The internship is supported financially by what we call "tent-making," a term generated by the example of the Apostle Paul who was by trade a tent-maker (Acts 18:1-3) while also quite active in his ministry! Similarly, our pastor Guy Pfanz has also lived an example of being bi-vocational. During the years when church-giving was not adequate to support his family, Pastor Guy sold and serviced espresso equipment as a means of supporting his ministry. He continues to do so today, as a means of both freeing up the church's resources and interfacing with the world (meeting people and forming relationships outside of the church) through his business interactions. From this stems our value of being "tent-makers." The education and experience received in the MAC internship is free due to the fact that those who participate are supported by outside jobs. Our jobs, in turn, give us practical life experience as well as an interface with the outside world. A majority of the interns work together in a coffee roasting business, Alliance World Coffees, while other interns work part-time jobs elsewhere.
A semi-flexible schedule allows interns to serve within the church body at Muncie Alliance Church, which helps equip them for further ministry with a heart of service. Jobs around the church and community realistically portray what it’s like to be a servant of God and others. The location of the internship right inside a church allows the opportunity to apply directly what is learned within the classroom setting.
A chief goal of the internship is to make followers and servants of Jesus Christ. Serving gets to be played out in very practical ways as interns facilitate MAC through general cleaning and maintenance, in leading and teaching, and by serving those within the church body in practical ways. In addition to cleaning and maintenance, interns are encouraged to be active in ministries of the church and practice vision by pioneering new ministries at MAC and within the community.