By Alex Treser
The weekend that followed the start of a new year was one that made me grin from ear to ear; enjoying every waking moment with those who I was delighted to spend time with. To kick off the start of 2020, the Season 13 Fellows made our way out to Lake Anna, in Central Virginia, to rest in the Lord and prepare for the second half of our time as Capital Fellows. During the retreat, we went on walks in the woods, competed in billiards, and played board games. Amongst the fun, we were struck that this new year is filled with possibilities and opportunities. This retreat was filled with moments of realization that we ultimately have a good Father that wants us to pursue him in our work and our relationships.
A large part of the retreat was to focus on a game plan on what to do next after our final week of being Capital Fellows. With there still being so many things to do in DC there are also new job offers being posted day by day that we are now looking at as well. But the one thing that has not changed is God's providence over it all. Psalm 89:11 says: The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. So when looking for jobs we can be confident that ultimately, it is the Lord that provides. Now I don’t think this gives us a get out of jail free card to sit on the couch, twiddle our thumbs, and then wait for an email to come our way with a job offer. From this retreat, I believe the Lord is calling us into a relational job search in serving those we work for and with.
John Kyle, the Director of the Capital Fellows program , challenged us to think like the hiring manager when entering hiring process. Rather than just "selling ourselves", let's think about how we can create value and be a valuable asset in the organization we will serve. Let's go into the job market with a willingness to do what needs to get done in the job we actually have, rather than focusing on the "perfect job" that we don't have. John pointed out that no one is going to hand us a job. It takes work to find a job and there are a lot of unknowns in the job search process. All of this is a reminder that we have to rely on the Lord in our work and in our job search. Matthew 6:21 says, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. I pray that when the Capital Fellows are conducting their job searches, we are treasuring the Lord above all things. Secondly, I pray we treasure the value that we have in Christ and that we can approach this season with excitement to work for others and steward the resources that we have been given in this life. It is all the Lords.
One evening during the retreat, we went out to a small town called Ashland, Virginia where we had a nice dinner together. The town could have been used as a set for a Twilight Zone episode with cute little boutique shops and a blinking yellow traffic light hovering over train tracks. When we were walking through town an Amtrak train rolled through N. Railroad Ave with passengers looking out the window or maybe reading a C.S. Lewis story. I have never ridden cross country on a train before, but I started to wonder about all of the other little towns that train would have passed through and the beautiful views they would have seen while riding along. As the train rolled away, I was thankful for this little stop on my journey as a Capital Fellow. It was a metaphor for the journey itself, filled with new and refreshing views...even about how I can approach the job search, which will be another leg on this journey.
Pictures from the Week
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Capital Fellows is a leadership and vocational development program for recent college graduates. It's a 9-month program that includes a paid job in your field of interest, service in the church and city, a personal mentor, vocational coaching, life with a host family, and customized seminary courses to help you grow in your walk with the Lord in all areas of life.
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Benefits of The Fellows Initiative
You probably already know that Capital Fellows is one of 31 fellows programs in The Fellows Initiative network. But, did you know that the sponsors of TFI offer great benefits to Capital Fellows alumni? For example, Reformed Theological Seminary offers a 33% tuition discount for 5 years, and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary offers a 40% tuition discount! You can learn more about TFI's sponsors by clicking here.
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