CANADA
NEWS SPRING 2019
Walking the project site in Ethiopia
INTERSECTING FAITH AND VOCATION “...use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms...” I Peter 4:10 Every design professional’s work can become their vocation, given meaning as a tool for building God’s kingdom. Each can play a specific but important role in the Body of Christ and, for this reason, EMI is called to equip the next generation of Christian design professionals, inspiring each to a missional approach to work, regardless of the context. EMI’s Internship Program has long embodied EMI’s core value of discipleship. It’s been a professional and spiritual incubator for senior-level university students and recent graduates. Numerous EMI staff and even office directors got their start in the EMI internship program. In July 2018, EMI Canada launched a brand-new program - Exploration EMI - for recent high school graduates and undergraduate students following their first or second year of design studies. This three-week program provides young people with an opportunity to explore how the design professions can intersect with ministry. Participants receive hands-on experience in the context of a multi-disciplinary, faith-oriented, international development organization. That first summer, two participants joined us in the Calgary office. They participated in our office daily devotions; learned about the history, mission, and work of EMI; gained exposure to various design software platforms; and assisted with the completion of that term’s projects. Beyond their interaction with staff and interns in the office, they explored the local area, which included a day trip to Banff National Park. Participant feedback was very positive, with one reporting that her time at Exploration EMI helped to clarify her educational direction and affirmed her desire to one day engage in vocational ministry.
Exploration EMI participants join interns and staff on a hike in Banff
In July 2019, EMI Canada will again host Exploration EMI students. Contact the EMI Canada to learn how to apply. In the EMI Canada Summer Newsletter, we will introduce the brand-new EMI Fellowship Program, an intensive earlycareer development program geared to those who seek to go beyond the standard EMI Internship.