It’s fall and for Parkside Church that means welcoming this year’s class of interns: Lee Nankervis, Adam Callaway, and Nate Vogel. These three men will spend this year studying, serving, and discerning God’s calling to pastoral ministry. Through an immersive and comprehensive year-long internship at Parkside, these men will get a behind-the-scenes look at the everyday realities, challenges, and rewards of full-time ministry. In addition to hands-on teaching and pastoral care experience, the internship includes additional seminary education through Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

The Path to Parkside

Nate, Lee, and Adam all arrived at Parkside this past August and each one has taken a unique path to this destination. 

While Nate grew up in a Christian home and attended church regularly, he graduated from Taylor University with a degree in Math and Physics with an eye toward becoming an architect. 

Lee, who did not grow up in a Christian home, became a Christian as a sophomore in high school, and went full bore majoring in Bible and Theology while at Wheaton College. 

For Adam, an Economics major and also a Wheaton alumnus, the Parkside setting is similar to his childhood church, but he spent last year in the business world working for a trucking logistics company. “The worlds clash totally,” says Adam referring to his corporate experience. “Out of a 2,300 person company, I knew two Christians. Since I moved here, I don’t know anybody who isn’t a Christian.” 

Nate also attended a church in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, similar to Parkside, but he is looking forward to being more connected. “I realized in college that something I was missing in the church experience was being really plugged in,” explains Nate. “I realize that I inherently benefit from being an employee of [Parkside] and that naturally means that I’m connected with the pastoral staff, but I’m also serving alongside volunteers from the church, and working with other team members of the church, so I’m appreciative of the fact that I’m able to see firsthand how the church can operate as a family to encourage and sharpen one another.”

Discerning the Call

Discerning the call to pastoral ministry is what this year is about for these men. Lee and his wife, Kristin, who deferred going to medical school at Texas Tech for a year, both feel called to long-term missions. Nate knows he will be a communicator of the Bible in some way, but his experience working with non-profit filmmakers has shown him that communicating the gospel may take an alternative route through media and film. For Adam, his experience establishing and running a basketball and tutoring prison ministry has him looking at a path toward pastoral ministry in a traditional church setting. 

Each intern has a unique perspective and brings different life experiences with them, but each one knows that this experience will help develop and hone their skills. Former intern and fellow Taylor graduate, Levi Stuckey, shared his internship experience with Nate and emphasized that Parkside teaches its people to appreciate the authority and the power of the Scriptures and the application of it to everyday life. 

Lee has heard the same thing. “It was really encouraging hearing other people who know Parkside say, ‘That’s the kind of place where they’ll sharpen you and they’ve got awesome guys on staff that are totally in your corner.’ I feel like we’ve experienced that already and it’s a great place to learn and grow as a teacher, and to build relationships and be sharpened.” 

On a More Personal Note

When the fellows aren’t in meetings, studying for class, or preparing a sermon, you will most likely find them reading or playing sports. 

Lee loves playing volleyball and snowboarding. “If anyone wants to play volleyball, they should call me,” laughs Lee. “I love volleyball. I played in high school and it’s been my passion. I like competition, whatever game there might be, I love it.” Lee’s favorite authors include J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

Nate is an outdoors enthusiast who has recently taken up trail running with Parkside team member, Dan Schillero.“We’ve been running in South Chagrin reservation,” says Nate. “I had no idea before coming to Cleveland that they have that sort of thing. They have hiking trails right there in the middle of the city.” Nate also loves s’mores, so if anyone is having a bonfire, get in touch with Nate.

Adam golfs and plays basketball, but despite his namesake (Callaway) he plays Titleist clubs. Adam and Lindsay love burritos, so if anyone can recommend a good burrito place (other than Chipotle), let Adam know. Adam highly recommends, The Meaning of Marriage, by Tim Keller. “It’s good for anybody, even if you’re not considering getting married.”

How You Can Pray

For Lee: “My wife, Kristin, is still looking for a job in the area. She’s certified as an EMT, and she’s waiting for her license to come in the mail. I’d ask for prayer that the license would come along quickly and that she would be able to apply for and lock down a job.”

For Nate: “I’m very excited and also terrified to teach. I’ve had a little bit of teaching experience, but if I’m not looking from the right perspective, it can also be a little bit nerve-racking. My prayer would be that I let the Word speak and that I focus more on pleasing God and not on pleasing man. That I would be an effective communicator of what is in the Word and not throw in my fancy frills and silly stories that might distract from the true meaning and power of the Word.”

For Adam: “To discern the call and learn how to love my wife. To keep it a heart thing with God and to always be realizing that you always need Him. It’s tempting to take the reins and say, ‘I’m going to teach what I want to.’ To stay prayerful. This is all new stuff for me.”