By Josh Kapusinski
There’s a book we’re reading for Dr. Bill Clark’s class in fellows called What Happened to
You? by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Perry. One of the most interesting sections of the book deals with addiction where Russel Brand says: “Drugs and alcohol are not my problem…reality is my problem, drugs and alcohol are my solution” (60). The rest of the chapter unpacks how reality can often become problematic the more we isolate ourselves, but often the antidote to addiction is connectedness. What a wonderful place for the Gospel to intervene!
I’d wager too that a lack of connectedness leads not just to addiction, but also increases
the luring temptation of sin. Augustine said that we connect with the world in four main ways: relationship with self, others, nature, and God. I find myself most vulnerable to unhealthy coping mechanisms whenever one of these relationships suffers. John Kyle has told us throughout our fellows year that we are "beautifully complicated" beings. That’s why the lures of magic bullet cures to our problems are often appealing but so often misleading. Reality is complicated, which is why programs like Capital Fellows are wonderful ways to foster community and connection to bring us closer to one another and to God.
With eight weeks left of Fellows, I am contemplating often what it means to finish my
time here well. Sometimes that means saying no to social gatherings to get rest. It is very hard to love well when you are weary, but often I find that if I take the necessary time to heal, I am more present to love. It is my hope and prayer that I and the rest of the fellows will find whatever those things are to help us finish the race with excellence and experience the joys of life with one another.
Josh Kapusinski is a member of the Capital Fellows class of 2023-24. He is from San Diego, CA, and is a graduate of Grove City College. This year, he is working at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in Washington, DC.
Pictures From The Week
Life and Leadership at the Laughlins.
The Fellows celebrate Catherine's birthday!
The ladies and Debbie Clark!
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!
In the spring semester, each fellow is asked to write a paper for Dr. Bill Fullilove’s class on a topic that they are personally sorting and that has been the subject of debate in the church. These papers can be hard to write because they are not just intellectual exercises, but a matter of the heart. Please pray for the fellows as they work through the questions, doubts, and debates of these topics. May God bless them with a deep sense of his closeness as they step into topics that are hard and possibly confusing. Perhaps the most amazing part of this work is not the papers and topics themselves, but that God invites us to ask our questions, to wonder about things, and to seek wisdom in his Word.
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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