The Charlotte Fellows has provided me with rich experiences relationally, spiritually, and vocationally. This program has helped me grow in so many ways, so as it is nearing the end I wanted to share some of my takeaways that I hope to hold onto and continue to embrace in this next chapter:
A few weeks ago, we joined the Greenville Fellows for a presentation by Rich Rardin. He shared how many stories in the Bible are told through a three-step pattern: transaction, transition, and transformation.
In our seminary class last week we talked about the role Christians have in culture to bring God’s kingdom to earth. In our book To Change the World, by James Davison Hunter, it explains the author’s opinion as to how cultures change: from the top down. Institutional power comes from the social networks of elite groups of people who have the credibility and power to create change. It has been interesting to learn about the disproportionate cultural power institutions have.
It’s hard to believe half of the fellows year is already past. Coming back to Charlotte post Christmas break, the first thing we did was go on a retreat at Emerald Isle. The focus: Sabbath. The retreat provided sweet time together, polar plunges (different levels of enthusiasm about this), lots of cooking, games, and best of all: rest in the Lord. The time spent in Emerald Isle was much needed after a full first semester and busy holiday season. It was a time to refocus, refresh and be renewed by God.
Back in October, the Charlotte Fellows and the Davidson Fellows participated in Barnabas Basic Training, a day-long seminar about how to have deeper conversations and love others better. My understanding of dignity and depravity became so much richer through this course. I learned more about how God made us in our dignity to have desires and longings, yet we live in a fallen world where our own depravity and disappointment is very real. We were made for relationships, yet often try to live life on our own.
Danae Cowan
Danae joins us from the great state of Oregon. She graduated from college in 2014 and has spent the past two years working with junior high and high school students. Wanting more clarity of where Jesus is calling her, she decided to join the Charlotte Fellows program. She is so grateful for a year set apart to learn more of what it looks like to follow Jesus in the context of such a supportive community.
One of the things we’re already thankful for is the great start we had at our Welcome Retreat. David and Catie Eller hosted the Fellows for a wonderful weekend at Lake James, and we loved every minute of it! It was a wonderful time of getting to know each other and having fun. And with two Tennessee alums in this class, we’re going to see a lot of orange this year.
Dear friends of the Fellows,
The Charlotte Fellows Class of 2016 is done! Many have already moved to other cities, and I’m sad to see them go. Thankfully, several are staying here in Charlotte—so there is still a reason to rejoice. Overall, it was a great year with a great class of Fellows. It was also a year with several unexpected turns. But the biggest highlight has been seeing God’s provision throughout the whole year.
Do you have questions about what life looks like as a fellow? Contact us by filling out the form below, and learn more about the Charlotte Fellows!
