For more than 20 years, HELM has offered the Leadership Fellows program for undergraduate college students. This program – which offers a $2,000 annual scholarship – is designed to cultivate and strengthen participants’ potential for leadership through intentional focus on Christian community, societal transformation, global awareness and leadership engagement. Students entering undergraduate education may apply to the program, which includes the scholarship, annual retreat, and an international cross-cultural experience. In 2024, participants traveled to Japan to visit missionaries. The leadership retreat this fall will focus immigration issues along the US-Mexican border.
The program aims to develop leaders through an intentional focus on the following four major areas: Community; Transformation; Global Awareness; and Mentoring.
“I think what I gained most was confidence,” Class of 2005 alum Krista Johnson Weisckel recalls. “I don’t remember all the church leaders we met, but I do remember feeling heard and respected as a young person in the life of the church. I remember being encouraged to take a leap and volunteer as a Global Mission Intern in Israel/Palestine with Global Ministries, and I continue to be so grateful for that experience.”
Today, Krista is the vice president of administration for Global Ministries/Disciples Overseas Ministries.
Leadership Fellows is also one of HELM’s largest expenses. The overall cost per participant is about $15,000 over their 4-year program participation. This includes the annual scholarship to their college or university, their travel to the annual Leadership Fellow retreat, the global immersion trip after their 3rd year in the program, and other resources and communication tools.
That investment is making a difference. About 20 percent of program graduates are serving today as congregational pastors and another 5 percent are serving in our Disciples general ministries, either as ordained or lay staff. Most Leadership Fellows alumni are serving their local communities as social workers, counselors, business leaders and working in non-profit agencies, and many times serving in lay leadership roles in their congregations. It is hard to imagine the impact this program has had on participants’ lives and their communities.
If you’d like to learn how you can partner with HELM to sustain this program into the future, give Jim Cullumber, Director of Major and Planned Gifts, a call at 317-695-8267. Whether it be an outright gift, a gift of appreciated stock or a planned gift, you can play a significant role in the future of our congregations and communities. Jim also can be reached at jcullumber@helmdisciples.org