Do you want to explore an all-encompassing Faith, nurture a heart for the Church, and awaken a hunger to engage the Culture in which we live? The Classic City Fellows Program may be for you.
What is the Fellows Program?
The Athens Fellows Program is a post-graduate program for recent college graduates. The program is designed to equip men and women in how to live out the gospel working hands on in a career field they are interested in. Fellows choose between two internship paths, vocational ministry or pre-professional training. The program centers on:
- Gaining practical career experience by working in a placed internship
- Studying God’s Word with accredited seminary classes
- Growing in grace through an encouraging community of fellows focused on honoring God with their lives
- Living in community in a convenient apartment location
Why Athens, Georgia?
Athens, Georgia is home to the University of Georgia, a multitude of business endeavors, and a thriving arts and music community; it is a vibrant city with a diverse demographic. However, the very things that make Athens such an amazing place to live and work also serve to mask the real needs of hurting people.
College students lose themselves in the college lifestyle, various social gaps find successful professionals leading unfulfilling lives, and people searching for identities try to find them in the shuffle of the music scene. Athens is also consistently ranked as one of the poorest counties in the nation with a large percentage of the population living below the poverty line. Few cities in the southeast offer the unique opportunity to experience urban arts and suburban ministry within the same community.
The Athens Fellows Program gives interns the unique opportunity to engage with many different people groups and discover where their passions for ministry lie.
Internships
Fellows will spend an average of 30 hours as week interning in a career field of their choice. Fellows interested in entering full-time ministry will work for a local church or associated ministry. Fellows interested in entering the secular workplace will be placed in internships corresponding to their professional interests. They will also be placed with a mentor who will spend time each week helping the fellow develop spiritually while examining how to live out their faith in their work.
Classes and Leadership Development
In addition to the hands on development associated with internships, Fellows will take part in an accredited graduate level seminary course. Through the seminary course, developed for this program, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Old and New Testaments and application of Practical Theology. Our goal is to help students understand how their individual lives and callings interact within the larger picture of God's kingdom.
Community
Each week the Fellows will participate in a roundtable dinner and discussion. Classic City Community Church is predicated on a commitment to community and unity as a body of believers. In that spirit, Fellows will work closely with one another to disciple and sharpen each other as they prepare to pursue God’s heart for their lives.
Additionally, the fellows will devote some portion of their time investing in the lives of members of Classic City or another local church. We believe that involvement in the local church is essential to fully participate with the body of Christ. Our goal is to help fellows understand how contribution and participation in the local church is necessary for a lifetime of personal ministry.
A Typical Fellow’s Week
Monday-Thursday** is spent in a 30 hour workplace internship. Wednesday evenings are spent with other Fellows at a roundtable dinner discussion.
Friday**from 9:00AM-12:30 PM is spent in class for seminary credit. The rest of the day and evening are free.
Saturday is free
Sunday the Fellows will participate in worship at Classic City or another local church.
**Fellows will engage weekly discipleship and lead Bible Studies during the week depending on their ministry focus.
Tuition and Benefits
Fellows will be expected to raise $7,500-$15,000 to off-set the cost of their program and additional costs for living expenses. This amount includes rent, utilities, accredited seminary classes, lots of books and other resources, as well as retreats and weekly roundtable meals. The amount raised will differ between vocational ministry internships and workplace internships. Fellows are responsible for their own car insurance and encouraged to remain on their parent’s health insurance. Donations to the Fellows Program are tax deductable.
The Athens Fellows Program has a rolling admissions policy but applications received on or before the deadline posted below will receive priority. Our admission process is very selective and the spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A visit to Athens is strongly encouraged but is not mandatory.
Because there are two kinds of Athens Fellows—Marketplace and Ministry—applicants may specify their interest in a particular program or be considered for both. Fellows class sizes vary year to year.
APPLICATION DEADLINE NOTIFICATION BY
October 1st November 1st
November 1st December 1st
January 10th February 10th
March 1st April 1st
if there is space available after April 1st, notification will be within four weeks of the application receipt.
If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact our Program Director, Eric LeMarbre at eric@classiccity.org
