Leadership Ministries Worldwide recently joined with The Chattanooga Fellows program to provide opportunities for young leaders to gain work experience and discover how their faith informs their vocations.
The Chattanooga Fellows program is one of 19 such programs operating as part of The Fellows Initiative around the United States. It’s an intensive nine-month program designed to prepare recent college graduates for a lifetime of faithful service as agents of Christ’s redemptive work. Fellows participate in workplace internships at local businesses and ministries and receive seminary-level theological training while living with a host family in the community.
“We’re given a cultural mandate to work and be stewards and that can be worked out in any vocation, not just missions and evangelism.” Matt King, Intern
This year, out intern is Matt King. Matt grew up on the mission field of Papua New Guinea, where his parents supported Bible translation work through mission aviation for more then 16 years.
After graduating from Covenant College in Chattanooga, TN in 2013, Matt worked in the marketplace for a year before joining the fellows program, and has experienced a transformation in his attitude toward work since he began.
“Before I joined the fellows program, I thought you had to be a missionary or a pastor to truly glorify God through work,” says Matt. “The program has really provided me with a much deeper understanding of how to integrate my faith and my vocation.”
Since Matt joined Leadership Ministries Worldwide last August, he has undertaken a variety of projects, including refreshing our website and online store, developing curriculum and materials for the global training network, photographing products, and setting up a shared filing system for our staff. We’re grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Chattanooga Fellows Program, and we are thankful for Matt and the work he has done!
To learn more about The Fellows Initiative and find a fellows program in your area, visit www.thefellowsinitiative.com.