Internship FAQ

Internship Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many interns do you accept each term?

Usually, we accept 4 to 6 interns per term (February-May, June-August, September to December). It is our hope that each intern group becomes a family within a family, a community within a community.

2. As an intern, can I bring my pet to Koinonia?

Sorry, but the answer is no unless you use a seeing-eye dog. The good news is there are animals here to love. We have farm dogs and cats. We also have pigs and sheep. Sometimes, we have cows, chickens, and various other animals.

3. I am politically conservative / radically progressive / a Biblical literalist / an atheist / LGBTQIA+ / etc. How will I fit in at Koinonia?

We are a Christian community founded on the values of peacemaking/nonviolence, simple living (need, not greed or “radical sharing” as we prefer to call it), and brotherhood/ sisterhood among all people, regardless of age, ability, gender, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.

We are a place of hospitality, and many visitors come and go. People of all faiths and no faith are welcome. There is much diversity at Koinonia. You may have difficulty here if you cannot coexist with such values.

Know, too, that there is a great deal of study while an intern and much of that study is authored by Christian writers or is about Christianity and the Christian community. Every intern is asked to immerse herself/himself in our life of prayer, work, study, service, and fellowship. Again, if your beliefs or non-beliefs prevent you from doing any of this, the internship is not for you, though you are most welcome to visit us.

Important to keep in mind is that the internship is a time for selfless service. Come with an open mind and heart. Let go of any personal agendas or causes, and be willing to walk humbly.

4. Do you proselytize?

Koinonians are not interested in “converting” others to different beliefs; instead, we are interested in living a demonstration plot for those values we have committed. Hopefully, we “preach” through the demonstration plot. We do not “put the pressure on” people to become Christian, or “our” kind of Christian, or any certain kind of Christian. As St. Francis of Assisi famously said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”

5. I want to join your community after my internship. How do I do that?

The internship is to learn about living in an intentional way, no matter what your vocation may be. It is a program with a beginning, middle, and end. While here, you’ll get to know Koinonia, learn its workings and culture, fall in love with us (or at least some of us ☺), and give and receive the gift of community. There is almost always a “honeymoon” phase in people’s experiences here, but the honeymoon will end. We are not a utopia. We are not perfect. Beyond ideas of utopia and dystopia are understanding, insight, and true community.

During the term, if you wish, you can apply for a year-long internship, allowing you to extend your time with us. If, during this year, you feel called to seek membership in the community, ask the internship coordinator for more information.

The process to membership is a long one. We ask you to participate fully in the internship and not be concerned about membership. If God has called you here for more than the period of your internship, trust and let it unfold.

6. Do I get any time off during my internship?

We usually get a day and a half off each week, sometimes two. Parts of the year, though, it may be only one day off, and it may not be Sunday. Please remember you are coming to live on a working farm. Weekends and evenings are not necessarily considered “time off.” We seek to balance our chores with our play, but please expect that you will be asked to help with chores during non-traditional work hours, including early morning and evening.

Regarding days away, seasonal interns are expected to be here for the entire internship period. The time is short, and the weeks will go by quickly. If you have committed to an event at any time during the internship dates that will take you away from Koinonia, let us know on the application. We can work with you regarding prior commitments. Of course, we would certainly be accommodating if a family emergency arises, if you are sick, etc.

If you are accepted for the one-year internship, you may take a total of six days away during the year. They do not have to be taken consecutively. It is best if they are not taken consecutively. Clear the dates with the internship coordinator as far in advance as possible. Do not expect to take any days away from October 15 to December 22, depending on the size of the pecan harvest and the demands of the bakery. This is our busiest time of the year, and we need everyone here. Your family is welcome to visit you for Thanksgiving.

Please avoid being away on a day you have a study session. We follow a curriculum, and having people go at various times does not do well by the group or the curriculum.

7. What’s the policy on alcohol, drugs, and tobacco at Koinonia?

Koinonia is a smoke-free, tobacco-free campus. Community vehicles are smoke-free, too, should you need to ride in them. Alcohol may be used discreetly and in moderation in your residence outside of work hours. No alcohol is allowed in open, public areas indoors or outdoors on the central campus. No level of drunkenness is acceptable. Intoxication, inappropriate use of prescribed drugs, and use of illegal drugs will result in the immediate dismissal from the program and the immediate departure from Koinonia.

9. Can I bring my bicycle, car, TV, electronic devices and video games, a complete house full of furniture, etc.?

Participants may bring a bike and/or a vehicle if they wish, but nothing else listed above (well, a cell phone and your tablet/laptop are okay). Please remember that we aim to live simply. When deciding what to bring, remember that you won’t have ample space to put it. Bring the minimum of what you need for your stay. Lodging is fully furnished, and all bedding, towels, and washcloths are provided.

9. Is this an internship for young people only?

No. We’ve had people of all ages participate in the internship. In one term, the youngest intern was 20, and the oldest was 91 when the internship began. We celebrated 92 with her!

10. May families do an internship?

Absolutely. We love to welcome families — single parents with children, married couples with children, it doesn’t matter, all are welcome. We’ve had situations where just one of the parents participated in the internship and the other cared for the children. We’ve also had situations where both participated. Each parent may spend a half-day with the children while the other is working in another area of Koinonia, or perhaps, if available and with parents’ approval, one of our members can care for the children for half a day while both parents work. A member will be with the children during study sessions and other activities when the presence of all interns is necessary.

11. What is housing like? Will I have a roommate?

Seasonal interns, for the most part, live in Fuller House. There are eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, a large open kitchen/common area, and a large screened-in porch. Each intern will have a private bedroom. Married couples and families live in one of the houses on campus. We have houses with 2 to 4 bedrooms. All houses have kitchens, a living room, and a bathroom.

12. When I arrive, should I bring some basic groceries – coffee, bread, and peanut butter?

Koinonia stocks basic grocery items for interns throughout the term, but it’s okay if you have specialty items you want to bring. There are two full-size refrigerators in the Fuller House. Learning to share the space in them is part of the communal experience.

Many of our meals are communal. We have lunch together Monday through Friday. Occasionally, we may have a communal breakfast, lunch, or dinner on a day/night other than the usual. These are announced in advance.

13. Will I have much downtime during the internship?

We’ve found that most interns do not have as much downtime as they may have expected. As shared in number 6, life is full here, but please know that we work for a balanced life together, even life at a slower pace as much as we can. The life here is built on five pillars: prayer, work, study, service, and fellowship. There is an intern meeting each Wednesday afternoon with time built in for quiet, rest, and reflection.

14. Do I need a financial sponsor?

Koinonia needs financial sponsors, but we do not require you to have one. Should you know of someone who might like to donate to the internship program or any other area of Koinonia, please let the internship coordinator know. We do offer a very, very modest weekly allowance to interns. You may need all, some, or none of the allowance, depending on your situation. This is the same for the membership — members have the option of receiving a modest weekly allowance. Some take all of it, some take some of it, and some take none of it depending on their different situations when entering the community — we attempt to live simply according to need.

More questions? Please do not hesitate to email us at internship@koinoniafarm.org or call 229 924-0391.