Meet the Charlotte Fellows Class of 2016-2017

We're so excited about our new class of Charlotte Fellows. Hailing from four different states and five different colleges, these Fellows come from a variety of different backgrounds. We're so excited to see what the Lord is going to do in and through them this year.  

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Danae Cowan

Danae Cowan 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.

Casey George

Casey was born and raised in Woodstock, Virginia. She graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Modern Foreign Languages and minors in Business Italian and Modern European Studies. While at JMU, Casey served as a volunteer Young Life leader at a local middle school. During her time as a leader, she developed a strong passion for pouring into the lives of urban kids. Casey is excited for the opportunity to learn how to live a seamless life of faith, grow into her gifts, and navigate the tension of living for Jesus in a broken world, all while immersed in a community with their eyes and hearts fixed on Jesus.  

 

James Moseley

James is from Brentwood, Tennessee. In high school he was involved with Young Life and did work crew at Rockbridge. Upon graduation, he went to Queens University of Charlotte where he swam and led Young Life at Charlotte Christian. He then transferred to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he graduated with a degree in supply chain management and international business.

 

Sarah Traylor

Sarah is from Birmingham, Alabama and joined the Charlotte Fellows in search of a strong Christian community. She is a lover of creativity—especially through video editing, photography, and hand lettering. Sarah loves to throw the Frisbee, watch movies, and travel absolutely anywhere. Sarah says she’s loving life in Charlotte so far!

Jack Stukenborg

Jack is from Memphis and graduated from the University of Tennessee. He loves getting to meet people and building lasting relationships with the intent to show others the love and acceptance of Christ. Jack especially loves to serve those who have been overlooked by society so that he can show them that they are valuable image bearers of God. He is excited to have the opportunity to learn how to integrate his faith into every aspect of life while growing in community with other like-minded people. 

Charlotte Fellows Fall 2016 Update

Our newest class of Fellows!

Welcome to our 7th Fellows year! It’s hard to believe we’re at the six-week mark already.
 

Retreats, Papers, and Ultimate Frisbee Titles

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.

When we returned from our Welcome Retreat, the semester took off like a rocket. The Fellows are busy writing their first papers for their seminary class, working hard at their internships, starting their professional development seminars, carving pumpkins, meeting other Fellows alumni here in Charlotte, and getting ready for the Micah 6:8 Biblical Justice Retreat in November.
 
But most importantly, we’re preparing to defend our title as the Ultimate Frisbee Champions! So if any of you have super Frisbee skills and would like to help train with us, let us know. We’d love to have you come play with us :) 

Our Ultimate Frisbee Championship Trophy, in all of its glory

The Times They Are A-Changin’

 The common theme so far for the Fellows and for me has been CHANGE. I imagine it’s been similar for you also. Fall always brings change. New schools, new schedules, and changing weather (we are very ok with cooler temperatures!) Our Fellows have been dealing with lots of change—new families, new jobs, new friends, new churches, new foods, and even new time-zones!
 
Some of us welcome and even crave change. But for many of us, it brings stress and anxiety. Most often it results from the belief that we have to muster up the strength to control our circumstances. Change can make us feel out of control or out of our comfort zone.
 
God’s provision for us in those times is the promise that He is squarely in the midst of all the change. He is ordaining all things that come our way, even if they seem to come out of the blue. It’s why He calls us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18to “give thanks in all things, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

The Lord of Change

 If we had it our way, most of us wouldn’t pursue change in our lives. We are happy the way things are. But God often brings radical change into our lives, and the good news is that it’s never haphazard or random. He uses it to transform us into the likeness of Jesus. It’s always a part of God’s plan to bring His Kingdom to bear on this world and to bring glory to Himself.
 
Here in “Fellows world,” we’ve been talking and praying through a lot of these thoughts and changes. We’re reminding each other of the truth of God’s word—that He is in control of all things. He’s not only a Sovereign King but a Good King. We can trust his goodness and kindness and rule in our lives. He loves us perfectly, and that love can drive out the fear and anxiety when changes threaten to unsettle us. God often makes us feel out of our comfort zone, that we might see our desperate need for Him. And that is a good thing!
 
I suspect in the next few weeks and months ahead, especially in the political life of our country, we’re going to need to remind each other of these truths. God is sovereign over every part of our lives and of this world. There is no part of this earth or universe that doesn’t fall under his rule and command.

Thank You for Your Partnership & Prayers

 One of the other things we’re most thankful for is YOU, our wonderful supporters and friends. We are very thankful to walk with you on this journey.
 
We also crave your prayers for this year. It is and will continue to be a busy nine months. Please join with us as we pray for our Fellows, for their hearts, and for their journeys that God is individually leading them on. 
 
And join us as we pray for each other in the changes of this upcoming year. Let’s continue to pray and encourage each other in who God is and how he works for our good and his glory!
 
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, giving thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thess. 5:16-18
 
Keep walking by faith!
 
Love and prayers,
 
Connice

End of the Fellows Year Update

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.

I know without a doubt that God brought each of our Fellows here...it wasn’t a backup plan or a detour. God brought us together intentionally. There was a lot of learning and growing—spiritually, vocationally, and emotionally. And because of the unexpectedness of Bob’s bypass surgery in December in the midst of my first year serving as director, I felt as if I was learning many things right along with them.

Courage & Kindness

We talked a lot about two things this year, and the first was having courageand being kind. Our Fellows showed courage and perseverance by coming and committing to this program. It took courage to look into their hearts and unpack the hard and painful issues that God brought to the surface. And they learned that only God can give that kind of courage—the courage needed to see that we are more sinful than we ever thought but also more loved than we could ever imagine. 

And that kind of God-given courage enables us to give kindness to those around us. This world doesn’t seem to value kindness very much, but God certainly does. In Romans 2, it says that “God’s kindness leads us to repentance.” It’s not fear or judgment or good intentions but God’s kindness seen in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the ultimate expression of kindness, but he never sacrificed truth or holiness in the process. It was a special thing to see the Fellows be genuinely kind with one another, even in the most stressful of times.  
True kindness comes not from our own strength, control, or good nature, but from knowing who we are in Christ. It comes from experiencing God’s mercy in our own life and then being able to extend that mercy to others. We need to be kind to others but also to ourselves. Jesus was firm and intentional. He spoke truth that was hard to hear, but through it all, he remained kind. And it drew people to Him. Showing God’s kindness to those around us requires courage from God.
 

Walking by Faith

The second thing we talked about this past year was how we are called to “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). It’s hard to do. We would so much prefer to walk by sight, in our own strength and ability. But our growth and dependence on Jesus grows when we are forced to walk by faith. The Fellows and I had to do this pretty much all year! It was uncomfortable and scary and just plain hard sometimes. God wants us to see our need of Him not just one time but over and over. The qualities and abilities we will need to walk by faith are many and changing, but God has promised that He will provide what we need for the journey forward. 

The Fellows also learned tons about work, vocation, their strength and challenge areas, the church, community, and calling. But underneath it all we intentionally laid the foundation of the Gospel. This Fellows year was a "starting well" year, and our prayer is that they are off to a good start!
 

A Few Thank You's

Before I sign off, a few thank you’s are in order:

A big thank you to our board for all the ways they were so helpful and amazing this year. I love getting to do this program together and having so much fun in the process!

Thank you to Bob for the great job in loving and caring for our guys and for his love, care, and support of me. It was a year full of unexpected things with a guy who does the unexpected well.

A big thank you to Virginia Spykerman, who was my assistant director this year. She was God’s provision for me, and I am so grateful. She loved and cared for the gals so completely and sacrificially.

Thank you to our host families, mentors, and employers. We are so grateful to have you as part of our Fellows family. You are absolutely integral to the program, and we are so thankful for God’s provision to us in you.

To the families of our Fellows, thank you for sharing your most treasured child with us. We were humbled and privileged to share life with them for nine months!

And finally, to all of our donors, thank you for continued support of the Charlotte Fellows Program. Without your generosity, none of this could happen. 

As you can see, we had a full Fellows year! We learned to live with courage, to live with kindness, and to walk by faith and not by sight. Once again, thank you for your partnership in this gospel-centered program.

-Connice Dyar

P.S. We're still taking applications for the 2016-2017 program. If you know of anyone who might be interested, encourage them to apply now through our website or contact me at connicedyar@mac.com.  

Charlotte Fellows Spring Semester Update: The Unexpectedness of Life

A Great Start

 
It’s hard to believe it’s 2016! Seems just like last week I was telling you how excited I was for our Fellows year to start.
 
First off, let me say that it has been a great first semester. We’ve shared lots of good times getting to know each other, hearing great Roundtable speakers, starting our professional development seminars and going to the TFI Biblical Justice Retreat in November with other Fellows programs. The highlight of that weekend is always the Ultimate Frisbee competition, which our Charlotte Fellows won, beating out 15 other programs!
     
After a good Thanksgiving break, the Fellows returned for a few weeks before Christmas to finish up their seminary class, take their finals, and grab the last few weeks of learning before 2015 ended.
     

The Unexpected

 
In the midst of this, the unexpected happen. The week after Thanksgiving, Bob and I found out he needed bypass surgery. It was very unexpected, with no real warning. So on December 8, Bob underwent surgery, coming out with six bypasses. During this time and until the Fellows left for Christmas break, Virginia Spykerman, our assistant director, and the board stepped in to help finish out the semester. I am so grateful for the provision of the Lord in giving my husband a successful and safe surgery, for the leadership of the Charlotte Fellows as they stepped in and took over for me, and for our Fellows. They were so encouraging with their prayers, texts, and ways they tried to care for us!
     
In these weeks following as I’ve tried to process what has happened and what the Lord is doing, two verses have been my companion. One is 1 Thess. 5:18: “Give thanks in all things for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The other is 1 John 4:18: ‘There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear.”
 
When the Fellows returned from break, we got together to share and process what they were learning and what I had been learning.
     
We talked about how we can find joy and give thanks in the unexpectedness of life—in the hard times we don’t want to be in—by remembering God’s loving sovereignty: nothing in this universe or our lives is out of his control. All of our lives fall under his wise and loving hands. For believers, all of life is plan A.  And the thing that gives us joy and comfort is that our Sovereign God is a loving and good God. He loves us perfectly, and this perfect love is what gives us courage to walk the path he puts before us.
    

Looking Ahead

 
This next semester is busy and full of great opportunities for learning: the Fellows have professional development seminars, our mission trip in late February, our seminary class with Mark Upton, resumes to polish, and interviews to go to.
 
It’s also a time that can be full of worry, anxiety, and fear for the Fellows over what comes next when they finish in May. The two verses I mentioned will be a constant echo and reminder for them and for me as we enter into the new year.
 
There will be unexpected changes, challenges, disappointments, fears and unknowns. But because God is good and in control, there will also be great times of joy, thanksgiving, awe, and wonder at what God is doing.
 
I am so thankful to be in the care and provision of a loving and Sovereign God and that He is the One that will direct the paths of our Fellows.
 
Please continue to pray with us for this next semester. Pray that our Fellows’ hearts will be teachable and tender. Pray that they will be able to trust God for his plan and provision for them. Pray that they will have strength and endurance to finish the year well, to give good value to their employers and to continue to strive to grow spiritually, emotionally, and vocationally.
     
Maybe you would like to join us in this journey of seeking to find joy in the unexpectedness of life. We are so thankful for all of you who support the Charlotte Fellows with your prayers, your encouraging words, and your resources. None of it is a coincidence that we are part of the Fellows program and the Fellows’ lives.
 
Remember this as you walk ahead into 2016: perfect love casts out fear, and you can give thanks in all circumstances because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus!

Peace and blessings, 

Connice

Meet the New Charlotte Fellows, Class of 2015-2016

Three weeks ago we kicked off the year with our annual Charlotte Fellows welcoming party. We are so excited and expectant about what the Lord is going to do in and through everyone involved with the program this year. Check out our new crop of Fellows below!

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Laura Holmes
James Madison University
Internship: DCG Construction

I have joined the Charlotte Fellows so that I can continue growing in my faith as I navigate many of the life decisions that come after graduating college. I also want to gain wisdom on how to balance my work, faith and personal life. I am excited to serve the Fellows community as well as the city of Charlotte and see how the Lord uses this next year to share His love with others.

Martin Purcell
Auburn University
Internship: Joe Gibbs Racing

I look forward to growing into the man God has me to be and finding my true identity in Him. Can't wait to give an undistracted year to my Lord and Savior and be used by Him and go where He sends me. I love action sports, Auburn Football, and French donuts.

Brianna Smith
Clemson University
Internship: Boosterthon Fun Run

I am spending this year as a Charlotte Fellow because I want to grow in my walk with the Lord and to see what it looks like to truly live every aspect of life on mission. I am most excited about the opportunity to have a community of believers striving for the same thing and to be able to watch each of us be molded into who God is making us to be through this process.

Theo Shepard
Catawba College
Internship: Church Sports Outreach 

I (finally) decided to join the Charlotte Fellow program because I wanted to build my resumé and try to receive some assurance that the Lord was calling me to the corporate world and working in Public Relations or marketing. Most importantly, I'm stoked to strengthen my walk with God and hear from Him in this major transition from college to the real world, and the inevitable struggles of which He will help me. 

Beth Batchelor
East Carolina University
Internship: Boosterthon Fun Run

I am a Charlotte Fellow this year because I am seeking Godly wisdom and guidance on my next steps in life. I want to be surrounded by a community that is challenging me in my spiritual walk as well as a community that is preparing me for the workforce. 

Eric Maust
Grove City College
Internship: Brookstone Schools

I chose to be a Charlotte Fellow to continue learning to trust God’s grace as I grapple with the sometimes-daunting but wonderful unpredictability of life, including community and career. I look forward to starting afresh in a new place, more fall and less winter than Pittsburgh, and jumping off the deep end (with people to tell me where the rocks are).

Lilla Flora
Ole Miss
Internship: Soccer Shots

I chose to do the Charlotte Fellows Program to spend a year growing in God's word and to gain a better understanding of the gospel, and how we as Christians are to live our life in the working environment and everyday life for Him. 

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Pray for the Fellows

Friends, please join us in praying for our Fellows this year, that they might grow in their understanding of the gospel and love for God. 

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