Architecture is about so much more than buildings

After studying Structural Engineering and Architecture at the University of Sheffield, I wanted a job where I could gain experience in an architect’s practice, grow in my faith and test the waters for future service abroad. I found out about Engineering Ministries International (EMI) - whose mission is to ‘develop people, design structures, and construct facilities which serve communities and the Church’. As well as more permanent positions, they offer short-term internships abroad - and even my non-Christian friends agreed it was a perfect opportunity for me! Soon after graduating, I moved to North Africa to begin a four-month internship at the Middle East North Africa (MENA) office, which became a two-year, adventure-filled, faith-enriching and skills-building placement.

We began each day praying for each other and for our projects, organised project trips to serve ministries across the Global South, volunteered at community organisations and had weekly mentoring. EMI gave me the chance to use my training to serve in cross-cultural missions context - both through the day-to-day work I was doing for clients who were themselves serving the poor and marginalised, and through daily life in a Muslim-majority country. I worked with a team dedicated to their careers in architecture and engineering, but wholly committed to Jesus and living in service to Him.

Architecture is about so much more than buildings - it’s about people, communities and stewarding our resources for future generations. EMI opened my mind to how I, as a trainee architect, could show the love of Jesus to people around the world through infrastructure and master plans, and I gained more than I could ever have hoped to put in.

To find out more about EMI and the internship programme, join us at our network event in Belfast, head to emiworld.org or email meg.longman@emiworld.org.

Meg is a very nearly qualified architect working in Bath. She previously studied at the University of Sheffield and Newcastle University and loved how the CU helped her to engage other students on matters of faith. She loves travelling, foreign languages and jumping into whatever body of water she comes across.

[Worshipping with staff and patients before a day of design work]

[End of day review with hospital staff and management at CURE Uganda]

[Surveying a plot of land to become an educational and ministry centre in rural Ethiopia]