“At end the day, it is what you make of it. What ever you put in you will get out. It is about your effort.”  That is how Cody Warns, 2017 Elisha intern, summarizes his experience.

Warns' internship experience was at Spearfish United Methodist Church.  "I spent time doing a little bit or everything. I went out in the beginning of June and was at Spearfish until my sister started school at Black Hills State University. I feel like I got a chance to do a variety of things.”

He spent time with the youth group, planning and decorating for Vacation Bible School, played the organ, went on hospital and home visits, and preached. File photo: Cody Warns.

“I preached for two weekends. I really was not used to speaking in front of a group. I noticed as time went on I felt comfortable with preaching,” said Warns.

The first sermon was little more nerve wracking. It was about Esau convincing Jacob to give up his birthright for food. “I focused on how we get caught up in putting things ahead of God’s love,” explained Warns.

Warns described his second sermon. “My second sermon was about stepping up—the idea of living through death and what it means to give up your life to God.”

Rev. Scott McKirdy, Spearfish UMC, served as the mentor for Warns. “One week Scott had three funerals. I helped with two and observed one. I learned about the process of being with the family and people who need you. There was a lot to learn about dealing with people and what it means to reach people and hear their stories,” said Warns.

Coordinating a block party for Spearfish UMC was another task of Warns’. “There was a lot of organization and coordinating. Thinking about how everything went, managing a large event, is something I need to work.”

Visitation is something that Warns would like to get more experience with. Even though he had some experiences this summer, and noted that McKirdy was a good model, Warns would like to gain more confidence with hospital and home visits. Photo by Dave Stucke: Cody Warns hanging out with other Elisha interns at Annual Conference 2017.

Currently, Warns, a Dakota Wesleyan University graduate, is taking a year off to work and so some exploring. “I am still exploring. I am reading and studying, listening for what for I am supposed to do. I am not quite sure where I will end up. I am feeling closer to a direction but still do not have it quite figured out.”