Doing Life with Christ (and Excellence).
- Capital Fellows
- Oct 11
- 4 min read
By Alyssa Ali
In the last couple of weeks, we have been encouraged to do some serious reflection as Capital Fellows. This makes total sense! We’re learning the ropes of a new job, living in a new city with new people, attending a new church, taking graduate-level classes amidst the craziness of life, living with a new family, and leading a new group of students, and we’re supposed to do all of those things well.
God calls His people to serve Him, and dare I say, with abundant excellence. Here are just a few points in scripture that show us this: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” (Colossians 3:23 ESV), “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”(Philippians 4:8 ESV), “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV). My perspective on excellence has already changed over the time of the Capital Fellows program. I remember being at the retreat and feeling overwhelmed about all of the things that we are asked to do as Capital Fellows, and more specifically, the call to do it all well. I was thinking, “How will this ever be possible? There seems to be no way for me to do all of these things well and represent Christ while doing it.”
Something I was seriously mistaken about was thinking I had to just muster up the right amount of energy and the perfect attitude, and it would all get done. What kind of attitude is that, Alyssa? Arguably, Christ and communion with Him are the most important things about Fellows, and I had left Him completely out of the equation. One of the wonderful things about following Christ is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in His people. Christ is with me wherever I go! I can lean on Him for help and always should! For He has much more energy and a much better attitude than I ever could; He is abundantly wise and knows me much better than I know myself. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV). Although the concept of reliance on Christ and trust in Him is not a profound one, it’s something I think all believers need a reminder of; what a blessing it is to follow a God who is with us in all that we do.
Alyssa Ali is a member of the Capital Fellows class of 2025-26. She is from Stuart, FL, and is a graduate of the University of Florida. This year, she is working in the U.S. Senate on Capitol Hill.
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If you know a college senior or recent graduate who should consider joining the Capital Fellows program in 2026-27, 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.
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The Capital Fellows are working hard on writing the infamous "Daniel" paper, for Bill Fullilove's seminary class. The Daniel paper is an opportunity to reflect on what it means to live in exile, as Daniel did during the Babylonian Empire. Their work with this assignment, as with many other aspects of this program, helps fellows to go deeper in their knowledge of God and of themselves. Please continue to pray for them as they discover, grow, and prepare to lead lives of servant leadership in the workplace, church, and society.
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