The Iona Project chapel immersion program offers internships for those interested in sharing a common life of prayer, scripture and mutual accountability, while conducting youth ministry in a residential childcare setting.
What is the Iona Project?
Iona Overview
Iona Mission
Certification
Program Components
Frequently Asked Questions
Iona Overview
Our interdenominational chapel program supports the Christ-centered atmosphere
at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. Rooted in scripture, the ministry blends innovation with tradition, proclaiming the truth of scripture in our very unique setting.
Our Four Key Ministry Principles
- We are interdenominational. Our Christian chapel ministry recognizes the interdenominational makeup of the Body of Christ.
- We are patient. We believe coercion obstructs conversion. People need time and space to consider God’s grace.
- We are unpretentious. We honor difficult questions without shock and shaming. When there’s room to doubt it becomes possible to believe.
- We are evangelical. We choose devotion over fanaticism. We believe the Gospel spreads outward as we allow it to sink deeper inward.
Iona Mission
Our Mission
We believe that life formed in prayer together in scripture is vital. The Iona group’s life is rooted in spiritual discipline and includes:
- Immersive Bible study
- Weekly Communion
- 4 hours a week of guided fixed-hour prayer
- 56 hours of neurological trauma-informed childcare training from Cal Farley’s staff
- 35 hours a week of supervised youth ministry
- Retreats and spiritual formation activities, as well as theology and ministry training
- Weekly community meal
- Capstone presentation
Certification
Certificate in Spiritual Formation & Youth Ministry
Those completing all requirements of the program will receive a “Certificate in Spiritual Formation & Youth Ministry” from Cal Farley’s Childcare Institute. The program requirements for certification consist of completing the full program year at Boys Ranch. Requirements include:
- 1000 supervised youth ministry hours.
- 700 hours of directed spiritual formation.
- No less than 56 hours of trauma-informed childcare training.
- The completion of a final capstone paper.
Program Components
Program Components
The Iona Project chapel immersion program has three primary components:
- Intentional Spiritual Formation. Iona Project interns will participate in an ordered life of prayer. Living together for a year in our residential childcare community, interns will participate in four directed retreats, monthly spiritual direction, weekly worship and Communion, weekly scripture meditation, a weekly gathering for nurture and accountability, and daily prayer.
- Trauma-informed Childcare Training. Iona Project interns will complete no less than 56 hours of childcare training. Additional training opportunities such as Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) and Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) are also available.
- Youth Ministry Conduction. While working at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch chapel, Iona Project interns will help conduct a rich array of youth ministry. Responsibilities are two-fold, consisting of both program support of our inter-denominational chapel as well as pastoral care of our residents. Worship, Christian education, weekly activities, events, and trips are among the assigned program duties. Pastoral duties consist of discipleship, crisis care, and hospital visitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch?
Cal Farley’s is one of America’s largest privately-funded child and family service providers specializing in both residential and community-based services at no cost to the families of children in our care. Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch is the residential, or campus-based program. At the Boys Ranch campus, 10 to 12 children live in each of the homes with house parent couples providing supervision, mentoring and parenting. If n needed, our basic-care services can accommodate 24-hour supervision.
Where is the campus located?
Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch (zip code 79010) is located in northeast Oldham County, Texas. It lies on US-385, 36 miles northwest of Amarillo.
What is the minimum age for applicants?
Must be at least 21 years of age for one-year program, and minimum of 18 years old for summer program.
Is this a paid internship?
Yes. Our Human Resources Department can answer questions about wages, as well as benefits.
Benefits include:
- Housing provided
- 401(k) & 401(k) matching
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
- Paid time off
- Employee assistance program
Where will I live?
Interns will live together in two Iona Project apartments: women in one unit and men in the other.
When is the program?
The program runs June 1 through June 1 of the following year.
Is it really important to commit for the entire year?
The Iona Project is designed as a one-year program. However, for those who cannot commit to that timeframe, there is an option to participate for only the duration of the summer.
Is the Iona Project affiliated with a particular denomination?
No. The Iona Project is an interdenominational Christian ministry.
What kind of youth ministry activities might I be conducting?
A sampling of activities and responsibilities:
Bible teaching
- Worship leading
- Engagement through sports and recreation
- Facilitating service trips and projects
- Engagement through music and art
- Engagement through the outdoors
- Engagement through horseback riding, rodeo, and ag
- Others…
These are assigned according to interest and abilities. The program does not accommodate those who are married or have child-raising responsibilities.
Is a degree or certian major required?
The Iona Project is for ANY exceptional young adult who desires to serve and to grow in Christ.
A college degree is preferred but not required. Over the years, about 20% of those accepted into the program have held no college degree.
Will I have time to work on online college courses during the Iona year?
No, the program will require your full presence and undivided attention for the entire program year. The ministry immersion is intense, and for this reason, evenings and weekends require God-honoring rest. The program is designed this way. Filling downtime with college coursework would compromise the ministry and rob you of the full Iona experience.
Will this benefit my career path?
Yes, but not directly. To be clear, this program is not a means to licensure or academic credit. We have found, nonetheless, that completion of this program appeals to those hiring at schools and churches, as well as those overseeing grad school admissions. All said, this program should not be viewed as a quick means to material reward. It is a one-year mission trip for serious Christ-followers who feel called to a year of meaningful service.
How do I apply?
Contact the Cal Farley’s Human Resources Department by clicking here or by calling 800-687-3722 ext. 2535 or 1253.
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 –
Belief
As a Christ-centered chapel, we believe it is important for our students to hear the core Christian message of the early church (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). So, as an ongoing invitation to Christian faith in our unique setting, this Chapel Belief State serves as the touchstone of our weekly chapel services.
interested in an Iona Project Internship?
Choose Job Posting for: Chapel Immersion Program Specialist
Iona
Testimonials
“My experience at Boys Ranch has been life changing to say the least. I came to minister to others, but I ended up being ministered to myself. And this will be an experience that will always be a part of me.”
Dean MushambangaboIona Intern 
“After my experience here, I’m convinced that no one can spend any amount of time at Boys Ranch and leave unchanged. Much of what I’ve learned these past two years has not only changed my perspective concerning God, His children, trauma, childcare, and ministry, but I myself have inevitably been transformed by my experience in the Iona Project.”
Kirsten KohlstedtIona Intern 
“After a year full of crash landings, forgotten meetings, precious moments, conversations over ice cream, and games of tennis I would not change a thing. The knowledge and growth I have experienced in this past year is irreplaceable to any other experience I could have ever dreamt of.”
Molly StuderIona Intern 
A Christian Way Of Life
We teach the core relationship model that Jesus embodied. In a world suffering from damaged relationships, we believe Jesus has revealed the central blueprint for healthy relationships when addressing the Greatest Commandment:
‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your Neighbor as your Self’ (Luke 10:27).
Cal Farley said many years ago, “this old world could be a better place if we all would live, work and pray together.”
His philosophy of weaving God into all activities continues today at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, where a major goal is to provide a Christ-centered environment for children in our care.
Our chaplains and Iona Project mentors spend a lot of time building trust and personal relationships beyond chapel activities by attending athletic events and school programs. They realize that before they can plant spiritual seeds, they must first plant seeds of friendship.
Iona Alumni Photo Album
