Mildly Insightful Title

Capital Fellows
May 9
4 min read

By Libby Scroggins

The Fellows program is wrapping up. I’m writing this after finishing my last day at my internship and packing up my room at my host family’s house. As transitions go, the questions have started: “What’s next?” and “What did you learn?”

While I’m grateful to have clarity on the first, I’ve stumbled on the second. A few weeks ago, my host mom nudged me into reflection over dinner: “So, what do you think you’ve learned this year?”

After months of reflection and discipleship, I froze. Say something wise. I felt like I should have something profound to say—some polished insight to mark the end of it all.

“Honestly, I think I have to get back to you,” I responded. My answer bothered me. I came into this fellows year with many questions, expecting that I would walk out able to articulate my life and faith philosophy in an elegant summary, tied in a pretty bow. I expected a grand revelation.

The Lord did reveal a lot to me this year—but not in the ways I expected. Like Elijah, I found myself searching for Him in the dramatic moments—the earthquakes, the fire, the wind. But instead, I kept being drawn back to something quieter, a gentle invitation from His low whisper.

This year, by the Lord’s grace, I’ve begun to see him and experience his invitation to walk with Him in seemingly smaller moments.

Through the lowest of valleys the Lord has carried me forward, and through the mountaintops He has celebrated with me as an encouraging friend and loving Father. And this year, He has invited me to walk with him in the slow and steady drum of the ascents, along with the gradual but slippery descents. The days when we take small, repetitive steps that feel unimpressive, the Lord invites us into His upside-down kingdom.

I’m slowly learning what it means to walk with Jesus during an unoriginal day at the office, sitting in long commutes, on Thursday evenings and familiar routines, in the holiness of the mundane.

I’ve been quick to overlook what doesn’t seem grand or impressive. But Jesus didn’t come in the way people imagined power would. They expected a political revolution—and got a carpenter’s son, riding on a donkey. They called it unimpressive. But it was the kingdom of God.

Once again, I’m brought back to the feet of Jesus. My mind so often chases what the world calls impressive—and so often, Jesus meets me there, reminding me of my deep need for a Savior who brings quiet joy.

I can’t help but imagine the Lord looking at me, a little bemused. After all my striving to wrap this Fellows year in something profound, I’ve come full circle—back to a simple truth that keeps deepening with time:

For the rest of my life, I want—and need—to surrender and sit at the feet of Jesus.

I’m thankful to be reminded of my need for a Savior. That simple truth is the gift this year has given me.

Libby Scroggins is a member of the Capital Fellows class of 2024-25. She is from Magnolia, TX ,and is a graduate of Wake Forest University. This year, she is working at The Clapham Group in Springfield, VA

Pictures From The Week

Final commons! Virg and Chloe cheffed it up.

One last picture of the Fairfax fellows at church- with a surprise guest appearance of a host fam!

Know a Potential Capital Fellow?

If you know a college senior or recent graduate who should consider joining the Capital Fellows program in 2025-26, 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!

This week, Capital Fellows have been wrapping up their program year at a beach house in Duck, North Carolina. Regardless of weather, the beach house has been a moment to look back, look forward, seeing God's hand in everything. During this week, in what has become a long tradition, the Fellows write a page in each other's notebooks. The goal is to share what that person has come to mean to them in light of all that happened during the Capital Fellows year. What would it look like for you to do something like that with your closest friends? Please pray for this group as they wrap up Season 18 on Saturday.

Want to learn more about Season 18? Click the button below to read through their bios!

Meet the Fellows

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 3,200 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.