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The Gainesville Fellows Program: Equipping Tomorrow's Leaders for a Lifetime of Living for Jesus Christ, Fully Engaged in the Church and in God’s World
The Gainesville Fellows Program brings together recent college graduates to work, study, and serve together. This is done in community in preparation for a lifetime of living out Christian faith in the marketplace, in ministry, and in all of life.
The Gainesville Fellows Program is a nine-month discipleship and leadership training program for young college graduates that goes from August to May each school year. This Fellows Program teaches a God-centered view of knowledge, culture, work and life. Fellows receive academic training, participate in seminars with Christian scholars and community leaders, and enjoy
one-on-one mentoring relationships with mature Christian men and women in the church. Fellows apply their training as they work with college students and youth, minister in the community and around the world, work in an internship, and interact with their host family.
Grace at Fort Clarke United Methodist Church is home of The Gainesville Fellows Program. Grace Church is an active and growing church family that strives to have the kind of contagious Christianity that influences and encourages the entire community, one life at a time. Gainesville is not only home to Grace Church, but also to the University of Florida. Gainesville is the quintessential college town, filled with culture, academia, and opportunity. Gainesville is also a family friendly city where young people can be known and where they can get to know others. The city and the university have some of the best athletics in the country, impressive local musicians and artists, an eclectic downtown atmosphere, and plenty of nature trails, parks, and preserves to enjoy. The University’s Performing Arts Center attracts world-renowned performers, speakers, and musicals. Our region of the country also boasts many lakes, rivers, and springs which are great for swimming, fishing, water skiing, sailing, tubing, snorkeling and scuba diving. Gainesville is ninety minutes from Florida’s famous beaches and two hours from the world’s number one vacation destination, Orlando. Gainesville and the surrounding areas have something for everyone.
Calling and Career
The Gainesville Fellows Program seeks to prepare and equip young men and women for a lifestyle of living by the Gospel and for the Kingdom of God. It prepares young adults to integrate their Christian worldview in their future vocations and all areas of their lives. The Fellows Program exists as a discipleship and leadership training tool for students as they prepare to embrace a career. Each participant builds a framework for discerning God's calling and answering the question: "What do I do with my life?" The program emphasizes the importance of understanding the redemptive work of Christ as the foundation of life, work and calling.
The Fellows Program assists each Fellow in obtaining a part-time, paid professional position in an area of interest: business, law, medicine, education, youth work, etc. These marketplace internships allow Fellows the opportunity to apply biblical principles in the workplace while developing professional and Kingdom relationships. Working combines practical experience with the personal exploration of day-to-day issues of faith. It gives young people a framework for viewing their work through God's eyes.
Teaching and Training
Mission Trips
The Fellows will participate in two, approximately 4 week mission experiences. The first will occur at the end of the fall semester somewhere in North America. The second will occur at the end of the spring semester somewhere overseas. These mission experiences allow Fellows to minister out of their comfort zones, striving to understand and learn about all of God’s creation. Many Christians tend to live sheltered lives; these mission experiences are designed to tear down those shelters.
Service and Discipleship
Service is the foundation and core of Christian leadership. Fellows are given many opportunities to serve within Grace United Methodist Church, and in cross-cultural and community ministries, in addition to the mission trips. These opportunities include working with Grace’s College and Youth Ministries. Each Fellow participates in a mentoring relationship with a mature Christian. Fellows will also mentor younger students.
Marketplace
Each Fellow will be placed in a part-time job or paid internship. If possible this placement will be based on their field of study, interests and career goals. Students will work approximately 20 hours per week and will use this facet of the internship to live out their Christian ideals through the marketplace.
Community
The Fellows Program is a smaller community within Grace United Methodist Church. It is a place where shared convictions are embodied and embraced. A family in the Grace community hosts each Fellow in their home, allowing him or her to experience life with people who are striving to serve Christ in the midst of real life challenges, joys and failures.
One evening each week the Fellows share a meal together and participate in a roundtable-style discussion reflecting on the biblical principles and practical implications of Christian community. The Fellows community is committed to accountability, prayer, biblical teaching and fellowship. These relationships are the type that can endure and last a lifetime.
Week at a Glance (subject to change)
- Monday’s are used for classroom time (William Carey International University)/ seminars/community ministry/student ministry. Monday’s are also for the Fellow’s weekly meeting used to build intentional and purposeful community.
- Tuesday through Thursday is spent in a paid workplace internship or volunteer ministry position typically from 8 to 5.
- Tuesday evening (college) or Wednesday evening (youth) is spent in discipleship training with either our college students or youth.
- Tuesday evening or Wednesday evening (opposite your discipleship training) is a time of intentional reading, rest and reflection.
- Thursday evening we have our weekly college dinner hosted at the home of our pastor and his wife, Denny and Cindy Heiberg.
- Friday morning is classroom time. The rest of the day and evening are free unless a special event or conference is scheduled.
- Saturday’s during the fall are spent with our college students in fellowship coordinated with the football games. During the spring Saturday’s are the Fellows’ day off unless a special event or conference is scheduled
- Sunday morning is spent in discipleship and worship with the Grace family. Sunday evening is spent in discipleship training and/or fellowship with our college students.
Tuition Costs & Benefits
Each Fellow is housed with a host family from the church community. Room and board are provided at no cost, and living expenses are further offset by the part-time wages the Fellows earn in their workplace assignments. Fellows are responsible for their own car and for their health insurance. Before entering the program, each Fellow is required to raise $6,800 in tuition and is encouraged to seek financial and prayer support from his or her family, friends and home church. Tuition costs meet expenses related to administration, academic courses, retreats, books/study materials, conferences, and both mission trips.
Statement of Commitment
We in The Gainesville Fellows Program desire to keep God's Word as the standard by which we live. We recognize that all of life, including life in the workplace, is to be lived out under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to His Glory! We are convinced that the most effective leader is a servant-leader who strives to know God's will and is compelled by His grace. As believers we celebrate our life of grace, we affirm that we belong to Christ, and we are committed both to serving others and to pursuing a mission greater than ourselves.
If this statement reflects your own commitment to a life of following Christ, we invite you to download an application for admission.
Applying to the Fellows Program
Please download and complete our application . Applications can be emailed to the Program Director, Craig Naylor at gainesvillefellows@gracefl.org. If you prefer, you can mail your application to the address at the top of the application. Our admission process is selective and the spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. We are now accepting applications for the 2011-2012 academic year. Our goal is to have 2 men & 2 women. Also, please complete and submit an application to William Carey International University for the academic portion of this Fellows program. During the application process we welcome and encourage you to visit Gainesville and Grace United Methodist Church!
Additional Questions
If you have any other questions regarding this program, please contact the Fellows Program Director, Craig Naylor at gainesvillefellows@gracefl.org or 352-332-8770.
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