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In anticipation of the Fellows Reunion

As we look forward to being reunited with all of the Trinity Fellows from over the years, it is always entertaining to look back at some of the fun that has been had... Video 1

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The Fellows Program will celebrate ten years with a reunion June 7–9, 2013. Please mark your calendar as we wish for the whole church to be involved in this reunion weekend. Contact Dennis Doran at fellows@trinitycville.org or 434.825.9866 for more information.

Fellows Run Richmond

Post by: Katie Brazeal As Fellows, business is a way of life. We are told upfront that we will be busy in the program, and that proves to be true. Between work, classes, families, mentors and more, our time is in high demand. However, that doesn't mean that there is absolutely no time to have a fun, out-of-program Fellows bonding experience.

On Saturday, November 10th, four of the girls ran the Richmond 8k. Now, I said that we had time for the bonding experience, but I never mentioned time to train! Regardless, we had a wonderful time carb-loading Friday night, waking up before the crack of dawn on Saturday, dragging our bodies 5 miles through the streets of Richmond, and stuffing our faces with a omelets and biscuits post-race.

Did I forget to mention our pit stop by Krispy Kreme the night before the race?

Proud Finishers: Sarah, Heidi, Katie and Amie

New Orleans

By Andrew Simmons and Jenny Fearnow One of us was recently in a staff meeting in which a supervisor asked, “Y’all took a N’awlins trip recently, didn’cha? I don’t know why people keep going down there. It’s just gonna flood again.” Yes, people are indeed still going down to the Crescent City after Katrina’s second, and more catastrophic, landfall on August 29th, 2005. So, why? Will our visits realistically change anything?

This thought occurred to at least we two, and likely more, of the Trinity Fellows and U. Va. Students from Reformed University Fellowship who made the trek to the Big Easy from Jan. 3 to 10 of this year. As we both hope to convey, the Lord’s kingdom made strong advances in New Orleans during that first week of 2009.

In addressing change, one must assume there is a pre-existing need. In New Orleans, people are still hurting: emotionally, physically, and mentally. Many have resigned themselves to apathy, tired of the long rebuilding process or extended unemployment. Some are still waiting for their houses to physically come off the 4-by-4 wood blocks that resemble a Jenga game. Driving through the now-famous Ninth Ward, we saw no street signs and no attempts, on the part of the city government, to rebuild; however, people are resettling there, living amidst brokenness.

The combination of compelling, audacious rebuilding and the seeming big-picture futility of it in the face of such wide destruction could cause one to question their usefulness there. And in some sense that is true - God is the only one that will bring about real peace and restore in our hearts a hope for it. In this respect, our very presence was an act of trust in God to work his sovereign good will to restore his people.

But we do get to play an integral part: as believers, we are called to bring peace to the city and reconciliation to hurt and brokenness. “…That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us,” says Paul in II Corinthians 5:19-20. God has made us ministers of his peace for His Kingdom. If we understood anything from being in NOLA, it was that lasting change comes only through the catholic Church. Members of RUF at the University of Virginia along with the Fellows, Redeemer PCA (Pastor Ray Cannata’s church), and the Annunciation Mission joined together to declare the gospel in word and deed within the Broadmoor district of New Orleans. Our short-term work projects meant nothing except in that they were rooted in the local church which could further a long-term relationship with community members.

By tearing up tile, scraping and painting, caulking and gutting, raking and pressure-washing, we participated in incarnational ministry. We did realistically change something. Sure, some benefits are visible even now. We gave a couple from the community leak-proof windows and a pleasant entryway. But some may not be for some time. We helped connect this same couple with the local church. Long-time development practitioner and Vice President for International Program Strategy at World Vision International Bryant Myers says that the Church is critical to genuine social transformation, “It is hard to imagine sustainable transformation without churches committed to soul care [development of personal faith] and social care [helping the poor and correcting injustices].” This truth was borne out in our own experience – the other groups we encountered aiding in reconstruction were, by a huge majority, evangelical groups of believers working in partnership with a local church.

So, to our surprise, there is indeed hope in New Orleans. This hope is found in a personal God who chooses to work through the local church and the Christians there that believe in His promises of restoration. We must remember that this applies not only to New Orleans, but to Charlottesville, as well. The church is the arm of God ministering real and lasting peace to its community. New Orleans, as that supervisor suggested it might, is indeed experiencing another flood – one of vital and engaged Gospel work that labors in the nitty-gritty of everyday life, not in spite of, but because of the imminent arrival of the Kingdom. So when the good times roll, know that the church is there.

If you want more information about the New Orleans trip or other service opportunities the Fellows are involved in please email me at jennyfearnow@gmail.com and/or check out our NOLA pictures on the Trinity Fellows Blog at www.trinityfellowsprogram.blogspot.com. Also check out the RUF website and pictures at www.uva.ruf.org

A Fellows Rendez-Vous

by Hayley Taylor & Wilson Whitaker Location: Revolutionary Soup Agenda: Celebrate our Two Week Anniversary of Togetherness

An auspicious beginning, to be sure. Yet this anniversary shadowed a different, though no less important, landmark in our year: we have now completed an entire five-day work week with our new employers.

While our soup was full of Revolutionary zeal, we discovered that many of our work lives bear little resemblance to the passionate longing many of us brought to the table only weeks ago: a hope to change the world, a longing to make a difference. Throughout our varied work experiences, one common thread emerged: making a difference is taking a different shape than what we once expected. Instead of idealistic activism, we begin to change the world each morning in front of a filing cabinet at 9 a.m. sharp.

But perhaps this is a chance to remember Who it is we are serving, in both the mundane and the adventureful -- the ordinary and the breathtaking. Just perhaps this isn't about the ideas we can generate or the policies we can revamp but about the people we can serve and the love that we can give. In fact, perhaps it's not even about "we" or "me" but "Him" and "them." Just perhaps.

Happy Anniversary.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

Pictures from NYC Trip

During the last week of February the Fellows and Dottie went up to New York City for a three day conference hosted by the International Arts Movement A few snapshots of our time...

Click the pictures to see full size.

Our fearless leaders

Guys' room at the hostel

Mariko, Jamie, Rose, and Austin waiting for the subway

Musical performance during the conference

Times Square at night
Mike and Sean. No explanation needed.

Jamie and Mike in Times Square

Tripp and Lora. Hungry? Excited? Both?
Group shot

Headed home