By Jacob Walker
Being a Christian is a funny thing. You can hear the same passages, metaphors, and illustrations your whole life and suddenly something clicks. For me, that illustration has been “the body of Christ” and much of that added clarity is due to our guest speaker series.
Every Monday and Friday over the past month, the Capital Fellows have had the privilege of hearing from different believers in our church about their stories, experiences, and careers. It has been remarkable to learn how the Lord has used people with completely different gifts for the same united purpose of glorifying His name.
It also has been a great reminder that I do not need to have a full-time ministry job in order to live for Christ. I think a piece of me has always been tempted to view pastors and missionaries as “super Christians” while all the rest of our vocations are “less than.” Much of this year has been spent putting to bed that line of thinking. We have learned in classes about the partnership in which God invites us to build his kingdom, the dignity of being made in His image, as well as the care that our Father has for us all of his children, not just a few.
However, what really brought 1 Corinthians 12 ("the body of Christ" passage) home for me was hearing example after example of how the Lord has used anything—from a school administrator to a political writer to a mom to a leader at the W.H.O.—for His purposes.
Too often I forget that it is God who “has so composed the body.” He is the one that intentionally crafted each of us including our skills and abilities. I am tempted to say that “because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body” however, Paul reminds me that this does not make me “any less a part of the body.” I’ve always known that the same Holy Spirit resides in a pastor as in a lawyer, but I guess I just needed examples to bring the concept home. I think I know at least a part of what I am called to in life. Capital Fellows has taught me that because it is God who has called me to it, He will not fail to use me in it for His purposes. That realization has been eye-opening and brings real excitement for my work.
Jacob Walker is a member of the Capital Fellows class of 2023-24. He is from Opelika, AL, and is a graduate of the University of Auburn. This year, he is working as an intern in the United States Senate.
Pictures From The Week
The guys hanging on Zoom during their snow day.
Carter hitting Megan with snowball.
Carter using Brigette's gloves to do his best impression of a dog for the kids at Cornerstone.
Judah absolutely tearing up the dance floor while "cleaning the kitchen."
Know a Potential Capital Fellow?
If you know a college senior or recent graduate who should consider joining the Capital Fellows program in 2024-25, please encourage them to get in touch with us. The easiest way to express interest in the program is through our Contact Us Form. You can learn more about the program, including application deadlines, by visiting the Capital Fellows website.
About Capital Fellows. Capital Fellows is an advanced leadership and discipleship program for recent college graduates. Through graduate courses, a paid internship, one-on-one mentoring, and many leadership and community service opportunities, fellows develop and apply their gifts in real-world situations while learning to integrate a Christian worldview into all areas of life. Capital Fellows is a unique opportunity to live and work in the Washington DC area and to be an active member of a supportive community that seeks to serve the city with the love of Christ. It is also a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in the workplace while deeply exploring God’s design for us as workers and contributors to human flourishing.
Pray for the Capital Fellows
Thank you for praying for the Capital Fellows each week!
Last week at Capital Commons, we talked about life in the community of the church; we hope that this conversation and time of reflection was inspiring to the fellows. Pray that they might commit themselves to a fully engaged life in the body—looking for opportunities to serve, grow, and lead. Looking beyond the Capital Fellows class, please pray that as hundreds of fellows across the country (and now more than 3,000 alumni) step into their place of generational leadership and that the church may be built up and encouraged.
Want to pray for the current Capital Fellows in an ongoing way? Download this handy prayer guide for your phone or tablet.
About The Fellows Initiative
Capital Fellows is part of a network of similar programs across the country. This network is called The Fellows Initiative. There are 34 Fellows programs in TFI, roughly 3,000 alumni living around the world, and more Fellows programs on the way.
If you know a church in the US or Canada that would benefit from joining TFI by launching a new Fellows program. Please contact TFI by visiting their website.
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