More information on P2C-Students opportunities

How much Power to Change pays is based on a number of factors including previous experience, tenure with Power to Change, geographical area of service, and the level of responsibility of one’s role. 

Taking all of these factors into consideration, starting salaries are set by our Board of Directors. All staff roles with Power to Change – Students require Ministry Partner Development (MPD) to raise funds for salary, benefits, and ministry expenses.

P2C will deposit your salary into your Canadian bank account twice a month.

Ministry funds are used to cover your salary, benefits (when applicable), reimbursable ministry expenses, provincial employer costs, and central operating costs for Power to Change. 

Your salary should be sufficient to enable you to save for the future, tithe, and also pay off student debts if necessary.

Yes! Just as in English, our French ministry offers opportunities to work directly with students, and behind the scenes (such as through web development or translation).

Other people have wrestled with this question. It’s good to learn from them, such as by reading these resources from The Travelling Team. But your situation will be unique, so we encourage you to share your thoughts with a pastor or mentor so they can pray and process with you. Our New Staff and Intern Coordinator would also be happy to offer support in navigating this issue.

First, P2C offers opportunities in almost any area of employment, from IT to finance to teaching. If you are passionate about a particular career, please let us see if we can find a match for you. 

Second, polls, such as this one, suggest that many students don’t end up working in their specific field of study. Many find jobs more broadly related to their degree. Like many employers, we value the life skills, maturity, and character you’ve gained from higher education. 

Third, for some staff and interns God uses their area of study to open doors to minister to students in similar fields. For example, a science background could help you minister to science students, or a fine art degree could help you connect with the arts community on campus.

Fourth, internships or a staff role with P2C may not give you experience in a very specific area of study, like marine biology, but you will gain many other skills like fundraising, public speaking, project planning, and teaching, to name a few.

Christians sometimes make the mistake of thinking that the world is divided into “sacred” and “secular” jobs. In reality, God created us all for work (Genesis 1:28-30) and gave us different gifts and abilities to serve in different areas. If everyone worked in a traditional “ministry” role, well, we wouldn’t have a very functional society! All followers of Jesus are called to glorify God and share his love with others, no matter what they do for a living. In that sense, all work is ministry, without levels of holiness between jobs.

We encourage everyone to discern whether P2C-Students is the right place for them, but we also celebrate when Christians are sent out into all workplaces. It’s not wrong to want to work in a “secular” job.

We do not expect staff to be perfect, all-knowing super-humans. Although we want to make sure your walk with God is vibrant and growing, we know that faith is a process. What matters most is a heart for Jesus, a love for others, continued growth, and a teachable and willing heart.

If you have specific concerns, though, the interview process can help bring clarity. 

Also keep in mind that as a P2C employee you’ll receive training that’s meant to help ensure you have a solid faith foundation and a life that represents Jesus well. You could also read this blog post: “How to know you’re ready for a mission trip.” Although it was written about short-term mission trips, the questions at the end still apply when thinking about working in ministry.

An internship with P2C-Students will still be a great start to your career. You’ll develop skills such as team building, project management, initiative-taking, collaboration, organization, and administration. Your role may also build technical skills like videography, marketing, graphic design, writing, and even software development.

Furthermore, your own faith, leadership, and character will grow. And developing yourself as a person is valuable no matter where you go next in life.

No. That’s the beauty of doing an internship. You can try working for P2C-S for one year, maybe two, to see if it’s a good fit. God calls some interns to join P2C-S longer term, while others discern that he is leading them elsewhere. Either is okay and we will bless you in your next steps as you follow the Spirit’s leading.

First, you’ll fill out an application, like this one. Then an initial interview allows us to get to know you and your heart behind applying. It will also help you to continue discerning if an internship is right for you. 

The next step is a more formal job interview, with the goal of understanding what God is calling you to do in this next season based on your previous experience and existing skills. Each stage in this process helps to confirm your decision to do an internship with P2C-S.

You’ll receive a week of training as you prepare to start raising support (including learning the biblical basis for MPD and how to fundraise well). There are two more training intensives (in August and December) on a variety of topics to help you do your job well. And throughout the year you’ll receive ongoing training. In a first year internship you’ll receive training in understanding how your life fits into God’s mission of renewal and restoration, partnering with the Spirit, and different models of sharing the gospel. Second internship topics include leadership, biblical understanding, discipleship, and prayer. 

The best part about the training is that it’s meant to not only help you in your internship with P2C-S, but also with the rest of your life. You’ll grow as an individual and as a follower of Jesus.

For each internship year, you’ll need to raise financial support to cover your salary, benefits, and all ministry expenses. For an internship in Canada, you’ll need to raise roughly $35,000 – $45,000. The amount for international internships (STINT) is higher as these are longer and include additional travel-related expenses. Note that Power to Change offers a salary range based on several factors; you choose how much you are paid within minimum and maximum amounts. A higher salary results in a larger fundraising goal. Everyone’s financial situation is unique, so our Internship Coordinator will work with you to select the right salary to meet your needs.

Practically this might mean shortening the length of your internship (e.g. from two semesters to one), continuing to raise support part-time while also working in your role, or not interning at all. It can feel really disappointing to not reach a fundraising goal. But it will not make you a failure. Success is trusting God’s provision, even if it comes in unexpected ways.

Being in debt does not automatically disqualify you from serving as an intern. We will assess each candidate’s situation on a case-by-case basis. Part of the application process is to gather more information (individual loan amounts, interest rates, monthly payments, etc.). 

It is our desire to help you look at your current reality, as well as the near and distant future in order to help you be the best steward of your finances. We want you to consider the potential personal costs associated with high debt, which include greater stress and anxiety, plus a decreased ability to save, give generously, and take advantage of opportunities

International interns have unique questions to consider. We have more info about our STINT program coming soon.

Internships are best suited for those who prefer a one to two year commitment. You may not know your long term plans, or want to test out what ministry is like before making a bigger commitment. Perhaps you have a fixed amount of time before your next endeavor (ie: one year gap before grad school.) The process of raising funds for an internship is also faster and gets you serving in your role sooner.

Permanent staff roles with P2C are ideal for people who are interested in a commitment of more than two years. As you raise an ongoing monthly support goal, the initial process of raising funds may take longer than an internship, but it offers greater stability and sets you up for longevity in ministry for years to come. It also offers higher salary options, and the potential of education leaves, sabbaticals, and tax credits.

No. Most people apply to permanent staff roles after interning for a year or two, but if you’re ready, you can apply now.

There are actually many stages of discernment you go through before joining staff. First, you’ll fill out an application, like this one. Before being accepted, there will be two interviews, the first of which is to get to know you and your heart behind applying. It’s a discernment interview to help you continue processing your application. 

The next step is a more formal job interview, with the goal of understanding what God is calling you to do. And after that there’s the process of Ministry Partner Development. Each stage along the way can help with confirming your decision to work with P2C-S.

As a staff member with P2C-Students you will raise financial support for your salary and ministry expenses through the process of Ministry Partner Development (MPD). It’s an opportunity to trust God and invite Christians in your community to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of students. 

Fundraising may sound intimidating, but don’t worry—we’ll help! You’ll receive training, a coach, and a peer support group who will encourage you as you trust God to provide. You won’t be doing it alone.

Along with financial partners, you will raise up a team of prayer partners to come alongside you during your ministry year. Many staff have expressed gratitude for the MPD process because it means they have a whole team of people encouraging and praying for them which is vital to their ministry.

To learn more about the support raising process, check out these great articles from our friends at The Traveling Team.

P2C is organized as a religious order in Canada. Only commissioned staff are considered members of this order, since they are set apart for service to God and make a public commitment to serve God through P2C. They can’t receive any additional active income apart from their salary with P2C.

Commissioned and Associate Staff: The amount of monthly support needed depends on several factors including salary, benefits, allowances, hours, experience, and ministry expenses. Full-time staff newly entering the workforce can expect to raise about $5000 per month to cover their salary, benefits, ministry expenses, and allowances.

Affiliate Staff: You do not need to raise monthly funding. You would only raise funds to cover any incurred ministry expenses. Depending on your role, that amount will vary significantly. 

Staff with P2C-S spend extended time in their first year of ministry building a robust Ministry Partnership Team to establish a stable form of income (this season typically ranges anywhere from 3-12 months). Thus when accepting a permanent position it’s recommended to assume at least a three year commitment to allow for a successful MPD season and then at least two years serving in your desired ministry role. 

Note that this is a suggested commitment to allow for fruitfulness in your role, but it’s not binding. We understand God may direct people in unique ways.

If you’d prefer to only work with us for one or two years, we recommend an internship, as the season of Ministry Partner Development is much shorter.

If you join as a commissioned or associate staff, there are opportunities to further your education. P2C-S is committed to investing in the ongoing development of its staff. 

We have many staff who are currently working full-time with P2C while also pursuing part-time graduate studies. After a few years on staff with P2C, you may be able to pursue studies relevant to your P2C role as a part of your job. For example, in discussion with their supervisor, full time staff may devote one day a week (approximately) towards their studies.