The C.S. Lewis Fellows Program is designed for believers who already have a solid faith in Christ but want to:
- grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ;
- be more credible and effective for Christ in the Church and the world;
- actively serve Christ in their sphere of influence;
- be equipped for evangelism, discipling, and mercy ministry.
The goal of the Fellows program is the development of solid biblical beliefs, spiritual depth and moral character in committed disciples of Jesus Christ who are actively engaged for him in their spheres of influence. The program provides life-changing teaching from key biblical themes in discipleship, spirituality, apologetics, and worldview.
The Fellows program follows a format that includes readings, lecture, discussion, and mentoring. Fellows meet monthly in small groups for discussion, as well as in a larger group, lecture-style setting and build close friendships with like-minded believers in similar stages of life and career.
Fellows continue in their careers while participating in this year-long program, and requirements are designed to be achievable for busy professionals with families.
Fellows groups are organized by gender and age:
- Young Professionals (approximately ages 24-34)
- Mid-Career Professionals (approximately ages 35-55)
- Pre-Retirement (approximately ages 56-65)
The Fellows Program is currently offered in the following locations:
- Washington, D.C.
- Atlanta, GA
- Annapolis, MD
After completing the initial program, designated as Year One, participants may opt to continue with more in-depth study in the Year Two program.
Program Elements
The Year One Fellows program seeks to nurture a discipleship of mind and heart, which integrates knowing and doing, thus the following design:
Thematic Overview of Year One
- The Grace of God and True Conversion: Understanding How God Brings us to Salvation
- Following Jesus Christ: Embracing the Call to Wholehearted Discipleship
- Living a Life of Love: Learning to Love God and our Neighbor
- Growing in Humility by Forsaking Pride
- Growing in Prayer: Developing Deeper Intimacy with God
- The Authority of Scripture: Gaining Confidence that God's Word is True
- Calling: Recognizing and Responding to God's Call on your Life
- Being Transformed by the Word: Reading, studying and meditating on God's Word
- Sharing the Good News: Communicating the Gospel of Christ to Non-believers
- Giving Reasons for Your Faith: Presenting Good Answers to Honest Questions
- Understanding Worldview: How Others See the World and Why
- Articulating Truth in an Age of Error: Responding to Relativism and Postmodernism
Schedule
The Fellows program roughly follows an academic calendar (September through June), with summer reading assignments and preliminary meetings beforehand.
The formal program year begins with a September weekend retreat, the first weekend after Labor Day, which runs from Friday morning through lunchtime on Sunday. Thereafter, Fellows meet as a group one Saturday morning per month, 8:30-12:30 for instruction and discussion followed by lunch and fellowship.
Other time commitments required:
- Monthly reading curriculum: Fellows engage with selected books, audio and video resources, and brief articles (combined total of about 300 pages per month); personal reflection time is also expected.
- Small group fellowship: Fellows meet monthly for a meal, fellowship and discussion of their readings.
- Triad accountability: Fellows meet once a month with two or three other group members for prayer and accountability.
- One-on-one mentoring: Each Fellow meets privately once a month with one of the group's two mentors for discussion and spiritual direction.
- Urban Plunge: In November, Fellows participate in an Urban Plunge in Washington, D.C. which requires both Saturday and Sunday time commitments.
The C.S. Lewis Fellows program requires a high level of commitment. Fellows are expected to complete all assignments and attend all regularly scheduled meetings.
Cost
- It costs the Institute approximately $3,450 per person to provide the Fellows program. However, in order to remove barriers to participation, we do not use a fixed tuition structure. Instead, we ask Fellows to make the Institute one of the ministries (after the church) that he or she supports on a regular basis.
- Notwithstanding the above, all Fellows are asked to cover the cost of their participation in the weekend retreat, which is about $325.
- Fellows are also expected to pay for the books and materials required for the program, which will cost approximately $325 for the year. There is also a $65 fee for participation in the Urban Plunge weekend.
Application and Acceptance
Several factors are considered for acceptance into the program:
- The applicant's strong desire to know and love God more deeply and to live out the gospel more faithfully.
- The applicant's strong desire to actively serve Christ upon completion of the program, evidenced by a commitment and tentative plan of action.
- The applicant's strong desire to share the gospel of Christ with others and to help them grow as His disciples.
- The Institute staff's reasonable expectation that the applicant will benefit from the program and become a stronger, more credible and effective disciple of Jesus Christ in his or her sphere of influence.
- The applicant's commitment to engage with the program in terms of attendance, reading, group participation, and being mentored in discipleship.
- The applicant's willingness to be open about his or her intellectual, spiritual, and personal life along with a desire to receive godly insight and guidance from a spiritual mentor.
- The applicant's residence in the Washington, DC area (Fairfax, Arlington, Montgomery, and Prince Georges counties and the District of Columbia). Priority is given to applicants from these areas; persons from other areas will be considered if space is available.
- Support of the applicant's spouse, if married. (The applicant is expected to negotiate an equitable arrangement with his or her spouse to prevent the spouse from being excessively burdened by the applicant's participation in the program.)
- Availability of space in the group; compatibility with the group is also taken into consideration.
- Completion of an application, an interview with Institute staff, and two recommendations, one of which must be from the applicant's pastor. Click here to Download the PDF application and recommendation forms.
Applications will be accepted from February 1 through April 30, 2010, and decisions will be announced by May 15, 2010. Orientation will be held at 6:30pm, Wednesday, May 19, 2010; location TBA. Completed applications can be submitted via e-mail at:
-- or submitted online here,
-- or submitted by standard postal mail to:
C.S. Lewis Institute
8001 Braddock Road, Suite 300
Springfield, VA 22151
The Year Two program follows the same format and schedule as Year One but uses different books and lecturers. It is designed to further develop and strengthen discipleship for the mature believer. The cost of the retreat, books, etc., is approximately the same as in Year One.
Thematic Overview of Year Two
- Going on to Maturity: A Deeper Life with God
- Preconditions of Continuous Renewal: Knowing the Holiness of God
- Preconditions of Continuous Renewal: Knowing the Depth of Our Sin
- Exploring the Seven Deadly Sins
- Primary Elements of Renewal: Justification and Sanctification
- Primary Elements of Renewal: The Indwelling Spirit and Authority in Spiritual Conflict
- Secondary Elements of Renewal: Orientation toward Mission and Dependent Prayer
- Secondary Elements of Renewal: The Community of Believers
- Secondary Elements of Renewal: Theological Integration and Disenculturation
- Summing It Up: Living a Life of Godly Integrity
Admission
Those who have successfully completed Year One of the Fellows Program may request admission to Year Two by sending an e-mail to the Fellows Program Coordinator. Year Two Orientation will be held at the Institute on Wednesday, May 19, 2009, at 8:00 pm.
Use this email link: Year Two Fellows Admission
