FBC Melbourne seeks to be a 2 Timothy 2:2 church, making disciples who can make disciples who can make disciples! We believe our Aspire Internship program will be an important step in fulfilling the vision God has for our church. Our desire is to provide theological education and ministry opportunities in the context of the local church which will prepare and equip future church planters, missionaries, and pastors.

FBC Melbourne has a strong heritage of supporting theological education, and we believe our new Aspire Internship program will build on this heritage. In partnership with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, our Aspire interns will be able to earn master’s level seminary credit for courses and internships taken at First Baptist Church. Through additional online courses and/or on-campus courses at Southeastern, Aspire interns will be able to complete a Masters of Divinity degree, or another Master’s degree program of their choosing. Those who do not wish to take the courses for credit may still be approved as Aspire interns and invited to audit the courses, as space allows.

Below is a breakdown of this 2-year training process. Aspire interns who wish to take the courses for credit must be approved by Southeastern Seminary. All Aspire interns must be members in good standing of FBC, Melbourne or another Gospel-proclaiming church of like faith and practice, and must be approved by the pastors of FBC Melbourne for acceptance into the Aspire internship program.    

Year One, Semester One

Pastoral Ministry Practicum

(currently scheduled for Spring, 2024)

• Goal: Equip our interns to apply the Gospel to everyday life and shepherd as Elders in a local church context

Year Two, Semester One

Christian Growth and Discipleship Practicum

(currently scheduled for Spring, 2023)

• Goal: Equip our interns to grow as disciples personally, to make disciples in a local church context, and to understand the importance of biblical community in the disciple-making process.