By Virginia Roth
Over the past three weeks, we have had the pleasure and honor of hearing from several guest speakers from McLean Pres. Their careers were impressive and humility more so but what really encouraged me was their abounding trust in the Lord’s careful attendance to their life. Some said taking those first steps after college towards a career felt shaky and unguided, but now looking back they have seen the through-line of God’s providence guide them benevolently into places they never expected. His omnipotence and nothing less could have led them to where they are now. To a group of somewhat confident but very intimidated young people, hearing this sentiment over and over from incredibly successful people changed my view on things. Sure everyone says they end up in a spot they never expected but the Lord, out of his goodness, has revealed this to me in such a new way recently.
Similarly, the last two Wednesdays at Pastor Laughlin’s house, we discussed justification and adoption: the two ways God has reestablished our status through Christ. As young adults going through the process of unearthing our gifts and talents, we are also figuring out what we are not good at. Questions about our worth and character unintentionally arise from overwhelming bouts of insecurity. Up until the Capital Fellows Winter Retreat, I let my insecurity and disappointment about the things I am not affect the things I am - most notably my status with my Heavenly Father. My status, a daughter in Christ is unchangeable, unmovable, and uncontestable. Why has it been so hard for me to act out of this renewed and affirmed status?
On the last night of our recent ski trip to Seven Springs we watched Peanut Butter Falcon, starring Shia LeBeouf and Zack Gottsagen. Zack has Down syndrome, runs away from his bleak nursing home, and befriends a fisherman named Tyler. In one of their conversations, Zack asks if Tyler was a good guy or bad guy. His response, “It's a matter of our heart." If we rely on our own hearts and desires or our skills and talents alone we will surely fail; we will not be "the good guys." The good news is that no matter where we are now or where we end up, the Lord will teach, guide, and accompany us each step of the way. Our hearts, though troubled and burdened by sin, are gradually being sanctified. Christ is our sure and steady foundation, our only place of peaceful rest and solace from our worry.
We are young, ambitious, passionate, full of life, zealous, confused, and somewhat directionless Fellows folk. The Capital Fellows year challenges us to step out into the uncomfortable and unknown with resounding clarity, not in who we are but in whose we are. Through God’s act of grace and divine mercy he has clothed us in Christ, irrevocably changed our status from alien to son and daughter. Dr. Carolyn Sinclair, one of our guest speakers, said something when she spoke to us this week that has humbled and comforted me: “I think that when Jesus looks at us he isn’t impressed. He looks at us and sees us for what we are. And loves us still.”
We are small and weak creatures with fickle hearts but amazingly reflect His image and have been adopted into His family. On such stable ground as this we should rest in God’s ability “to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV) so that our striving may cease. Hiding our hopes in Jesus who knows us flawlessly, has planned for our future, and secured us a place beside Him in heaven for all eternity.
Virginia Roth is a member of the Capital Fellows class of 2024-25. She is from Boone, NC and is a graduate of Appalachian State University. This year, she is working as a communications associate at The Fellows Initiative.
Pictures From The Week
Fellows Ski Trip
Skiing at Seven Springs
Ran into them on the way home : )
Wine Tasting
Know a Potential Capital Fellow?
If you know a college senior or recent graduate who should consider joining the Capital Fellows program in 2025-26, please encourage them to get in touch with us. The easiest way to express interest in the program is through our Contact Us Form. You can learn more about the program, including application deadlines, by visiting the Capital Fellows website.
About Capital Fellows. Capital Fellows is an advanced leadership and discipleship program for recent college graduates. Through graduate courses, a paid internship, one-on-one mentoring, and many leadership and community service opportunities, fellows develop and apply their gifts in real-world situations while learning to integrate a Christian worldview into all areas of life. Capital Fellows is a unique opportunity to live and work in the Washington DC area and to be an active member of a supportive community that seeks to serve the city with the love of Christ. It is also a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in the workplace while deeply exploring God’s design for us as workers and contributors to human flourishing.
Pray for the Capital Fellows
February is almost upon us. That means seminary classes will be starting again and that the job search is in full swing. Please pray for them as they return to the normal weekly rhythm of the program. Also, throughout January, we've had many encouraging and inspiring guest speakers. Please pray for our wonderful guest speakers who are willing to come, many of them year after year, to speak with the Capital Fellows about their vocational journeys.
Want to learn more about Season 18? Click the button below to read through their bios!
About The Fellows Initiative
Capital Fellows is part of a network of similar programs across the country. This network is called The Fellows Initiative. There are 34 Fellows programs in TFI, roughly 3,200 alumni living around the world, and more Fellows programs on the way.
If you know a church in the US or Canada that would benefit from joining TFI by launching a new Fellows program. Please contact TFI by visiting their website.
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