Growing Up, Giving Back
This summer at St. Andrew’s, four young women with Energizer Bunny vibes have infused our Children, Youth & Family programs with fresh, fun ideas. Sophia, Mirra, Mary, and Ella—college students with different majors and journeys—have come together due to a shared calling: to connect, mentor, and serve.
Though each of their paths to this internship is unique, their stories weave together with threads of friendship, family, faith, and a shared love for the community at St. Andrew’s.
Friendships Formed in Faith
Though each intern applied separately to the program, their connections go back years. Ella and Mirra are god-sisters. They reconnected in high school after years of childhood friendship and bonded deeply during back-to-back mission trips to Puerto Rico. Mary and Ella knew each other from middle and high school and grew closer as confirmation camp leaders. Sophia and Ella connected through volunteering at the church and through Sophia’s sister. By the time they became interns, it felt like coming home.
Meet the Interns
During our INTERNview, we learned about the passion that drives each of these college students:
Sophia is a junior at St. Olaf College studying Kinesiology and Public Health. Her history with St. Andrew’s goes way back—long before she was even born. Her parents met in the Young Adult group at the church in the 90s, a group led by none other than Pastor Sarah. Baptized and confirmed here, Sophia spent countless hours growing up in Sunday School, volunteering, leading, and last year, interning. For her, the church has always been a second home. “This is where I felt connected and welcome during high school,” she says. “I was always welcomed with open arms, and I wanted to be that person for other kids.”
Mirra, a sophomore at Concordia College in Moorhead studying Art Education, came to St. Andrew’s through a blend of music, ministry, and lifelong friendships. A Stillwater High School choir performance brought her into the building, and her family—deeply rooted in church ministry—kept her close to the heart of faith work. Her dad served as a youth director, and her mom, Tracy Lysne, is now the CYF Director at St. Andrew’s. Growing up best friends with Ella and knowing Mary through mutual circles, Mirra’s life has always been touched by community. “Middle school is a tough time,” she says. “I just want every kid to know they are loved and that this stage doesn’t last forever.”
Mary is also a sophomore at St. Olaf College, majoring in Biology. She grew up Catholic but began attending St. Andrew’s in high school when a friend invited her to be a counselor at Camp Wapo. That first summer changed everything. “That’s when I realized ministry and faith could be fun and welcoming,” she says. She’s now deeply embedded in the St. Andrew’s community, having served as a confirmation leader and peer minister. “I love this community. The kids are so entertaining, and I’ve made so many new friends through church.”
Ella, a sophomore nursing major at Concordia with a psychology minor, has been part of St. Andrew’s her entire life. Baptized, confirmed, peer minister-trained, a camp counselor, and now an intern, her story is steeped in tradition and connection. Her parents were close friends with Mirra’s parents—camp counselors, choir tour roommates, lifelong companions. Ella’s faith journey was shaped by camp experiences and a parable shared by a counselor that sparked her faith. “The mustard seed story stuck with me,” she shares. “I want to be that role model for others, just like my counselor was for me.”
Highlights of the Summer
Unforgettable moments from the internships:
- Sophia loved watching middle schoolers come out of their shells at camp and high schoolers lead with confidence and care.
- Mirra discovered a surprising love for working with high schoolers and cherished her time leading chapel for kids in St. Andrew’s Preschool.
- Mary had her first VBS experience this year and was moved watching her former confirmation students now leading the younger kids.
- Ella found joy in watching the God Squad and High Five Helpers collaborate, building trust and community across age groups.
It All Comes Back to Connection
At its core, this internship is all about generating connection—sparking relationships with kids, charging each other up with encouragement, and grounding themselves in faith. We’ve been blessed by Sophia, Mirra, Mary, and Ella’s personal stories, playful spirits, and deep desires to create a space of belonging for others. This summer, they’ve lit up lives and planted seeds of connection, love, and faith in the next generation—just as others energized them.
Interested in being an intern next summer? Send our Children, Youth & Family Director, Tracy Lysne, an email!