A few of my friends were bewildered when I told them that three days after I finished my last final of the semester, I would be moving to Lincoln to work 9AM-5PM in a public policy office for two months during summer vacation. Now that my internship is over, I’ve had some time to reflect. Here are 4 important things I learned as a Torchbearer Intern.


A lot more work goes into legislation than the NET cameras show

Karen Bowling testifying at a committee hearing.

Karen Bowling, Outreach and Operations Director of NFA, testifying at a legislative committee hearing for Legislative Bill 114, aired by NET.

As a young conservative activist without the luxury of living in Nebraska’s Capitol City, I often find myself tuning into Nebraska’s Educational Telecommunications station to watch floor debates and committee hearings on bills pertaining to issues regarding abortion, human trafficking, and religious freedom.

What isn’t shown on TV though is the huge amount of time non-profits like NFA spend working on the bills. The issues are identified and researched, and then countless meetings and telephone conferences are held with lawmakers, staffers, agencies, and other nonprofits. This summer working at NFA, I gained a new appreciation for the commitment and late nights the staff spends influencing public policy.

>> Learn More and Apply to be a Torchbearer Intern Today

Prayer is a Powerful Instrument

Prayer is powerful.

National Day of Prayer Gathering in the Warner Chamber of the State Capitol, May 2016.

To the cynics that say there is no place for prayer in politics, I have noticed a significant advantage that prayerful political leaders and activists possess. Spiritual warfare is occurring in a building six blocks south of the Capitol.

The Prayer Place is located on the first floor of the NFA building, and everyday members of the community come in to pray for our nation, government, and political leaders. Pray is the core foundation at NFA. I was able to participate in one of the staff’s quarterly prayer retreats, and every morning the NFA team starts the day off with prayer.

The Nebraska Family Alliance has discovered that instead of rising up in opposition and protest of something, sometimes the best thing to do is to kneel down and pray.

Standing up for important values and principals doesn’t feel like work when you’re working with a fantastic, passionate team.

2016 NFA Team Photo

On a daily basis, the staff at NFA deals with controversial issues, however they make a concerted effort to ensure the office emanates a friendly, loving environment.

The positive atmosphere made me excited to come into the office in the morning and reluctant to leave at night. The work they do for religious liberty, families, women, and the unborn is incomparable to any other organization in the state.

>> Learn More and Apply to be a Torchbearer Intern Today

God can use the talents and experiences of a sophomore in college (and anyone) to work in others’ lives.

Marilyn Speaking

This May, I finished my second year studying Political Science and Multimedia at the University of Nebraska Kearney. My internship at NFA was uniquely tailored so that I worked in areas that aligned with my strengths and passions.

From helping equip the next generation of leaders at the City on a Hill camp to researching fetal development stages for public policy, God has used me to make a difference this summer. I would highly recommend NFA’s Torchbearer Internship Program to any conservative young person in the state wishing to make a positive impact on today’s increasingly secular world.

>> Learn More and Apply to be a Torchbearer Intern Today


marilyn synek blue dressMarilyn Synek | @TheMarilynator

Marilyn will be a junior at the University of Nebraska Kearney during the Fall of 2016. She was a Torchbearer Intern for Nebraska Family Alliance Summer 2016.

Nebraska Family Alliance
Nebraska Family Alliance exists to advance family, freedom and life by influencing policy, mobilizing prayer, and empowering people.
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