How a Navy Veteran and Associate Pastor Does the Colson Fellows Program

Welcome to The Pursuit, a series documenting the experiences of Colson Fellows-in-Training as they seek to walk wisely in this time and place. The Colson Fellows Program is designed for busy men and women from all walks of life. Each segment will provide an insider’s look at what a prospective participant can actually expect should they choose to embark on the journey themselves.

As told to the Colson Center Communications Staff.

In this segment, we sat down with James, an associate pastor from Michigan.

Where are you from, and what season of life are you in? 

I’m from Michigan, just outside Detroit. I grew up in this area and returned here after living away. I retired from the Navy a few years ago, and I’ve been an associate pastor at a small church for about six years.

What cohort were you in, and what was your experience like? 

I was part of the Detroit cohort. Honestly, I went through the program to give me an excuse to get out of the house. Faith has been a focal point in my life since 2004 when I accepted Christ, but it had gotten stale and mundane. I’m an everyday, blue-collar guy. I figured that if I went into this program alongside a bunch of intellectuals, it would give me a reason to step back and not worry about the faith. I was a good person. I believed in Jesus, but I didn’t have to go through all the stress of trying to figure Him out. Christians had told me I was unacceptable as a pastor because of what my life had looked like before I accepted Christ. So, I felt rejected and beaten down. My cohort facilitator said that when I came into the program, I was swinging a bat. I was going to protect myself and my faith no matter what. But, by the time we finished, he said I had learned to be gracious. 

The cohort consisted of myself and three others, along with our cohort leader Kevin. We had one homemaker, one caregiver, a veterinarian, and me. All my fellow cohort members had strong Christian backgrounds. As for me, if you looked up “dysfunctional” in the dictionary, that would describe the family I grew up in. It was a really interesting dynamic with these people I respected, and who respected me as well. We had a great time.

What was your favorite part of the program? 

My favorite part was discussing the books. The facilitators took a backseat and had us give our takes on what we’d read, because that’s when our personalities and opinions came out. That’s when a different way of looking at things came out, and we would either pick up something new or solidify our own views. We benefited from the diversity that is the Body of Christ.

What was your favorite book or resource from the program? 

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus (Nabeel Qureshi) was a really dynamic book. It highlights the horror of witnessing to someone you don’t know, but also the joy of it. We tend to come in with our arms swinging, but we don’t have to. The Word defends itself. God defends it. No matter how It goes out, It completes what God sends It out to do. 

I really loved J.I. Packer’s Knowing God. That was a basic overview of the Christian faith, with specific areas of focus. It really complemented the idea of worldview from a Christian perspective.

How has the program impacted your life? 

In my walk with God, I’ve found that He disrupts me at the moments of greatest change. I can reject His work and sit back, or I can step forward in the belief that God has something greater for me. That has happened in this program. Like I said, I was looking for an excuse like Moses. But God was presenting me with an intimate opportunity to speak with people from backgrounds that were so different from mine. Yet we had common ground in Christ. This group honored my background and gave me the benefit of theirs. There was a shared sense of community that I didn’t expect. My cohort even contributed financially to get me to the Colson Center National Conference so I could be commissioned in person.

What would you say to someone considering the Colson Fellows Program? 

If you want to have a four-dimensional faith that’s alive and vital, and if you want to understand God and the true character of Christ, then you need to dig in. Studying on your own can benefit you to a degree, but the Colson Fellows Program is a great way to have your mind and theology refined by a group of likeminded individuals who want to grow and want you to grow. I don’t think it’s comparable to seminary. I think it’s better.

How would you describe yourself before and after the program? 

Before the program, I was half blind without realizing it. Because of where my faith was at the time, I stopped being able to dig in, learn, and grow. After the program, I have 35 books in my personal library. I’m currently reading Os Guinness’ The Magna Carta of Humanity, which is an awesome book that I never would have picked up before. Now I have the ability to be discerning about what and why I read. I’ve also developed a way to talk to my son about faith that I didn’t have before, because I understand so much more now.

Any tips for managing your time and getting everything done? 

If you’re a parent, you know all about time management and scheduling. I used a notetaking app and divided my monthly reading into 20-day chunks (leaving 10 days’ margin). I set aside time for the lesson plans and webinars. My advice is to pace yourself. If you fall behind, add leftover work to the next month’s workload. Using a combination of audio and physical books helped a lot.

If God has given you this calling to do the Colson Fellows Program, honor Him and let Him teach you how to do it. You’ll get caught up. Your approach can be personalized to you. You’re not doing it alone, but you have to commit to it. It’s an investment of time and money—but God has invested time, creation, redemption, His Son, and everything else in you. The return on investment is worth it.

Disclaimer: This interview has been edited for clarity.

 

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