship band during my time at Attunga. I will be singing at camps, ministry events, or at local churches as a form of evangelical outreach.
In order to make this amazing opportunity a reality, I am asking all who will, to help support me in any way you can. No amount is too small, and all amounts are appreciated! I will need to raise approximately $6,500 which includes airfare, internship cost, and money for my living expenses for the two week break that we’ll be having in October. I will need the first $300 payment by the end of February in order to hold my spot. After that I will need the rest as soon as possible so that I can buy my plane tickets quickly.
I believe that this will be a time to put life as I know it on hold and give everything to God so that He can shape and mold me into who He has destined me to be. I believe that He will use this experience to break strongholds on my life and bring out a boldness that I know is inside me. I am so incredibly ecstatic to go on this adventure and I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for me!
Thank you for being a part of this journey and for helping support me through prayer, encouragement, and donation. I wouldn't be able to do this without God and people like you!
-Tessa McKelvey
My name is Tessa McKelvey and from August 14-December 19 I am so excited to have been accepted into the Attunga Internship Program in Australia! Attunga is located on 300 high country acres at Canyonleigh in the southern highlands of NSW, Australia and has operated as a Christian camp and confe rence center in their present location for over 30 years. “Attunga” is an aboriginal word that means ‘High Place’, which so adequately describes Attunga’s location, situated high above the Wingecarribee and Wollondilly rivers, near the summit of Mt Penang in the Bangadilly National Park. Although Attunga has no denominational ties, they enjoy partnering with and serving biblically-based, evangelical churches and para-church ministries as well as the many schools, community, corporate and family groups that stay with them regularly.
I will have the opportunity to serve as the front line in every aspect of operations and ministry at Attunga including cleaning, housekeeping and food preparation. I, along with my fellow interns, will learn to plan and run small group activities or devotions for church youth and schools as well as an outreach ministry to overseas backpackers. I will also assist in the planning of our Taste of Australia tour and be an important part of the ministry program for some regular church and rehabilitation support groups. There is also an academic aspect of the internship which includes a great apologetics subject "Authority and Authenticity of the Bible" as well as practical units that can count towards a Cert IV in Christian Ministry and Theology.
Feeding into and discipling the Interns is Attunga’s ministry. The camps and other things that Attunga facilitates are an out flow of that. So Attunga will feed into us, the interns, and in return we will feed into the campers, guests, etc. Rather than help out other staff, the interns essentially become the staff team and steps into a position of responsibility for this ministry, taking the place of the interns that have gone before them. I am excited to grow in this area and have the opportunity to learn new methods of leadership!
While I am there I will have the chance to use my creative and performing arts skills through painting, drama and dance, which can be used to develop and perform a variety of thought-provoking art works, skits and performances that will be a contemporary way to share a message of hope through faith in Jesus. I will also be encouraged to use my musical abilities to form a worship band during my time at Attunga. I will be singing at camps, ministry events, or at local churches as a form of evangelical outreach.
In order to make this amazing opportunity a reality, I am asking all who will, to help support me in any way you can. No amount is too small, and all amounts are appreciated! I will need to raise approximately $6,500 which includes airfare, internship cost, and money for my living expenses for the two week break that we’ll be having in October. I will need the first $300 payment by the end of February in order to hold my spot. After that I will need the rest as soon as possible so that I can buy my plane tickets quickly.
I believe that this will be a time to put life as I know it on hold and give everything to God so that He can shape and mold me into who He has destined me to be. I believe that He will use this experience to break strongholds on my life and bring out a boldness that I know is inside me. I am so incredibly ecstatic to go on this adventure and I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for me!
Thank you for being a part of this journey and for helping support me through prayer, encouragement, and donation. I wouldn't be able to do this without God and people like you!
-Tessa McKelvey
Organizer
Tessa Noel McKelvey
Organizer
Greensboro, NC