By Tessa Miller, Class of 2026
I moved to Charlotte on September 1st to join the Charlotte Fellows program, and since then have met a plethora of people connected to my experience as a Fellow and to the larger community at our partner church, Hope. The number of people rooting for, supporting, and excited about me and the other Fellows was not something I expected. Naturally, groups of people form around like-mindedness, a shared goal, or common experiences, and that creates a certain kind of culture. From the outside, that culture can feel either intimidating or inviting. It takes time to see where, or if, you might fit in or belong. While each person I’ve met carries their own story and perspective, there’s been an underlying sense or atmosphere I started to notice that connects each individual to the culture of this community as a whole.
I did not recognize it until I was processing with a friend and she asked a question that helped me put words to how I was experiencing transitioning to these new people all at once. What I’ve observed in my first month in Charlotte is this: the people surrounding this Fellows program value real experiences and authenticity. Counseling is openly talked about and celebrated (no one has it all together). Stories of Jesus and meaningful, experiential Holy Spirit moments flow out of people naturally. The stories they share are rarely clean or perfect, but they’re honest and deeply authentic. What I’ve noticed most is how open people are about the depth of their sin and how Jesus is meeting them in it. I’ve seen it in my host family, in my Fellows class, my mentor, in my director, my Bible Study leader, at roundtable, my seminary pastor, the former Fellows; I could keep going. What marks this community is the risk people are willing to take for relationships with one another and with Jesus. The risk is honesty and vulernability.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
This verse puts words to what I’ve been feeling about biblical community and how it glorifies Jesus and highlights the gift He offers to those who are honest enough to receive it.