What Are You Doing for Summer Vacation?

Summer vacation can be a difficult time if you are a college student. As much as you want to go on vacation and check out from studying, college advisors and professors are often encouraging and pushing students to do internships or jobs that will build their resumes and help them land the job that they want after college. However, being an intern can be frustrating at times especially if all it involves is fetching coffee for executives or doing tasks that seem meaningless. Thankfully, for college students who are searching for internships that will give them experience in their job fields as well as real-world instruction, Fellowship of Companies for Christ International (FCCI) has developed an internship program.

FCCI is a non-profit networking and mentoring organization for faith-based business executives, helping them find balance between their faith and their careers. The FCCI Fellows Program is a directive created by FCCI to help reach its goal of transforming the marketplace by targeting the younger generation. Fellows is a ten week summer intern program that gives students a chance to connect with real-world CEOs and learn more about the work force and their faith simultaneously. Students will be paired with top-level executive mentors who are required to pour into them for a minimum number of hours per week. The students will also have the opportunity to shadow their mentors in the workplace, learning things they can’t learn in school regarding leadership and establishing corporate culture. The ultimate desired outcome of the FCCI program is for the up and coming workers to be strong followers of Christ and lead others to Christ.

 ^“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

FCCI’s CEO, Terence Chatmon shares his hopes about the program.

“We at FCCI believe that the Fellows Program is a wonderful step in growing His Kingdom in the large and significant world of business. We are also excited to see this younger generation grow in their faith.”

The Fellows Program is focused on these goals for the young leaders: interning with Executive Leader of FCCI, training on how to lead for Christ, ideas for growing the Kingdom in the work space, experience in plan development and participation in a Business Leadership Group. Through the interning segment of Fellows, the incoming workers can find a mentor and friend in the CEOs and executive leaders of an FCCI company while also maturing spiritually. By equipping the leaders of tomorrow, FCCI hopes to make a change in the world.

FCCI was started in the 1970s by a group of business men who wanted to see God’s Kingdom grow in the business world. The goal of FCCI is to reach out to leaders and equip them in biblical principles. The organization provides access to workshops, conferences, instructions and Business Leadership Groups. FCCI seeks to build Kingdom companies through their Kingdom-minded leaders and is dedicated to growing young business people into next generation leaders of companies worldwide.

For more information on FCCI Fellows Program, click here.

Risen Reflections

Seek God’s direction. Whether it is an internship or career change, it is often so easy to do what is logical or what culture deems as successful. Sometimes the path or plan that God has for us doesn’t make sense at first. Take time this week to read the story of David. God had chosen David to be king, but David had a long journey filled with trials including the current king, Saul trying to kill him. Pray and ask God to reveal His will to you.

Mentor others. Pray and ask God to show you someone in your life that you can mentor. It could be a co-worker, someone at church, or friend. You don’t have to be perfect or having everything all together to mentor another person. Pray for direction on what to share. If it is business or career advice, incorporate your faith and biblical principles into what you share. Make a commitment to meet with the person at least once or twice a month. Ask them what they want to gain from the mentorship relationship. Think about the lessons that mentors or career advisers shared with you during your professional career and how you can pass that wisdom on to another person.

Be a light in the workplace. It doesn’t matter if you are an intern or an executive, God wants to use you to be a light to others. Ask God to show you how he wants you to share your faith with others. It might be something as simple as praying for your co-workers. It might also involve changing an action or habit that might be contradictory to Christ. It could even be starting a Bible study with co-workers. Be willing to be obedient to the direction that God is leading you.