Fellows Alumni In Action
- Virginia Roth
- May 1
- 4 min read
A story of how TFI Alumni have chosen to stay involved in the mission of Fellows, creating a long-lasting impact on future generations.
Good leaders are formed through collaborative relationships, intentional guidance, and lived experience. They share common traits: considering others' needs, affirming their gifts, challenging them to see their potential, and guiding them in their pursuit of good work.
Ashley Crutchfield (Falls Church Fellows, 1999) and Ralston Hartness (Trinity Fellows, 2019) first experienced this kind of leadership when they joined a Fellows program after college. Today, they serve as directors of the Raleigh and Chattanooga TFI Fellows programs, respectively. The exceptional leadership that shaped them as fellows has inspired and equipped them to reinvest in the TFI community as leaders themselves.
Intergenerational community is a hallmark of TFI Fellows programs. From friendships with peers to relationships with older mentors, Ashley recalls being surrounded by leaders who shaped her approach to leadership. She describes her Falls Church Fellows program director, Anne Cregger, as the most influential person during her fellows experience. Anne led with refreshing vulnerability, creating space for fellows to grow deeper in their faith and relationships with one another. “Anne walked alongside her fellows with humility, honesty, and empathy,” Ashley said, forging deep relationships between fellows from the very start of the program.
Matt Young (Falls Church,1998) was the first to encourage Ashley to consider a Fellows Program after college. Years later, as a close friend, he again challenged her—this time to become the Raleigh program director. “Matt believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” Ashley said. Both Anne and Matt saw her potential, encouraged her growth, and played a crucial role in her decision to become director. Ashley credits her friends and mentors with motivating and preparing her to lead her fellows today.
In February, Apostles Raleigh, the church that hosts the Raleigh Fellows Program, celebrated Ashley’s 15th year as director. Past, present, and future fellows flooded the pews to commemorate the occasion. As Ashley looked out over so many familiar faces, she saw the enduring impact the program has made—and will continue to make—on her community. Generations of fellows are now spreading far beyond Raleigh, throughout the Southeast and the world. Within her own family, Ashley’s personal experience has grown into a shared ministry, encompassing her husband and children. Next year, her son Jake will attend Orlando Heart of the City Fellows. “My life would not be the same without the Fellows Program,” Ashley said, “and neither would theirs.”
Six years after completing his fellows year, Ralston Hartness now directs the Chattanooga Fellows program. After formative experiences together in the program, Ralston and his wife, Elle, chose to stay connected to TFI, which they consider the most enduring and successful example of holistic Christian formation they’ve encountered.
Ralston was relentlessly driven and constantly involved in many activities throughout college. That pattern continued until Trinity Fellows program director Dennis Doran recognized this tendency and challenged Ralston to remove distractions and focus on God’s calling to teach.
Now, after years of teaching, Ralston leads his Chattanooga Fellows with this lesson in mind: leadership is never solitary. It requires the presence of others who challenge and remind you to lean on the Lord for strength and guidance. As one of his mentors once said, “Our job as a Christian community is to help one another see Jesus as more beautiful and believable.” In this way, leadership is not limited to titles but is a calling on every Christian’s life.
Great leadership is cultivated through relationships. Matt, Anne, and Dennis modeled this by expressing their confidence in Ashley and Ralston and calling them to lead when they lacked confidence. Inspired by their fellows experience, Ashley and Ralston intentionally equip their fellows to lead in every area of life. Their programs are designed to launch fellows into a lifetime of purposeful leadership and ultimately deeper communion with the Lord.
By Virginia Roth
Virginia Roth
TFI Communications and Research Associate
Join a TFI Fellows Program!
If you are a college senior, recent graduate, or knows someone that is, please apply to be a fellow! You can apply to three programs at once with no application fee using our common application.
Being a fellow is an amazing way to launch your career after college! As a fellow you will have a paid job in your field of interest, take seminary courses, and you will have many opportunities to use your gifts serving in the church and city. You will also have a personal mentor.
We are now accepting applications all across the TFI network. Some programs are beginning to fill up, so apply as soon as you can! Click here to apply today.
Not sure which program to join? You can learn more about all of the TFI Fellows programs by clicking here.
You can also learn more by joining an upcoming informational webinar.
Help Advance TFI's Mission
TFI and the the Fellows Movement has been spreading across the United States for 19 years. There are now 32 TFI Fellows programs and more than 3,000 alumni!
Please consider partnering with TFI financially to help young Christian leaders find their place in the church, workplace, and society and to work toward the flourishing of the world.
With your financial partnership, together we can:
Expand the TFI network to more churches in more cities. Even though we are growing, there are still many areas of the country that do not currently have a TFI Fellows program.
Expand our reach to more young leaders graduating from more colleges and universities. There is room in our network for more young leaders to come and grow in Christ. Your support will help us fill every Fellows class across the country!
If you have been blessed by a TFI Fellows program or simply want to see this Kingdom ministry expand, please consider making a recurring donation or one-time gift to TFI. CLICK HERE to donate online.
To give by check, please mail it to our NEW ADDRESS:
The Fellows Initiative
8227 Old Courthouse Road, Suite 320
Vienna, Virginia 22182
Thank you!
TFI is a donor supported 501c3 nonprofit registered in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
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