Internships

Frequently Asked Questions

How is my placement for an internship determined?

We use your resume, application summary, and areas of interest and study to match with internship openings in our departments and regions. If a match is found, we send you the job description and set up a conference call with the internship director and the department's director. If everybody agrees the position is a good fit for you and meets your educational needs (if applicable), then we will send you the Internship Agreement form to sign formalizing the internship.
For interns from the EU, EFTA, or the UK, the process is slightly different depending on which country you are from.

How long does the application process take?

From the time we receive your completed application, through the ensuing matching and approval process to determine if a position is a good fit for you, interns are typically able to start raising support within three to four weeks.

Is my job description set in stone?

TWR works hard to clearly define your job description so each one should be quite accurate. But, missionary service lends itself to a good bit of flexibility to work towards our ultimate goal: getting the gospel out to the ends of the earth. Therefore, there's a possibility you may be asked to do things that are not on your job description, or circumstances (environmental, political, budgetary, illness, accident, etc.) may prohibit a previously-organized project.

What if I can no longer do the internship?

If you raise funds and then are unable to complete the internship for any reason, the balance of your funds cannot be returned to you or your donors and will be used to help under-supported interns or go toward unexpected internship expenses.

Do you provide any orientation or debriefing for the internship?

For interns from the US, we have two days of general orientation and cross-cultural preparation before starting your internship or heading overseas. We'll meet you at the airport, take you back to TWR lodging to get settled, grab dinner together and have some casual time to get to know staff and other interns. The next two days will be our full orientation in the Cary office (dress code is business casual). This is a good time to bond with your intern class and to be prepared for the internship experience!
Once you have arrived at your assignments, you will each be provided with a couple progress assessments and a final interview at the end of the internship. All interns are then required to return to Cary for a final debriefing, and re-entry training.

What’s the work environment like?

For most interns, your work will take place in an office environment from 8am to 5pm each day (this can be adjusted with your supervisor’s permission). You will often work in cubicles but may share an office with another person. Your work environment will, however, depend largely on your role — so whether it's participating in an office service day or working outside on one of our radio towers, your internship could take you anywhere!

What is the dress code?

Yes, though it can vary depending on your role and where you are serving.
In the offices, the dress code is business casual (for example: collared shirts, dark tailored jeans, slacks, dress or dark casual shoes are appropriate, while we discourage things such as shorts and athletic wear). At the transmitter sites, however, it's more relaxed.

Can I have tattoos or body piercings?

We mostly ask that all TWR family members be conservatively and professionally dressed and groomed when in the office or representing TWR. Small to medium-sized earrings and/or nose piercings are allowed but other visible piercings must be removed (for example, tongue, eye-brow, etc.) and we encourage large tattoos to be covered. Please no unnatural hair colors, but colored highlights are fine.

Can I drink alcohol or use recreational drugs during the internship?

Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and recreational drugs are not allowed on the TWR premises (including TWR guesthouses) and interns under the age of 21 are not permitted to use any of the above substances in any country where TWR works, regardless of local law. Additionally, fighting, violence, or possession of a weapon on the TWR premises may be cause for termination of employment.

What happens if I have an emergency during the internship?

Your Emergency Response Form which contains all the necessary information about you (allergies, emergency contacts, insurance, etc.) will be given to your internship director and local supervisor for such cases.
As part of their support package, all overseas interns are provided with travel insurance that will cover all international emergencies, evacuation and repatriation. A copy of the policy will be provided. If you must return home prior to the completion of the internship, TWR will cover all the expenses from the support you raised.

What will my living situation be like?

Each location is quite different — you may be living by yourself or with a roommate in an apartment or at a TWR lodge, or with a missionary family in their guest bedroom or house sitting for them while they’re away. If you live at the Cary Lodge you will likely share a twin room with another intern. Some more remote or tropical locations, such as Bonaire, are not air-conditioned.
We will and are committed to providing you with safe, clean and comfortable accommodations. In certain situations, you may be required to take public transportation to your place of work, but its safety will be fully assessed before you will be expected to do so.

Can I do outside ministry in my free time?

Absolutely! Many interns get involved with a local church or other ministries in the evenings and weekends.

Will I have access to a vehicle for personal use?

It depends on your location of service, though is not guaranteed. At some locations, TWR does have a vehicle that can be checked out for personal use, but you would be expected to pay a per-mile rate.

If I choose to live in cheaper accommodations, can I use the extra funds for traveling or personal savings?

For US interns, your accommodations expense is not part of your personal living allowance (stipend) and therefore cannot be saved or used for personal expenses. If cheaper accommodations are found, we can reduce the total support goal but we cannot give you the balance saved as an additional stipend. For interns from the EU, EFTA, or the UK, you can choose where you want to live.

Do I need to raise financial support to be an intern?

Usually, yes. Interns from the US can raise funds in order to receive a stipend and have their housing and transportation covered. They can also volunteer and cover their own expenses. Interns from the EU, EFTA, or the UK must cover all of their own expenses or raise funds through a partner organization.

Why do I need to raise support?

For interns from the US, and as with most missionary organizations, we rely on the generous donations of God’s people to provide for God’s work. Jesus himself was supported by those who could provide for his and his disciple’s needs.
In order for us to comply with US labor laws, funds must be raised to support your role. Therefore, all interns, unless they volunteer, are required to raise financial support — with our help, of course!

How do I raise support?

Don't worry, once we get the ball rolling, you will receive a packet of information that includes a sample prayer letter, donation response slips and a document providing a detailed explanation of how to go about raising your support!

How much support do I need to raise?

This depends on where and how long you will be serving — rates are adjusted annually based on cost of living for the area of service. Taxes, meals, incidentals, travel and transportation costs, admin costs, rent and utilities all make up total support required.
For reference, for a two-month internship in Cary, NC, might require about $3,200 as compared with $6,250 if you did a two-month internship on Guam! A complete breakdown of the support required will be sent to you upon completion of the application process.

Should I send my own money if I’m underfunded?

For such cases, we encourage you to check with the internship director before sending in your own funds. You may be able to take a stipend reduction so as not to pay taxes twice on your own money.

What if I don’t raise enough money?

Historically, 98% of accepted interns raise sufficient support. But if are unable to raise sufficient funds, you still have a few options like taking a voluntary stipend reduction, coming as a volunteer (without college credit), or reducing expenses. However, if the insufficiency cannot be reconciled, your internship may have to be cancelled.
If cancelled due to insufficient funding, the balance of your funds raised cannot be returned to you or your donors but will go toward helping others interns who have reached the minimum but are still under-supported.

What if I raise too much money?

For interns from the US, when you reach 100% of your support requirement, you will be encouraged to tell your friends and family to not send in any additional funds. In the event that you raise more funds than are required, the extra funds cannot be returned to the donor (or you) but will go toward interns who have raised insufficient funds. Depending on the situation, we might be able to increase your stipend by a small percentage. These extra funds cannot be used by you for unbudgeted items without special written permission from the Internship Director. For interns from the EU, EFTA, or the UK this doesn't apply since you raise your own funds.