Program

Take Aim and Start Well in Your Career, Faith and Life

First Pres Fellows Colorado Springs is a nine-month advanced discipleship program for recent college graduates, focused on professional and leadership development. Each year, 10 men and women from diverse professions and backgrounds encourage and support one another as they explore who they are in Christ Jesus and their unique roles within God’s mission of redemption and restoration in this world.


We desire that faith inform every area of our lives and Christ transform every area of our lives. Primary focus is given to living an authentic life for Christ in the workplace, local community, church and family. The Fellows gain valuable experience through paid professional internships; dig deep into the needs of others through church and community service; and develop meaningful, multi-generational relationships within the church and a host family. They do all of this while considering the theology of the Christian faith, vocation, leadership and mentoring. Along the way, the Fellows have unhurried times with caring mentors and extended times of personal and group reflection. Finally, the Fellows are broadened as professionals and leaders through a weekly development training and monthly wilderness adventures and retreats.

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Vocational Work

All of us at times have questions about the meaning and purpose of our work. We wonder what God wants us to do with the unique gifts and talents He has given us and how He wants us to serve Him through our professions. First Pres Fellows is an opportunity to explore these questions through interaction over God’s Word, professional career assessments and hands-on experience in a paid internship within your chosen profession.

Caring Community

Ask any Fellow, and you will get a resounding testimony about the community among them. The Fellows develop authentic, transparent relationships. They care deeply, share openly and support faithfully. Many form lifelong friendships. Fellows also form deep relationships within our church where they are loved with the love of Christ by host families, mentors and others whom they serve alongside. Finally, the Fellows, as a community, seek out those who do not know Jesus and invite new friends in the workplace and local community to join them on fun outings in the city and mountains.

Deepening in Christ

As Paul made clear in Philippians 3, of all the good that we may aspire to do in life, none is greater than aspiring to know Jesus personally. The highest goal of our fellowship is that each Fellow would know and experience the love of Christ in a far greater way than when they arrived. Authentically pursuing Christ and walking with Him are the centerpiece of every element of the program. Through the program, the Fellows practice daily and weekly spiritual disciplines and life rhythms. Together, they lay a greater foundation in Christ through worship, Bible study and graduate theology courses, and reflection.

Intentional Service

Each one of us is called to serve Christ by serving others. Together, the Fellows actively serve in various roles of their choice within the church. They also take on various service initiatives within the Colorado Springs community at both hands-on and strategic levels. The Fellows develop eyes for the needs of others and experience how they can step in and lead at the local level for the glory of Christ.

Transformational Leadership

Jesus Christ has taught the world the power of humble caring leadership. As servant leaders, we are not only called to accomplish a mission, but also to lift up those who have been entrusted to us. At its core, First Pres Fellows is an advanced leadership development program. Fellows develop their own unique leadership styles and abilities. Through graduate coursework, seminars, hands-on practical experiences, and challenging wilderness adventures, Fellows learn to lead with a greater sense of calling and with the very heart of Jesus.

Retreats and Wilderness Adventures

Much of the Fellows’ learning throughout the year culminates in various retreats and wilderness adventures. These developmental events are experientially oriented and are both challenging and fun. They often require the Fellows to dig deep within themselves. The wilderness adventures are led by Retired US Marines Special Ops Colonel Chris Nicewarner and his staff of Silverstone Leadership Ventures. They have led missions all over the world in the most diverse cultures and difficult settings. Throughout the year, they guide us through wilderness learning exercises, challenges, discussions and reflections.

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Week at a Glance

Faqs

First Semester

Fri, Aug 18: Last Day to Move in with Host Families

Mon, Aug 21:  Orientation (9:00 – 4:00) & Picnic (6:30 – 8:30)

Tue-Sat, Aug 22-26: Welcome Retreat in the Rockies

Mon, Aug 28: Possible First Day of Work (some before; some Tue 9/5)

Thu, Aug 31:   First Day of Seminary

Fri, Sep 1: First Fellows Friday

Mon, Sep 4: Labor Day

Tue, Sep 5: First Roundtable (hosted by previous Fellows)

Wed, Sep 6: Photo Shoot (weather permitting) (or maybe 9/13)

Sun, Sep 17: Introduce Fellows to the Church (all services)

Fri Sep 29:  Fall Colors Overnight Camp Out

Sat, Oct 7: City Serve with YAM

Thu-Sat, Oct 19-21:  Silverstone Leadership Adventure #1

Thu-Sun, Nov 2-5: TFI M68 Nat’l Conference in the DC area (undecided)

Sat-Sun, Nov 18-26:  Thanksgiving Break

Sat, Dec 2: Christmas Tree Cutting in the Pike NF

Thu, Dec 7 or 14:   Last Day of Class

Sun, Dec 10:   Christmas Joy Concert at the Pikes Peak Center

Tue, Dec 12:   Roundtable Christmas Party

Thu-Mon, Dec 14-Jan 1: Christmas Break


Second Semester

Tue, Jan 2:  Back to Work

Tue, Jan 2: Roundtable Begins

Wed, Jan 3: Fellows Friday Finance Training (evening)

Thu-Sat, Jan 4-6: Long Weekend (No FF; be back for Sunday worship)

Thu, Jan 11: Fellows Friday Begins (on Thursdays)

Fri-Mon, Jan 12-15: Long Weekend; MLK Day Monday

Thu-Sun, Jan 18-21:  Winter Retreat

Thu, Jan 25: Theology Graduate Course Begins

Fri-Mon, Feb 16-19: Long Weekend; President’s Day Monday

Thu-Sat, Feb 22-24: Solitude and Reflection Retreat

Thu-Sun, Mar 28-31: Long Weekend (Den Sem Spring Break)

Thu-Sat, Apr 4-6: Silverstone Leadership Adventure #2

May TBD: Last Day of Work (talk with supervisor)

May TBD:  Last Day of Class

May TBD:  Graduation Celebration

May TBD:  End-of-the-Year Getaway

May TBD: Move out Day (talk with host family)


Tuition for the First Pres Fellows Colorado Springs program is $7,500. Tuition covers all expenses of the program to the fellow, including graduate courses, retreats, conferences, adventures, personal assessments, leadership and professional development trainings, and roundtable meals. Administrative costs and salaries are covered by the church. Host families provide housing and meals (breakfast and dinner) without charge.

Yes, you may receive graduate school credit from Denver Seminary for the courses you will be taking. You can receive up to 6 credits during your Fellows year. Courses will be taken in residence at the seminary, not online, to personalize the relationships with the professors and enhance the learning experience.

You can reach our Program Director, Floyd Sebald, by email at fsebald@firstprescos.org or by phone at (719) 985-1014.

Meet the Program Director

Floyd Sebald has more than 30 years of experience in ministry and in organizational leadership and development. He served 22 years in the country of Mongolia with CRU, helping start multiple ministries and developing staff, leaders and teams. He held several positions in Mongolia, including National Director of CRU for 12 years and Team Leader of Leadership Development and Human Resources for five years. He also worked on the faculty of the National University of Mongolia, where he taught classes in forestry, biometrics and experimental design. He oversaw research projects and provided extensive consultation and service to the Mongolian government.


Floyd started his career with the U.S. Forest Service, working in silviculture and timber management. He holds a B.S. in Multi-Resource Land Management and an M.S. in Forest Ecology and Silviculture. Early in his career, he served with Cru at Northern Arizona University. Floyd’s greatest joy in work and ministry is encouraging and developing emerging leaders. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife Lynne. Together, they have three adult sons who love the Lord, and six grandchildren.

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