INTERNSHIPS

Help make the SOZO Missions Summer Internship a reality for Dominique Duval! 

I am Dominique Duval, a 19-year-old freshman attending Tallahassee Community College. I was born and raised in East Bradenton, FL and primarily brought up by my dad because my mother passed away when I was 4 years old. I have three other brothers and a sister and I am so blessed to be the first boy in my family to make it to college. One of my biggest dreams was not only to make it to college but to actually finish college and earn a degree. My little brothers look up to me a lot and I want to be a good influence on them, showing them how making right choices will allow them to go far in life. My original plans were to be an electrical engineer, but after being in school for a year now I feel the need to change directions. I want to do something that I am more passionate about, not just working to get a big paycheck. I love sports so a career as an athletic trainer appeals to me, or even working with children, like at SOZO.

I started attending SOZO when I was 12 years old in the 7th grade. SOZO played a major part in my spiritual journey throughout middle and high school and now that I am in college, I feel a strong desire to return to SOZO and give back. Oddly enough, Bishop Freeze just recently called me and mentioned that he had been praying about me possibly serving at SOZO this summer as an intern leader. I was so excited to hear this, as I am sure Bishop could tell as I enthusiastically told him that I have been really thinking about how I can get more involved with SOZO. I talked about how much fun I had last year serving at the SOZO Kidz summer camp and how good it made me feel to be able to love on and encourage young kids. I really enjoyed praying with the kids at camp, praising God with them, leading my group in the squad wars (of which we came in first place by the way), and getting to know the kids on a personal level. Most of the kids at camp and who attend SOZO come from the same background as myself – that of being raised up and surrounded by poverty, crime, drugs and gangs – and I want to be an example for them.

God is doing some great things in my life, and I am so thankful to the entire SOZO team who have been encouraging me throughout my journey in life. Last year I had the incredible opportunity to star and act in SOZO’s first short film, TRULIFE, and being a part of that gave me a real feeling of worth. And most importantly, it felt good being able to use my God given talent for the Lord – that was awesome and inspired me to continue using my gifts to glorify God, not the world. During my later years at SOZO, I really enjoyed serving on the SOZO Work Crew and helping others in need in the community. The work crew taught me how to value others before myself and at the same time I developed real work ethics.

I know God has so much more planned for me in life, and I am so excited to return back to SOZO as an “indigenous” leader, helping out in any way I can and continuing to grow in my relationship with God.

I want to humbly ask for your help so that I can serve at SOZO Missions this summer as an intern leader. To fund my internship from May to August, my goal is to trust God for $3,000. Would you please prayerfully consider joining my team with a financial donation of any amount to help fund my summer intern support with SOZO?

These tax-deductible donations can be made by clicking the button below or can be mailed in by check to, 3124 17th St. E., Bradenton, Fl 34208 – checks should be made payable to SOZO Missions and in the memo section note my name, Dominique Duval. Thank you!