The PWP Internship Experience
Macey and Dani share about the impact of their PWP Internship experience.
It was 6 AM, and fifteen PWP Project athletes were sitting in a circle, running on less than five hours of sleep. Rather than taking the hour before breakfast to get more sleep during the busy training camp, these high school and college students were up for one reason: to sing and worship God together. Still half asleep herself, Dani walked into the room, surprised and awakened by their great hunger and deep desire for God. During their 2018 summer internship experiences with SportQuest, Dani Goodyke and Macey McCune got to be a part of many moments such as these as they served in leadership roles on summer PWP projects, encountered God’s grace, and used their athletic talent for God’s Kingdom.
Macey McCune was an intern for the San Diego project – her third time serving with SportQuest in San Diego. Originally from Boyd, Texas, Macey attends Texas Women’s University, where she plays intramural volleyball and basketball. Around the world in Europe, Dani Goodyke served as an intern in Belgium. Dani, who’s from Michigan, attends Muskegon Community College, where she has played soccer for two seasons. Her first SportQuest experience was three years ago when she participated in the Belgium project.
Both Macey and Dani applied for the internship for similar reasons. Macey wanted to get out of her comfort zone and felt God “putting it on my heart to take a step of faith and see if maybe I have future in sports ministry.” Dani wanted to grow in her faith and also felt the Holy Spirit “tugging on my heart to take more of a leadership role in this ministry.”
Along the way, both girls ran into challenges. Dani saw her perfectionism as she hit many roadblocks while planning the Belgium PWP project, and then she encountered reverse culture shock when she returned home to Michigan. Macey struggled with the transition from simply being a team member to now being in a leadership position and having to hold her teammates accountable to project guidelines and expectations. However, these challenges were overcome by reminders of the truth. Dani was reminded that there is no such thing as “qualified enough” but that she is qualified by having “a heart for the Lord and sharing His truth and love with others.” She went on to add, “God showed me time and time again that He is with me and will not forsake me in my trials and tribulations.” Macey overcame these challenges by reminding herself to lead by example.
Macey and Dani’s experience leading the PWP Project teams and coaching kids during camp was extremely rewarding. Macey got to lead the volleyball camp and watched athletes and coaches “flourish into amazing leaders and disciple makers!” Reflecting back, Dani pointed out that the week of training for interns really prepared her for the internship, not only logistically but also on a heart level. She was so grateful for SQ staff members, Becky Bowden and Danielle Thomas, who “prayed with us, talked with us about the inner struggles of our hearts, and met us where we were individually in our faith journey. This gave us confidence to be able to disciple others in the same way they invested in us.”
Their advice for those who are interested in becoming a SportQuest intern is to “go for it!” because, according to Macey, “You will see major growth in your leadership abilities, and your own walk with God will be strengthened.” Dani was really stretched in her faith, pushed out of her comfort zone, and felt equipped to share her faith. Since returning home, she has led worship at her church, started a weekly Bible study in college with her roommates and teammates, and started accountability groups with hometown friends. Both girls fundraised by sending out support letters. According to Macey, it was incredibly helpful, and she found that people were very motivated to give when she told them about the work she would be doing with SportQuest and how it would impact God’s Kingdom. Dani also spoke in front of her church and handed out letters, but she had other fundraising ideas too, such as a worship night where those who attend could donate.
While the two were challenged emotionally, physically, and mentally, they saw how fulfilling and life-changing their experience was as interns. Both Dani and Macey gained so much from the SportQuest internship, and it has had incredible, far-reaching impact, not only in their lives but also in God’s Kingdom.
Dani wishes that she had known “how much I was going to miss it and given more energy and enthusiasm into each day, pausing in the beautiful moments to take it all in.” Macey said, “I honestly had no idea what to expect coming into the internship, but I knew we would be doing work for the Kingdom and that is all that matters. I can now say that the experience went above and beyond my expectations.” As a result of this experience, God’s calling on Macey and Dani’s life has been clarified and intensified, and it’s going to be so exciting to watch how God works in and through each of their lives!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kaitlyn Hyun, from Fairfax, Virginia, is a second year student at the University of Virginia. Although she is undecided about her major, Kaitlyn intends to pursue full-time missions or ministry. She plays tennis and has been on the SportQuest San Diego PWP Project team for three years.
