internships

DuPage County, Illinois Cultural & Religious Landscape Research Intern

DuPage County is one of the most culturally and religiously diverse counties in the Midwest. People from many nations, faith traditions, languages, and backgrounds live, work, worship, and build community here.

This internship exists to listen carefully, observe respectfully, and learn deeply about that diversity so that churches and Christian leaders can better understand the communities they are called to serve with humility and wisdom, make disciples, and love.

This is not a project focused on targeting, ranking, or critiquing religious communities. Rather, it is a year-long effort to document what is present in DuPage County: its religious communities, cultural institutions, and everyday gathering spaces, using publicly available information and ethical field observation.

The goal is to support the work of To Every Tribe’s training department by developing a model demographic study that can be used to train and equip pioneer church planters.

Internship Details

Location:

DuPage County, Illinois – Office out of Grace Church of DuPage

Dates:

12-month internship
Start date flexible
(ideal start: Summer or Fall)

Compensation:
Paid internship through personal support raising (expenses covered)

Key Responsibilities

  • Research and document religious communities and worship centers across DuPage County using public sources
  • Create visual maps and summaries that illustrate patterns and geographic distribution
  • Identify and map cultural and ethnic gathering spaces, including community organizations and cultural institutions
  • Write brief, clear descriptions that focus on presence and community rhythms rather than evaluation
  • Observe and document “third places” such as restaurants, cafes, markets, parks, and community hubs
  • Follow ethical research standards and culturally appropriate language throughout the project
  • Develop and maintain a clean, organized research database
  • Participate in regular check-ins, mentoring, and progress reviews

Qualifications

  • Undergraduate or graduate student (or recent graduate) in ministry, theology, anthropology, sociology, geography, urban studies, or a related field preferred but not required
  • Interest in missions, church ministry, or cross-cultural engagement
  • Demonstrated curiosity, humility, and willingness to learn about diverse communities
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Ability to work independently over a long-term project
  • Basic research, writing, and digital literacy skills
  • GIS or mapping experience helpful but not required

What You’ll Gain

  • Mentorship from experienced leaders in missions, church planting, and cultural engagement
  • Hands-on experience in ethical cultural research and field observation
  • Training in mapping, data organization, and applied demographic analysis
  • A substantial portfolio-level project useful for future ministry, academic, or mission work
  • Deeper understanding of how global diversity is expressed in a local context
  • Opportunity to contribute meaningful work that will serve churches and ministry leaders long-term

How to Apply

Text:
Steve Leston at (956) 238-3719
Email:

steve.leston@toeverytribe.org

Submit your resume or CV by email or text and begin a conversation about serving with To Every Tribe.