Life in the Light Internship 100% Remote

VOICE UP LIFE IN THE LIGHT PURPOSE PATHWAY INTERNSHIP
Master Template
JOB DESCRIPTION
FAITH-BASED LEADERSHIP & MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INTERNSHIP
Academic Credit
VOICE UP LIFE IN THE LIGHT PURPOSE PATHWAY INTERNSHIP
Exploring Purpose at the Intersection of Faith, Mental Health, and Youth Leadership
Voice Up's early-stage model has already engaged students and emerging professionals from more than 80 universities and learning environments worldwide, contributing nearly 3,000 hours of logged purpose-driven work.
Life in the Light is the integration of faith-based principles with mental health advocacy and youth leadership development. The Voice Up Life in the Light Purpose Pathway Internship invites undergraduate and graduate students to explore the foundational question: How can purpose-driven leaders activate the Fruits of the Spirit to transform how communities support mental and behavioral health? Rather than focusing only on clinical interventions or statistics, students here connect scripture-inspired wisdom, authentic storytelling, lived experiences, and Christ-like principles to the transformative work of youth mental health advocacy and peer leadership. This internship is designed to help students explore their emerging professional identity within a field that shapes everything from suicide prevention to peer support networks, faith-based counseling, student leadership development, mental health stigma reduction, and building caring families grounded in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
This program runs on:
The Fuller Method of reflective mentoring and narrative identity development
The B Curriculum for clarity, self-discovery, and meaning-making
Voice Up's Five Core Principles
The Fruits of the Spirit as leadership foundations
Scripture-inspired devotionals and reflection
Students leave not only with skills but with clarity of purpose, confidence, and a blueprint for leading mental health transformation in their communities.
LEARNING GOALS
Students completing this internship will:
Understand Youth Mental Health Advocacy as a Purpose-Oriented Calling
Examine how faith-based leadership and mental health advocacy are shaped by God's love, the Fruits of the Spirit, authentic connection, peer support, and community transformation.
Connect Personal Faith Journey to Mental Health Leadership
Identify how your own life story, spiritual growth, and experiences with mental wellness intersect with opportunities to serve peers struggling with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Develop Critical Skills in Faith-Based Mental Health Leadership
Including peer counseling, spiritual mentorship, suicide prevention strategies, community mobilization, Christ-like communication, stigma reduction campaigns, and youth leadership development.
Create Purpose-Based Mental Health and Leadership Programs
Students will design practical peer support initiatives, student-led mental health campaigns, faith-based wellness programs, or community outreach events.
Craft an Identity as a Faith-Based Mental Health Leader
Through narrative writing, mentor support, scripture study, and reflective practice, students articulate who they are becoming within the field.
INTERNSHIP STRUCTURE (8 12 WEEKS)
WEEKS 1 2 "Know Thyself: Living in the Light"
The B Curriculum (Be Curious, Be Honest, Be Courageous )
Personal faith and mental health narrative
Fuller Method mentor conversation
Exploration of the Fruits of the Spirit as leadership framework
Scripture study: Matthew 5:14-16, Galatians 5:22-23
Reflection: "How can I be the light in my community?"
WEEKS 3 4 "Understanding Youth Mental Health Crisis through Purpose"
Mental health crisis among teens and young adults (suicide statistics, stigma)
Faith-based approaches to mental wellness
Cultural humility and community-specific needs (rural youth, African American youth)
Mini-literature review on youth mental health topic student selects
Skill-building: Peer support and active listening techniques
WEEKS 5 6 "Purpose in Action: Designing Student-Led Solutions"
Systems mapping (schools, churches, community organizations, peer networks)
Student Leadership Academy planning fundamentals
Designing a student-led mental health initiative or community outreach
Mentor session: refining call to action strategies
Peer collaboration groups
WEEKS 7 8 "Your Life in the Light Purpose Blueprint"
Capstone design + written reflection
Mental health awareness campaign or student leadership toolkit
Contribution to the Purpose Library
Final mentor session
OPTIONAL WEEKS 9 12 Advanced Faith-Based Mental Health Track
Research assistantship support on youth suicide prevention
Program evaluation for Student Leadership Academies
Grant writing for faith-based mental health programs
Presentation to church leaders, school administrators, or community organizations
DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES
Each student completes:
A Life in the Light Identity Statement
A reflective piece integrating faith journey with professional commitment to youth mental health leadership.
A Community Mental Health Map
Visualizing how faith communities, schools, families, and peer networks intersect to support mental wellness.
A "Fruits of the Spirit Leadership Brief"
Applying love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to a real-world mental health challenge.
A Purpose-Based Student Leadership Program Proposal
Such as:
- A Student Leadership Academy for mental health awareness
- A peer support network grounded in faith principles
- A church-based youth mental wellness initiative
- A scripture-inspired devotional series for students in crisis
A Future Pathway Plan
Next steps for graduate programs in counseling, theology, public health, social work, youth ministry, or careers in faith-based mental health advocacy.
THE THREE PARTICIPATION PATHWAYS
Academic Credit
Volunteer Service
Voice Up University
All pathways receive the same quality of mentorship, access, and purpose development.
ALIGNMENT WITH PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES
This internship aligns with:
CDC suicide prevention best practices
American Association of Suicidology (AAS) prevention frameworks
National Association of Christian Counselors (NACC) standards
Association of Youth Mental Health (AYMH) peer support guidelines
The internship supports early pipeline development for future peer counselors, youth ministers, mental health advocates, faith-based social workers, school counselors, and Building Caring Families leaders.
JOB DETAILS
Employment
Internship
Industry
Faith-Based Mental Health & Youth Leadership