This weekend is Grove City College’s graduation and as I think of all my senior friends receiving their hard-earned diplomas on Saturday, I can’t believe that it was only a year ago that I received my own. One year ago I was graduating and telling family and friends about my future plans: I would be spending my first year post-grad as a Capital Fellow in Washington, D.C. At that point, the only details I could share with them were the ones I’d read on the website and the ones I’d heard from my good friend Garrett who was a Capital fellow last year. I could not have possibly predicted at that point how perfectly God would arrange everything: from my host family placement to my mentor to my internship at Jill’s House (where I’ll be starting full-time work on June 17th!). I could not have possibly predicted the number of friendships formed, thank you notes written, Roundtable meals consumed, prayer requests shared and answered, pages written and read, hours worked and volunteered, inside jokes, or memories made.
Hello friends and family,
Sadly, the end of the year Fellows countdown has officially begun. It’s almost like re-living college graduation. So many things are coming to a close. We are embarking on our last BT/Blast, our second-to-last roundtable, our last paper, and our last Kingdom seminar class. And hey, we even get to go on a beach week at the end of it all! It sounds like high school and college graduation to me. It is very bittersweet.
The last few months could be likened to drinking from a fire hose. When we arrived here eight and a half months ago, we instantly gained a new family, new friends, new classes, new jobs, new ministries, and a new church. Now we will be transitioning to the real world. Thankfully the experiences, people, and lessons we have learned will stay with us for the rest of our lives.
In the past few weeks I have come to realize just how much the Fellows program has impacted the way I live everyday. The lessons we have learned in class have already begun producing real fruit in my life. In these last few weeks I have seen the Lord particularly working in my workplace.
The Lord provided me with a wonderful co-worker and friend this year through one of the McLean fellows from last year, Carra Monteverde. She has been a spiritual encouragement to me and I have gleaned from her wisdom and friendship daily. For the whole year we have been going to lunch with two young men who work on the floor below us, growing in our friendships and knowledge of their backgrounds and lives.
Both Carra and I are engaged (we got engaged one week a part –too fun!) and the boys have been asking lots of questions about our personal lives and why we live the way we do. Neither of the boys are Christians and they are fascinated by some of the life choices Carra and I are making. They want to understand why we are not living with our significant others until marriage, how we communicate, how we have such good friends, etc. Due to our class discussions as fellows, Carra and I have been armed and ready to “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
Through this friendship with Carra, I have realized Ecclesiastes 4:12 in a new way: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” People all across the Federal Reserve Board have commented to my boss regarding our diligence in our work and our maturity, and I know deep in my heart that none of those comments are because of anything I am apart from Christ. People recognize there is something different about the two of us and they like what they see.
To make this kind of an impact at a workplace such as the Federal Reserve has been an amazing opportunity. I am thankful for the way the classes have helped me to develop strategies for discussing relevant issues in our world today with my non-believing friends and co-workers. To see exactly what we are discussing in classes and roundtables - the integration of our faith and work - actually work in my life is a huge blessing. I hope that I can continue to show Christ to these two young men and their significant others in the future.
As I prepare for my fellows graduation, I am excited to share the lessons I have learned this year with my family, friends, and neighbors. I am so thankful to MPC for their support of this program. My eyes have been opened in regards to living out my faith in my workplace, but I have also learned how to better study the word of God, what it looks like to be an active member in a church, and what kinds of ways the Lord uses the gifts of believers to bring about His Kingdom.
Please continue to pray for our commitment to our ministries, work places, and assignments. We all want to finish this program well. Please pray for firm job opportunities for every fellow and that the Lord would be guiding us where He wants us to serve. I am excited for the next Fellows class to embark on this same adventure. It has been a joy and privilege!
Love,
Haley Bargery, Grove City ‘12
Hello again friends! I feel so privileged to be one of the select few Fellows to have the pleasure of writing THREE updates. I honestly do appreciate getting to write these because opportunities to reflect and look at the big picture of what we have been learning are rare, but so very valuable. Time flies when you’re a Fellow!
This week was normal by most Fellows standards, but little did we know it had a huge surprise in store for us. Caroline got engaged! We were informed on Monday that Austin, her boyfriend-turned-fiance, was planning to propose on Tuesday, which just so happened to be their 6-month anniversary. We all congregated downtown at Austin’s place of residence for a post-engagement celebration. Not to toot my own horn, but I contributed a hanging “Congratulations” banner which really set off the rest of the room (if I do say so myself). On a serious note, Austin is a great guy, and I feel safe speaking for all of us when I tell you how happy we are that he and Caroline get to spend their lives together.
We’re in the last month of Fellows now, and the thought that we only have a few short weeks left is sad and a little scary. Our appreciation for each other and the community we share has been a recurring theme in these updates. I was thinking the other day about our group and the end of our time together, and I realized that part of what I love about my fellow Fellows is how different we are. Honestly, if we had all gone to college together, I doubt I would have been more than acquaintances with many of them. But now I know them so well and consider them some of my closest friends. I have learned so much about how to love others by spending time with these people. It’s been a fun and encouraging process to start out with only the Gospel in common and to experience the truth of Matthew 12:50, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
This past weekend was the Fellows Initiative National Conference, co-hosted by the Falls Church Fellows and yours truly (with help from the other Capital Fellows). 15 Fellows programs from across the country congregated in northern Virginia for a weekend of fellowship. Honestly, when I applied to be a Capital Fellow, I had no idea that there were any other programs. I learned quickly that this is a growing national movement, and I enjoyed seeing that there are over a hundred young people in places across the US taking the same journey as myself. Those of us who know people in other programs rejoiced in time spent with old friends, and also joined with the rest of us in making new ones. It was an exhausting, but exciting and certainly worthwhile weekend.
With just three weeks left I would be remiss not to update you on the job search front. After some quick mental arithmetic I am pleased to inform you that more than half of us know what we will be doing come summer! I think we are all pursuing jobs with more direction, confidence, and preparedness than we would have last year. I think this year’s crop would agree that Fellows has been invaluable in easing the transition from college to the “real world.” We have a clearer picture of what calling and vocation are, have thought in great detail about ours individually, and also have a better understanding of what it takes to live in this world as responsible Christian men and women.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. To all our friends, family, and loved ones, know that your prayers and support mean the world to us.
Much love,
Clay Carey, Presbyterian College ‘12
Dear loved ones,
I finally took the plunge. Eagerly, I look forward to this moment every April, but this year it feels especially sweet to switch out the heavy coats of winter for the light skirts and dresses of summer. I feel as if I have passed a crucial rite of passage this winter, after a snowy Fellows retreat in January, a wonderful weekend of skiing at the Moyers’ lovely home a few weeks later, and multiple snowy days in between. But as I realize that this welcomed change in weather also signifies the final weeks of the Fellows program, I am faced with both an anticipation for my coming journey to medical school and a desire to freeze time and stay a Fellow forever.
So this little anecdote makes it appropriate that I should choose transition as the word of the week. On Friday, McLean Presbyterian learned that our beloved pastor and Fellows director, Bill, would be leaving Virginia and returning to his southern roots in Atlanta, Georgia to take a full time position as Professor of Old Testament and Academic Dean at Reformed Theological Seminary Atlanta. The congregation could not be more excited for Bill, as this opportunity truly is an exemplary place for him to use his incredible talent for teaching and pursue his passion for the scriptures. Still, amongst the fellows, those staying are sad to think of a life after Fellows without the Fullilove family nearby (Disclaimer: I, for one, am a little biased as I will be returning to Georgia this summer for school, and view this as a welcome surprise!). As much as we know this is truly a blessing from the Lord, it is hard to imagine Fellows, nonetheless McLean Presbyterian, without the Fulliloves being a part of it! (But that’s not completely accurate, even before this new opportunity came up, Bill had already planned - along with David, the incoming Fellows director - that he would teach the Fellows’ Friday class and lead the Fellows winter retreat. Fortunately, his new job will still allow him to do both of those activities, so next year’s class will still get the exact same experience they expected. Bill’s commute to work will just be a bit longer!)
And still, we are so excited about where the Fellows program is going after we leave. This Monday’s roundtable was hosted by David and Kelly Stephenson, the new Fellows Director and his wonderful wife. Being the assigned cook for the week, I had a chance to talk with Kelly and hear about the wonderful vision they have for their neighbors, the Fellows Program, Harvest, and their time at McLean. It truly has been a blessing to get to know this wonderful family (and their adorable two sons) this spring, and I am so excited to see where they take this program in the coming years!
Amongst the Fellows, each week seems to bring good news and answered prayers. We learned that our own Shane was accepted to the Medical program at George Washington University.We are so excited to see him achieve such a hard-earned and well deserved goal, although he can fully expect to get many desperate calls from me next year getting him to explain how the circulatory system works. And with that, we learned of Mary Rachel’s offer of a full-time position at Jill’s House, a respite facility for children with special needs and her internship over the past eight months. She has talked so fondly and enthusiastically about her time with this organization and her love for these children, and how exciting that she can dedicate herself to this program next year! And PRAISE that Elizabeth and Caroline have finalized living situations for next year. Can’t help but admit that I am jealous thinking of all the fun they will have together in DC next year.
Amongst all of this spring flurry, it is taking my best effort to defeat the “senioritis” that keeps tempting me to spend time sleeping in and to keep putting off writing a draft of my Kingdom Seminar final paper. The only thing keeping me on track is knowing how much these classes have meant to me and aided my spiritual development over the past few months. Friday marked our second week in the New Testament, and we delved into the book of Luke. As per the usual course, we entered a discussion concerning “divine authority” versus “personal responsibility.” And through Luke, Bill led us in an examination of how Luke emphasizes the role of prayer and his address of salvation. Looking over our many classes over the past eight months, I truly feel so much more equipped to study the scriptures and more confident in my personal ministry.
In addition to the devotion Dr. Metzger, Dr. Garber, and Bill and shown to us all by teaching our courses, I have been so taken aback by the continued love that the congregation of McLean has shown us. On Sunday, Sharon Frahler, a wonderful and truly inspiring woman at McLean, welcomed the Fellows girls into her home for brunch. It was such an incredible opportunity to hear from a woman who has been in our shoes. Particularly for me as I think about my career in medicine, it is so encouraging to hear from another woman who has learned to love her family fully and also pursue the vocational calling that the Lord has set before her. I know all the girls left appreciative for her heart in reaching out to us!
So as we transition to the weekend, I want to ask you all for your prayers for the upcoming National Fellows Conference here in DC! Fellows from 14 of the programs are joining for a weekend hosted by the McLean and the Falls Church Fellows. I pray that this will be a time to connect with others and to have an open heart and mind for the message of weekend. Pray for Kim and other leaders as they make final preparations, and for the safe travel of many this weekend. And lastly, I humbly ask you to pray for those in our program who are still job searching and house hunting.
Thank you so much for journeying with all of us this year. From our move into the program to our move out, it is incredible realizing how God’s hand has worked day in and day out and remained faithful through it all!
With love,
Samantha Smith, Vanderbilt ‘12
Greetings Fellow Followers!
I think the first update I wrote I was about 6 weeks into the program, and here we are about 6 weeks from the end. I can’t believe this will be my last update! “Time flies” is an understatement, especially when it has been saturated by incredible blessing and growth from the Lord. To look back and reflect on the last 7 ½ months is humbling as I revel in how the Lord has worked immensely in my life and the lives of my fellow Fellows. Several people have asked me recently, “What has been your favorite aspect of the Fellows?” Well, it’s a hard one to answer and one that requires a lengthy explanation to do any part of this year justice, but I’ll give you a little snapshot.
Each component of the Fellows is so intentionally cultivated and designed to offer us perspective and challenge in unique ways. The people who pour into us and this program day after day are an integral and invaluable part of the Fellows and our experience all year. From our directors, to our host families, mentors, the Steering Committee, our employers, to youth and children’s ministries, the faculty and kids at Cornerstone, and the congregation at MPC, there are countless individuals who deserve endless thanks. These people have absolutely made this year for me. The Lord has placed people in my life and developed relationships throughout the course of the year, ones that have challenged me and taught me more than I could have imagined back in September. My host family and mentor have been huge influences and examples of Godly individuals who have nurtured and challenged me all year. I can’t say enough to thank them! While older, wiser counsel has been an overwhelming, unexpected, and much-needed blessing, my peers and those younger than me have welcomed and loved me so well. The girls’ community of Fellows has been such an answer to prayer this year. Since the beginning of the program we have all committed and prioritized our time together, and remained steadfast to praying and caring for one another. I feel so loved and valued by these 5 women who are so different from me, yet love me just the same. The youth group as well has been a family in itself, also refining me in incredible ways. The 11th grade girls have all become dear friends as I have had the privilege to hang out with them all year.
I had the awesome opportunity to experience what is called Modgnik (Kingdom, spelled backwards) this past weekend with the senior high. We piled into a charter bus and took off Friday afternoon, headed for Goshen, VA, home to Rockbridge Younglife camp. We pulled in hours later to a sprawling mini-community equipped with every sport field and outdoor activity you could possibly imagine. We started off the weekend hearing from Drew Wilkins who is on staff with Mission to the World and who works with youth across the US. Drew spoke to us all weekend on 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and Reconciliation, explaining and reminding us what it means to be reconciled to God through Christ. Drew aptly illustrated this message of reconciliation with clips from The Sandlot, Les Miserables, The Lord of the Rings, and his own personal stories. His powerful message spoke to students and leaders alike when we were reminded that the Lord implores us to be reconciled to him through Christ. Realizing that we can come to our mighty God in our weakness, with absolutely nothing to offer or to deserve reconciliation, so that His grace and strength may be amplified and multiplied in our lives through the power of Christ – it was a humbling and powerful message. Drew’s emotional plea for these students to recognize the sacrifice of the Lord’s one and only perfect Son so that we may come to Him reconciled and righteous was overwhelming. Many thanks to him, his wife, and 7-week-old baby girl to spending the weekend with 450 students and leaders!
When we weren’t hearing from Drew or our talented emcees (a mariachi band comprised of the talented “Tulio” and “Juan Pablo,” two college seniors and YL leaders from local universities), we all enjoyed the perfectweather Saturday and took full advantage of all the activities Rockbridge has to offer. A day out in the sun resulted in many pink faces and shoulders as we were all eager to soak up spring that has finally arrived in northern Virginia. Blood sugars ran high as the kids took full advantage of a weekend away from parents to gorge all things sweet and sugary. My cabin of 11th and 12th grade girls was able to have wonderful times of sharing as we reflected on the messages Drew shared and the struggles of high school. I’m so unbelievably blessed to be surrounded by such awesome girls and co-leaders! We piled back on the bus and headed back to McLean Sunday afternoon as sugar highs crashed. Sleep deprived and spiritually filled, I am so thankful for such a full weekend.
As we wrap up these last few weeks, take advantage of the sunshine, and use every excuse to hang out together, we are at the same time looking forward to what is next. I ask your prayers as Fellows search and interview for jobs, look for housing and roommates, and continue processing what this year has been for us. Praise the Lord with us this week as we celebrate with Shane on his acceptance to George Washington University Med School! God is GOOD and has provided so uniquely for each one of us, while keeping us humble in our daily dependence on Him.
Thank you for faithfully following and praying with us!
Elizabeth Kraemer, UNC ‘12
Hello Fellow followers!
We are winding down to six weeks left in the program and as I look back I can’t help but see how faithful the Lord has been throughout this year. There have been so many wonderful professors, pastors, friends, and church members that have poured into my life. They have not only told me about God’s truth, but have also shown me God’s truth through their actions. This has been incredibly impactful on my life.
For this last blog update from me, I want to tell you about another way the Fellows program has helped shape me in an indirect way: living near and working in our nation’s capital, Washington DC.
These last few weeks I have been specifically attuned to how blessed I feel to live in the political capital of the world. Every Tuesday through Thursday, I walk past thousands of people who traveled from all over the world to visit where I work, the Capitol Building! This probably doesn’t come as a shock to those of you who know me, but I make an intentional effort to talk to the tourists I pass. I ask them where they are from and throughout this year I can honestly say I have never gotten the same answer twice. It is fascinating to see and hear the different cultures from all over the world coming to this single location. This past weekend, while the Fellowettes were wining and dining with our lovely Kim Mascher in Charlottesville, I had a Saturday without any obligations. With the weather being so nice, I decided to take the old bike out for a spin. Little did I know I wouldn’t be back to my house until I had 40+ miles under my belt for the day. I spent the day conducting my own tour of the city. I started on the bike path through Virginia and when I finally got to the District, I got lost in all that this wonderful city has to offer. I explored DC like I haven’t been able to all year. The beautiful weather attracted tourists and locals alike to dust off their frisbees and untangle the string of their kites. The unique pace of DC is somewhere between NYC and my hometown of Pittsburgh. There is always something going on, but people have time to enjoy life as it comes without being a slave to work.
The other aspect of my DC experience has been through an insider’s look on the Legislative Branch of our Federal Government, Congress. I work in the office of Senator Dan Coats as sort of the “catch all” worker. My day can range from answering what seems like endless constituent phone calls to escorting the senator to different media functions he has agreed to attend. If you keep up with politics, one of the major issues recently has been the definition of marriage. While I don’t work in the Supreme Court, my commute passes their front steps and Congress has an important role in the passing or appealing of these laws. The two mornings of the oral hearings dealing with this issue are days I won’t soon forget. There were literally thousands of people flooding the streets to rally on both sides of this, as Dr. Garber would describe, “volatile, and complex” issue of homosexual marriage. I, as a legislative intern, am constantly attempting to digest the bombardment of information and beliefs like the debate of marriage every day. However, we are called to much more. Today I encountered a situation the put the rest of these issues in perspective.
The last group that came in our office today before we closed at 6pm was a couple. I welcomed them as I would any other guest, however, this couple felt different from the start. They each had as somber a look as I have ever seen. I started talking to them only to learn that they were parents from Newtown, Connecticut, who tragically lost their son on that dreary December day. I listened to their story and their hope for restoration through legislation. They stopped at all representatives’ offices in hopes that laws could be put in place that would inhibit the unthinkable to ever happen again. The best way they see to honor their son is by telling his story from Sandy Hook Elementary and to make sure they do everything in their power to ensure that no other parents endure the pain they have.
I want to use this space to recalibrate my and our intentions. No matter where you stand on these and other issues, and no matter what field you may be in, the first question we should be asking ourselves as Christians is not “how am I going to get this bill passed” or “what would my party what me to do”, but the simple question: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? In this city we are in a strategic position to be a light to a very deprived people. There are real people with real sin riddled throughout this place, but we have real truth that brings peace that surpasses understanding. We are to bring hope to the hopeless and life to the lifeless. Lord, please come soon, but until you do, fill our hearts with your spirit and our purpose with your power.
Thanks for reading.
With Love,
Will Moyer, Grove City ‘12
A shot from our Valentine’s Day Extravaganza (freshly posted by our resident fellows photographer, Lizzie!)
Friends, Family, and other Fellows Followers,
As I write this blog post, I’m consuming what’s left of the Easter candy which my mom sent me this past week. Despite not being able to be with me for Easter, she still managed to send me her love via a package filled with candy and other goodies. I realized over the weekend that this was my first time celebrating Easter away from my family. Even during my time at Grove City College, I still was able to come home to be with my family for this holiday. At first, this realization was rather sobering for me. Looking back, however, I can honestly say that there is no place I would have rather spent my first Easter away from my family than here in D.C. as a Capital Fellow.
I worked Spring Break Camp last week at Jill’s House, where I’m doing my internship, and felt incredibly blessed to spend all of Holy Week with children with special needs. I had an extra special moment on Good Friday as I took care of a little girl with Cerebral Palsy and a Seizure Disorder. As I looked at her little face staring up at me from the bean bag I had carefully placed her in, I realized that even if she were the only person on this earth Jesus still would have come to Calvary to save her. I could not help but start to cry as I made this stunning realization. It was a very special experience for me to be contemplating Christ’s immense sacrifice on the cross as I made what, in comparison, seemed like minuscule sacrifices for this little girl. Last week was by far my favorite week at Jill’s House to date and it caused me to be ever more grateful to work at such a wonderful, Christ-centered organization.
Last Thursday night, I was able to attend McLean Presbyterian’s Maundy Thursday service with one of the other fellows, Clay. It was really meaningful to be able to share communion with the MPC body as we remembered Jesus’ sharing his Last Supper with his disciples before he went to the cross on Friday. McLean Presbyterian also had a three hour long Good Friday service which I was disappointed to have to miss. The week culminated with three Sunday morning services to celebrate our Savior’s resurrection. Only four of us fellows stayed in town and thus were able to experience Easter MPC style, and I truly wish the others had been able to join us. I do not know if I have ever been part of such a beautiful Easter celebration. Highlights of the service for me were the brass quintet that accompanied the service, the choir’s breathtaking performance of Handel’s Hallelujah chorus, and Pastor James Forsyth’s simple but significant message that the Easter message of grace is meant for all of us broken and needy people. After the service, I was blessed to join my host family at their family friend’s home for an immense Easter gathering of 60+ people. I loved getting to know families that mean a lot to the Whittles and getting to share delicious food and fellowship together.
With not having Roundtable this past Monday night, we girls convened at Lizzie’s host family’s home for a dinner to celebrate Haley’s recent engagement to Andrew McIndoe. We all dressed up and enjoyed Lizzie’s baked brie and salad, Sam’s bread and wine, Leslie’s butternut squash soup, Caroline’s mac n cheese, and my (store bought) ice cream cake. We girls always enjoy our time together, and it was fun for us to catch up and celebrate Haley while dining together around the Hutchinson’s beautifully set table. Over the course of the evening, Leslie announced to all of us the bittersweet news that she will be moving back to Tampa in June to take a job at her church. While those of us staying in D.C. were extremely sad to realize that she’s leaving us, we were thrilled to rejoice with her over this exciting news. We all continue to pray for each other in this job search process as we receive interviews and as we await news from potential employers. Please join us in praying for our futures!
Returning from Easter break made all of us fellows realize that we have finally entered the final stretch of this nine-month adventure. The general conclusion has been that we must spend as much time as possible with each other over these next weeks. We do not want to get to the banquet in June and realize that we squandered opportunities or wasted precious moments with each other, with Kim, with Bill and Jill, with our host families, with our mentors, with our coworkers, or with the members of MPC. Please pray that we will finish strong!
Grace and peace to all of y’all,
Mary Rachel Robbins, “Merch,” Grove City College ‘12
I don’t know about the other Fellows, but the past weekend left me pretty tired out…just in time for the work week! But it was certainly worth the lack of sleep. Here are a few of the highlights for me:
- In Bill’s class on Friday we took a look at Song of Songs, the Old Testament’s love poetry. It’s fair to say that the images are a little foreign to us, even if they weren’t to those who wrote them many centuries ago: “Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing…Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon looking toward Damascus.” Needless to say, things got a little steamy.
- On Saturday the exquisitely refined (and Reformed) Leslie Hall hosted the Fellows for a day of March Madness basketball viewing, advertised in the email invitation as the Slam Dunk ‘n Dip. Although some were initially saddened to discover that “dip” did not refer to a pool party, any disappointment quickly faded as we indulged in homemade dips, conveyed from bowl to mouth via chips. ‘Twas the best of times. Many thanks to the Kyles (Leslie’s host family) for having us over and treating us so well!
- Due to snow, class on Monday was cancelled. Hooray! Oops, I mean, oh no…
- On Monday afternoon, Ian Joseph and I braved the weather to drive down to Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA to hear a lecture about the intersection of science and faith, especially in regards to the beginnings of mankind. Just as interesting as the lecture, however, was the thought-provoking conversation Ian and I had during our four hours of driving time. It was helpful for me to think through some important issues out loud, and I’m grateful to have such excellent conversation partners among the Fellows - Ian in this case, but all the Fellows over the course of this year.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking a great deal about the concept of God’s wrath (joyous, I know…). In my experience, we normally talk about this wrath as being directed towards us: God is angry with you because you have sinned against him. While we certainly are sinners and deserve God’s wrath, it struck me recently that we are also very much the victim of sin and evil in the world around us. We suffer the consequences of strained and broken relationships. We are grieved by sickness and untimely loss. We battle depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation and inadequacy. We are the target of mockery and scorn. We are deceived and mistreated. We endure violence and abuse…the list, of course, could go on. The thought that occurred to me was that God’s wrath, more than just being focused on us, is directed at the forces of sin and evil that plague and oppress us. God hates that which afflicts those that he loves, and so in this respect his wrath is for us, not against us. It is in this loving anger that God promises not just to forgive us our sins, but to rescue us from our tearful plight – ultimately not by removing us from the world, but by renewing and restoring creation to the way that it ought to be. In the present, we groan for our Father in heaven to hasten the day when he will put the world to rights, knowing through the incarnation and obedience of his Son that he loves us enough – and is therefore angry enough – to do so.
Shane Hodson, University of Virginia ‘12
Hello Friends and Family,
I’m writing to you in the midst of a momentous week of the Fellows year! Two yearly phenomena make this a great week to be a Capital Fellow.
One: It’s the first week of spring! This is a big week for my friends from the Sunshine State as well as me. We have never really had true winters. In Texas, I think winter was on a Wednesday a few months ago.
Two: It’s Rev. Bill Fullilove’s Birthday! We have all grown into a very deep appreciation for Bill and his family as he has led us through the program, and we’re excited to share in his milestone year. I personally feel that one of the most important takeaways of the Fellows year is a friendship with Bill. He is a huge support for all of us.
The Fellows life has been full of blessings. The first that comes to mind is Haley’s engagement. We were so happy to hear last Saturday that Andrew had proposed. Andrew has had a fun and friendly presence among the fellows class and we are all so excited for such a wonderful pairing of people. We know God will accomplish mighty things in and through them.
We were also blessed during Monday’s roundtable as we focused on spiritual gifts. We were assigned to complete a spiritual gifts questionnaire that identified which gifts we are strong in. Monday night we shared our top three gifts with the group and time was given for each of us to be affirmed in our gifts. This was really special for me and I think it came in good timing. While job searching, it’s easy to wonder if there is anything to offer employers. This exercise helped us to realize that we do have practiced talents that are of immense value in the workplace as well as the church body.
That brings me to my prayer request. Many of us are spending a great portion of our time concerned about the future. Some of us are still looking for jobs or schools to start after fellows. Some already have offers. All of us still have decisions to make about the future. Please be praying for us in this, and we’d love help and direction from those close to us.
We miss you. Some of us are really looking forward to some time with family over the Easter weekend. It may also be time to think about a visit to DC! I hear the cherry blossoms will be looking fine soon!
Cory Sugg, Texas A&M ‘12
