2022-2023 Interns

Edna Clark’s Internship

February 28, 2022 to April 30, 2023
CedarCreek Church

I am really excited to be a Next Steps Intern this coming year! I'm eager to grow, learn, and pursue where God is calling me in this season of my life. This internship will allow me to grow in my leadership skills, help people discover the purpose God has for them, and walk in the purpose God has called me to. Through your support, I will be able to fully focus on the internship and what God has for me. By supporting me, you are helping me make a Kingdom-sized impact in peoples lives! Thank you for your consideration in supporting me and joining me in the adventure God has for me!

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April Celebrations!!

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Easter:

Oh! My! Goodness! Easter was an absolute blast!! I had the chance to be a part of some of the unique elements of our Easter services, and it was such an honor. I got the opportunity to be on the first-ever CedarCreek Choir! I had the chance meet/sing with some amazing people! Back Row (Left to Right) - Micah, Me, Zoe, and Ally. Front Row (Left to Right) - Phil, Taylor, and Val. It was such a blessing to be able to hang out with these incredible human beings! For most of us, it was our first time singing on stage as well! Over the course of the weekend, we got a chance to get to know each other more and hear more of each other's stories. We walked in as strangers and walked out as friends. How cool is it that we are designed to be in community?!? Since Easter, I have gotten to see almost all of them sing on stage for the first time, doing something they love, worshipping God! Val is originally from our Oregon Campus and, a few weeks ago, stepped on stage to shadow singing. It was such a cool moment to see her share her passion and love of singing! Taylor calls the Perrysburg Campus her home, and as she has also stepped on stage, it has been so awesome getting to see her step with more and more confidence each time she shares her gift! Being a part of something bigger than yourself is truly unlike any other! It is such an honor to work alongside like-minded people and encourage each other in how God has wired us. 

DreamTeam Celebration:

This last Friday, we got the opportunity to celebrate all of our DreamTeam Volunteers across all of our 6 campuses! It was such a blast! Getting to see their smiling faces and serving them with the same heart they serve our guests with every weekend was such a gift! This Sunday, before the 9 o'clock service, a DreamTeam Member of mine, Zonnie, came up to me and sparked a conversation about it. The first question she asked me was, "What is God teaching you?" Such a beautiful question! I replied, "God is teaching me about the beauty of being present and having patience. How about you?" She replied, "He is teaching me how to be humble and not judge." We continued our conversation for a few minutes on how challenging each of our things have been to learn, and she turned to me and said, "You know what is so humbling? Being chosen by God to be a part of what he is doing here. That Celebration! I left on cloud 9! I left lifted, excited, and feeling blessed to be a part of the impact of what we get to do here." With excitement, I replied, "Zonnie! That's amazing! I'm so happy to hear that! That was our goal! To make it so you guys left feeling filled and loved!" She started tearing up, grabbed my hand, and said, "It is so humbling and beautiful that I get to be a part of something bigger than myself" I started tearing up and said, "It truly is!" She asked me, "Edna, do you find it humbling and beautiful to be a part of something bigger than yourself?" I smile and said, "Yes, yes, I do. There is nothing quite like it." She smiled and said, "No, no, there is not." We talked a little more with tears in our eyes about what we have the opportunity to do and the community we have found in each other. Wow. I left the conversation speechless. There truly is nothing like being a part of something bigger than yourself. It is such a blessing what I get to do day in and day out! 

April Overview:

Over the course of April, I have learned a lot. I have had opportunities to lean in with the community God has placed around me. To have conversations that can, in the end, mean more connection to God and others to God. The value of rest in serving and the rest that comes from serving. The beauty of being present, patient, and how to be humble in the midst of it all. As I near the end of the internship, God continues to amaze me with the nuggets of faithfulness he shows; not only to me but to all of those around me. Doing Kingdom work has had its challenges, but has held the sweetest beauties! Thank you for being on this adventure with me! Thank you for all of your continued support and encouragement! I wouldn't be able to do what I do without you!! Thank you!! 


Next Steps Into Community

Sunday, April 2, 2023
One of my favorite parts about NextSteps is the opportunity we get to connect people to a community. Whether that is a Group or joining a DreamTeam, bridging the gap between them and a loving community where they can belong is something truly special. Taylor took GrowthTrack in October and was looking to get connected and find people. In Jan/Feb, I got the chance to meet her. She joined the Music Team at Perrysburg. I was playing one weekend and got to connect with her and hear more of her story. In March, me, Taylor, and a good friend of mine, Zoe, were all on the same weekend. We got to hang out and get to know her more, and one day in between services, she said that she didn't know a lot of people. So I took her around and introduced her to some of the DreamTeam and Staff. Fast forward to the end of March, she came up to me and thanked me for introducing her to the people I did and making a big church feel smaller. She talked about finding a community of people who not only want to pour into and encourage her as a person but in her faith meant the world to her. Her getting connected at CedarCreek and finding community led her to tell her family and them coming to church. She and her family are all getting Baptized next month! How beautiful is that! I am so excited to see what the next few weeks hold for her as she steps further into her purpose and how God has wired her!!

Preach Off!!!

Friday, February 24, 2023

On Feb 11-12, CedarCreek held its Fifth Annual Preach Off! A few weeks before, I was asked if I would be the on-field reporter for the weekend and it was such a unique experience. From the prep and to the weekend was full of laughter, fun, and held some crazy cool impact on people's lives! From onstage reporting to conversations in the lobby to hot dogs and chips, it will truly be a weekend I will never forget. I was able to step outside my comfort zone and trust God more. I loved learning and watching how our team comes together to intentionally create a weekend of fun and impact. Throughout the weekend, when I was in the lobby, I got the chance to talk to some ladies from our Oregon campus that came to support Andy. For one of them, it was their first time in CedarCreek! They recognized me from stage and asked if I could take their picture together. Through that, I got the chance to hear their story and hear how God has been moving in their life, including what led them to Preach-Off! I also got to meet Barbara, who was also newer to CedarCreek. She had only been coming for a few weeks but had already started Growth Track and was in a Group! I got to have a heart-level conversation about connection and how we aren’t meant to do life alone. Over the weekend, I was able to have many connecting conversations with people and left celebrating how God is moving in the lives of those around me. I even got the chance to pray over someone on my team who was really struggling! Which is such a soft way for me to serve them in all of the serving they do for others. Initially, when I said yes, I wasn’t sure what to expect or what would be in store, but wow!! From getting to say things like “Holy Guacamole!” onstage to praying over a Dream Team member, this weekend left an impact.

On purpose for a purpose. I love how as a church, we get the opportunity to create fun weekends but also provide our guests to take next steps into discovering how God has wired them. Before CedarCreek, I never could have imagined being onstage for something like preach-off, but through God and some amazing people, I was able to step into that. Thank you for supporting me and allowing me the opportunity to step further in my purpose, and now I get the opportunity to help others do the same. I could not do this without you! Thank you!



January Update!

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

January was a month full of prayer, fasting, and connecting. As a church, we kicked off the year with 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. It opened the door for many conversations about why prayer is important and why we fast. Before the 21 Days, I didn’t know a lot about fasting, so I leaned in and started asking questions. Two weeks into it, a conversation presented itself with my parents about prayer and fasting. I got to share what I have been learning and ask them questions about their experiences with it. The following weekend, a DreamTeam member asked me how prayer and fasting were going, and I got to share my conversation with my parents with her. She got a huge smile on her face and said that she had a similar conversation with her daughter about it. It was cool to see how a small conversation at home presented a connection at church.

Also, in January, my intern class and I got the opportunity to go on a retreat. It was two days and one night of complete solitude with God. We were given the prompt to think about who God was to us. It was a really cool opportunity to ponder and dive into what God is called in the Bible. I got to take some time to think about His grace and what it truly means. Super cool experience!

In January, I also got the opportunity to speak to Middle Schoolers on a Wednesday night! A mom who is a greeter at my campus walked in on the Wednesday I was teaching, and she lit up with a smile. She came up to me, and we had a conversation about how I was speaking. I got to have a conversation with her daughter beforehand, and I got to know her daughter more. The next weekend, her mom came up to me and thanked me for teaching. She said that her daughter came home and said she talked more about the lesson and topic than in previous weeks. This month has shown me how even a small connection with someone can cause a ripple effect if we come open-handed enough. I have had the privilege to not only be a part of it but also experience it.

Throughout the 21 Days of prayer and fasting, we also had prayer nights every Monday night. I had the opportunity to play guitar for one and sing for one. Through that, I got to make more connections with people and have conversations on a deeper level than what I normally would have. I love how prayer and worship can soften our hearts and allow us opportunities to be vulnerable enough to be met right where we are at. Not only by God but by some of His people too. All in all, while the new year started off full of new experiences, it also allowed for new connections and conversations to take place. I believe there is a quote that talks about how in order to get results you wouldn’t normally get, you have to do things you wouldn’t normally do. It has been cool to trust God in the midst of it all and be left in awe of what He has done.


Snowy December

Monday, January 30, 2023

From At The Movies to Christmas prep, the Perrysburg Campus was buzzing with excitement and life. We had some amazing DreamTeam help us transition from Star Wars to a Winter Wonderland. In the midst of the transition downstairs, Wowo, the Assistant Kids Director at Perrysburg, left a coloring page of Esther from the weekend I taught kids in November on my desk. When I came upstairs, he told me a story of a little girl who was coloring this page. He asked her, "Who are you coloring?" and she replied, "Miss.Edna." He smiled and replied, "That is very cool, but I think you are thinking of Esther. She is who you learned about in today in Large Program." The little girl smiled, laughed, and said, "Oh yeah!" It is little moments like these that make everything worth it. It is so amazing how a small word of "Yes" can make such a big impact in someone's life. Since teaching in Kids, I have gotten to meet and keep in contact with so many little kiddos! They come up to me on the weekends and tell me about their weeks, give me high fives, and tell me what they learned in class that week. Through those interactions, I have also gotten to meet so many parents, grandparents, and families. Christmas services (while a little snowy), brought so much joy and wonder. I loved getting to see our different DreamTeam members interact and deepen their connections with one another. Christmas is a great reminder of how even the smallest of things can make such a difference. 


November Next Steps

Monday, December 5, 2022

Pictured are Kelly, our Baptism Coordinator, and I. She is truly a joy to work alongside, and her heart for her team and the people taking their next step in Baptism is unlike any other. 

November kicked off with our second annual showing of “At the Movies.” From the setup to packaging popcorn, all the way until the final movie, it held its own ups and downs. 

Starting out strong was week one with Baptisms! At Baptisms, I got the chance to meet Andrew and his wife, Emily. After Andrew got Baptized, I got the chance to talk to Emily and hear more of their story. Such a wow moment! Emily said that at the beginning of the summer, she and Andrew were on the brink of divorce and reached out to seek counseling. She went to counseling and, later that summer, decided to get baptized. After, she and Andrew then both attended couples counseling. He then decided to get baptized in November. She said it had been a long road to get where they are, but well worth it. I got the chance to pray with her and write her a card that got mailed out the following week. Their story reminds me of how faithful our God really is!

Week two meant my intern class, and I traveled to different campuses! During this time of traveling, we got to attend Perrysburg, Findlay, and South Toledo. At Perrysburg, we got the chance to serve in Cedarville alongside the kid's team! Findlay and South were amazing and unique campuses of CedarCreek where we got to step into what a given week would look like for them.

In week three, Perrysburg Staff had “Nachos and Muchachos” to connect with new people and families that are new to CedarCreek. I got to meet a family who made "At the Movies" their first series of coming back to attending in person since covid! 

Week four held its own joys and challenges. I got the opportunity to teach the Perrysburg Kids the story of Esther! It was a ton of fun and full of lots of laughs. Along with teaching, since Ohio State University lost against Michigan, I got pied in the face by every Michigan fan in our kids classes over the weekend. While my hair was filled with shaving cream by the end, it opened some doors of conversations to have with some kids and made it all worth it.

In the end, November was full of next steps both observed and acted on. I love that I get to be a part of something bigger than myself! Thank You! Thank you for choosing to support me and giving me an opportunity to experience life alongside others. Helping people to find their purpose has truly been a huge joy! Thank you!



Next Steps in October

Monday, November 28, 2022

Pictured is my best friend Julia and I.

This month, God called me to be bold and step outside my comfort zone, and trust in Him. October has been full of boldness and growth. During October, I had the opportunity to teach Middle Schoolers about what putting God first can look like. I had the opportunity to travel to some of our different campuses to see how they serve the community they are in and ask questions. During Halloween Weekend, we hosted Halloweekend, which was a blast!

Halloweekend was an amazing weekend full of fun costumes and a choose-your-own-adventure experience. While picking out my costume for Halloweekend, my best friend, Julia, talked me into going as an old man. I asked her if she would be willing to come as an old lady. She said Yes! We ended up going as an old couple lol. This was only her second time to CedarCreek! Throughout the weekend, I got to introduce her to the staff and some of the Dream Team we have. After the weekend was over, I asked her what she thought. She said she loved being a part of something bigger than herself and felt so welcome by everyone. Her bold “Yes!” impacted not only her but also the staff and Dream Team! Many people came to me the following week, saying how she encouraged and inspired them to be bold the following week. It is so cool what God can do when we are willing to be bold for Him and His kingdom!

One thing I love as an Intern is the boldness I get the opportunity to live out in opportunities like dressing up for Halloweekend. I had a number of conversations with the Dream Team and Guests about what their next bold step could be. Dressing up while outside of my comfort zone allowed me an opportunity to bring joy to so many people. I loved seeing people laugh, smile, and even in some instances, shake their heads but smile when they saw me. The Lord is showing me boldness in Him is worth it every time. Big or small, He can use it if you allow Him to.


Bright and Bold

Friday, September 30, 2022

Month TWO!! I am in complete awe of God and how He moves! This month, I was able to come alongside a young girl as her Baptism Buddy and walk with her as she took her next step of faith! When I asked her how she was feeling about it, she said she was so excited! She had been wanting to get Baptized for a while and was so eager to take this step. I prayed with her and walked with her all the way down to the tub. The closer we got, the more excited she became! Seeing the boldness in her faith was really encouraging and reminded me of the passage that talks about having childlike faith.  


This month, I had a Dream Team Member challenge me to take my Next Step in boldness. She complimented me on my bright shoes and encouraged me to wear more bright colors. After talking with her, I made a deal with her that I would wear bright colors if she did. So we set a date, and both showed up in bright, bold outfits! Little did I remember that I was also supposed to lead our Dream Team in Huddle that same weekend! Two bold steps in one weekend! One in outward appearance and another in leadership. While a little nerve-racking at first, it was well worth it! The conversations I was able to have with Guests and Dream Team based on my outfit that led deeper conversations was truly amazing! Wearing the bold colors while being bold in leading the Huddle made me think of the little girl I was a Baptism Buddy with at the beginning of the month and her boldness. How cool is our God! So detail oriented!  


Pictured is the Dream Team Member Madeliene whom I coordinated with!  


First Month of Next Steps

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

One month complete! Wow, how time flies! I have gotten to meet so many amazing people and hear their stories! This past month has been full of learning, listening, and growing in so many ways. After some Onboarding, I got to attend the Global Leadership Summit and make connections with CedarCreek Staff across all of our different campuses. With my internship, I get the privilege to serve with and encourage some amazing teams! This month, I got to serve alongside/cheer with the Baptism Team, have fun welcoming guests with the Parking Lot Team in the rain (lots of laughs and puddle jumping included), and pray with some amazing prayer warriors on the Prayer Team for 21 Days of Prayer; as well as kick off the 2022-2023 Ministry Year with the Dream Team Launch hyping up and encouraging our Dream Team! It has been a month full of transitions, trials, and joys. The Lord has left me in awe with His attention to detail and faithfulness! I can't wait to see what the next month holds! 


Pictured is my Supervisor Cindy and me from one of my first weeks as an Intern. Getting to come alongside her and share God's love with others has been such a joyful experience!



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