WS - Spring Term - INTERNSHIP – First Baptist Church of Pikeville – Media & Communications– IWS

University of Pikeville • Pikeville, KY

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Media & Communications Internship at First Baptist Church of Pikeville provides a University of Pikeville student with practical experience creating digital and printed communications in a ministry and nonprofit setting. Reporting to Pastor Shawn Dobbins and working under the guidance of church staff, the intern will learn to produce social media content, worship graphics, videos, and printed materials for weekly services and special events. The intern will help communicate the church’s mission, strengthen its online presence, and connect church members and the surrounding community with its ministries. This is a supervised learning opportunity designed to develop creative skills, professional experience, and a portfolio of completed work.

The internship requires at least 80 hours during the semester. The student must concurrently enroll in CVL 401: Integrated Internship Experience and successfully complete the course, using the two-credit-hour option. Shawn Dobbins, the site supervisor, provides overall direction; church staff provide assignments, training, and feedback. Projects reflect the student’s experience and learning goals, with responsibility increasing as skills develop. Staff approval is required before public-facing content is published. Approved projects may be included in a professional portfolio.

The preferred schedule is one hour Sunday morning and four hours per week in the office, arranged around the intern’s schedule during the 9 a.m.–3 p.m. window. The position is located at First Baptist Church of Pikeville, 126 4th Street, Pikeville, KY 41501, and pays $10.50 per hour.

Requirements

• Be enrolled full-time and in good standing at the University of Pikeville.
• Demonstrate prior knowledge in Communication, Marketing, Film and Media Arts, or related work appropriate to the position’s responsibilities.
• Work a minimum of 80 hours during the semester.
• Concurrently enroll in and successfully complete CVL 401: Integrated Internship Experience, using the two-credit-hour option.
• Affirm agreement with the church’s statement of faith and maintain conduct consistent with those beliefs throughout the internship.
• Demonstrate dependability, initiative, and the ability to meet deadlines and receive constructive feedback.
• Use good judgment when handling personal information, photographs, and ministry stories.
• Support and accurately represent the church’s mission, beliefs, and ministry priorities.

Nice To Haves

• Coursework, experience, or academic interest in social media, graphic design, photography, video production, or nonprofit communications.
• Basic writing and computer skills, attention to detail, and willingness to learn creative software.
• Familiarity with Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, or video editing tools; helpful but not required.
• Skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Canva, social media and new technology, attention to detail, active listening, written and verbal communication, customer focus, and willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Help plan, write, design, and schedule approved social media posts that highlight church ministries, share stories, promote events, and encourage engagement.
• Assist with sermon series artwork, presentation slides, announcements, and other visual materials for weekly worship services.
• Learn to capture and edit photographs, short videos, ministry stories, sermon clips, and event promotions.
• Use provided AI tools and other AI tools as needed.
• Help create and proofread bulletins, flyers, invitations, brochures, signs, and other materials for services and special events.
• Use consistent colors, fonts, imagery, and messaging so church communications reflect its identity and mission.
• Work with staff to maintain a content calendar, gather ministry information, and meet production deadlines.
• Adapt messages for church members, guests, and the wider community, and review basic engagement results to improve future content.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed