By Lydia Grace Boswell
A couple of weeks ago, some of our more talented Capital Fellows did impressions of the others in our group which were hilariously accurate. It made me realize how much time we spend together for us to be able to pick up on small mannerisms and quirks. Then, when I told my boss, “I reckon,” I realized that these mannerisms had started to rub off on me involuntarily.
Since the start of the program, I’ve spent more time in community – both in quality and quantity of time- than I ever have before. It's only logical that the other Fellows would influence me. The Bible is pretty clear about this: "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." Proverbs 13:20
This reminded me of a question we asked each week at large group back in college: “who are you becoming?” It's a question that calls us to look at our trajectory- am I making the choices now to become who I want to be? It’s a question that reminds us that the people we spend our time with shape us. However, our goal is not to become some best version of ourselves, but to become more like Jesus.
Our Capital Fellows class recently had to examine our group, its stability, and our commitment. We had to answer the question "who are we becoming?" Are our interactions putting us on track to become the community we want to be? Are we becoming individuals who seek our own good in the face of risk and difficulty? Or are we a group that is becoming more like Christ, seeking the good of one another through encouragement, correction, and love?
We are figuring it out together. In the same way that we pick up each other's idiosyncrasies, we are shaped by each other's wisdom, patience, vulnerability, and faith. I have been corrected, encouraged, and loved by these people who were strangers to me a few months ago. It is a beautiful picture of the body of Christ at work- all striving individually to make the whole function as a better and more complete image of God.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. [...] God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:12-15, 24-27
Pictures from the Week
A glimpse into the best part of Mondays: Capital Commons
Some of the Capital Fellows playing Codenames at a game night.
The Student Ministry Fellows dressed up for Halloween. Can you guess the theme?
Some of the Fellows out on the town for a girls night.
Become A Capital Fellow in 2022-23
We are now receiving applications for Season 16 of the Capital Fellows program!
Most fellows work in the marketplace - for companies, nonprofits, government offices. Three Capital Fellows work at our church each year as well. For these roles, we are looking for a worship fellow, a children's ministry fellow, and a missions fellow. These are special Capital Fellows opportunities because you are not only paid a salary, but also your Capital Fellows program fees are covered as well!
The Season 16 program year runs from late August 2022 through mid-May 2023. If you are a college senior or recent graduate - or know someone that is - we would love to hear from you!
Pray for the Capital Fellows
Thank you for praying for the Capital Fellows each week!
Please pray for the Capital Fellows as they journey to central North Carolina this weekend for the 19th Annual TFI Micah 6:8 Conference. This is not only a great time to hear from our speakers, Ambassador John Richmond and our own Rev. Dr. Bill Fullilove, but it's also a time of bonding and just getting away from the weekly routine. Please pray for traveling mercies for our Capital Fellows, Ambassador Richmond, Dr. Fullilove, and the roughly 300 other attendees as they learn to grow in God's call to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
Want to pray for the Capital Fellows throughout the year? Download this handy prayer guide for your phone or tablet.
Benefits of The Fellows Initiative
You probably already know that Capital Fellows is one of 32 fellows programs in The Fellows Initiative network. Capital Fellows benefit from our affiliation with The Fellows Initiative in many ways. One of those ways is that all Capital Fellows alumni receive a 33% tuition discount at Reformed Theological Seminary for 5 years. For more information, please contact us.
If you know a church in the US or Canada that would benefit from joining The Fellows Initiative by launching a new fellows program. Please contact TFI by visiting their website.
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