Impact Intern Spotlight: Emily Archer

Emily is a 16 year old from Missouri. Emily 

is a first year intern with Impact. She

loves to model, sing, shop, and

loves Smoothie King. 

Never Too Young

The impact internship has been something I've seen people around me do, and it peaked my interest from the moment I heard about it. My brother did the internship when he was sixteen, and I very distinctly remember being so jealous that I couldn't join them on their adventures. It felt like an eternity before I would get to experience that for myself!

I wanted to do the internship because I saw the transformation in my brother's life, spiritually and mentally. I knew that I needed to sign up for it as soon as possible! As I patiently waited for four— yes, FOUR!— years, I watched my friends around me grow and develop into who Christ called them to be. Yet, I felt stagnant in my purpose, as if God couldn't use me because of how young I am. 

I love what 1 Timothy 4:11-12 says, "Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity." I had heard this verse before at church camp, but being on the internship and with the team has taught me the truth in those verses. I truly realized this summer that it doesn't matter what you do, who you are, or how old you are. If you are living in the word, love, faith, integrity, and good demeanor, God will bring His favor on your life, and He will use you for amazing things. 

Everyone on this team has learned what it's like to serve behind the scenes, and I couldn't be more proud to be part of a team that serves others wholeheartedly. For anyone who is considering joining the team, this is my personal disclaimer. The entire seven weeks or so that you're gone will not be all rainbows and sunshine. There will be times, for some people more than others, where you need to take a minute to yourself and gain strength from God, but at the end of the day it is worth it. Your memories, what you learn, and the people you meet will be worth more than your frustrations or hardships. You're spending your summer showing others the love of Christ, and that is more important than any self-centered problem you might face. 

I have grown up with family in ministry, but this summer has shown me the true ups and downs of it. I am still not exactly sure what God has in store for my life, and I have learned to know that that is perfectly okay, normal even! I know without a doubt that with continuous faith, persistence, and unconditional love for Christ, everything will work itself out for my benefit. 

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Romans 8:26-28 MSG