Athens Fellows is a nine-month discipleship and leadership development program in Athens, Ga. that equips emerging leaders to integrate their faith into whole of life. We realize these goals through mentoring, worship, study, and service. Fellows will discern and develop their gifts in a variety of settings that fall under three headings:

The Work of Our Hands—through paid job placements, fellows will learn to engage their work with the integrity, professionalism, and commitment that comes from honoring God in our vocation. Partnering with other local service organizations, Fellows will serve with area nonprofits who are promoting social justice, serving the poor, and re-imagining the common good.

The Endeavors of Our Mind—through study of the Great Tradition of Christian thought, fellows will discover not merely intellectual content, but a form of restful attention to what is truly good and beautiful.

The Desires of Our Heart—through the habits of prayer, worship, and rest, fellows will encounter the Triune God as the source and summit of our deepest joy.

A fellow’s weekly schedule will include morning prayer with the community, spiritual formation and direction, 20 hours of work in their job placement, dinner and “check-ins” with the group, reading and discussion of works of theology and Christian history with area religion faculty, one-on-one mentoring, volunteering at area ministries, and information sessions with business and community leaders in the Athens area.

Several weekends a year, we will get away to the spectacularly under-rated mountains and beaches of Georgia for times of rest, retreat, and fun.

All of this happens in one of the best college towns in America—Athens Ga.—known as the birthplace of alternative rock and home to a thriving downtown arts and music scene, the University of Georgia Bulldogs, and a burgeoning innovation district.