For many young adults, leadership can feel overwhelming. Between school, work, family responsibilities, and figuring out what the future holds, it can be difficult to know where you belong or how your faith connects to the work you do every day, and that is why the Barnabas Fellowship exists.
The Barnabas Fellowship helps young adults ages 18–24 grow in leadership, strengthen their faith, and find community as they serve others. Through biblical leadership development, mentorship, reflection, and hands-on learning, participants like Yetzanit Amador, the Center for Community Transformation (CCT’s) Ministry Program Assistant, and a student at Fresno Pacific University. Through this program, participants are provided space to grow as leaders, deepen their relationship with God, and build meaningful community with others walking a similar journey. For Yetzanit, the experience became deeply transformational.
“I really saw the Barnabas Fellowship as a chance to grow as a leader and kind of find my purpose and realign that with my values and my role in my service at CCT,” said Yetzanit. “And I saw it as a perfect opportunity to just realign myself and also seek guidance.”
What Is the Barnabas Fellowship?
- A nine-month leadership development program for young adults ages 18–24
- Focused on biblical leadership, mentorship, and community-building
- Primarily online and self-paced with monthly gatherings and reflection opportunities
- Designed for young adults interested in ministry, nonprofits, and community leadership
- Opportunities for hands-on service and leadership growth throughout Fresno
- Learn more or register through the button below
According to Morgan Broaddus, Community Engagement Program Coordinator at CCT, the fellowship helps young adults connect leadership principles from scripture to the real work they are already doing in their communities.
“This is an opportunity for young adults who are wanting to pursue work in ministry or work in nonprofits or community-based organizations and they really want to develop a biblical foundation,” said Morgan.
Participants spend nine months exploring biblical leadership through scripture, reflection, community-building, and service opportunities throughout Fresno. The program focuses heavily on leadership examples found throughout scripture. Participants study biblical leaders like Philip the Evangelist, Ruth, and Barnabas while reflecting on how those examples apply to their own lives, careers, ministries, and communities.
“I would say that the biggest topic overall is leadership and how we can lead like the leaders from scripture,” said Yetzanit. “We looked at stories about Philip, Ruth, and Barnabas himself, and we learned ways that we can lead with encouragement and have courage even when it can be hard.”
A Space for Young Adults to Grow
One of the most impactful aspects of the Barnabas Fellowship is that it creates intentional space for young adults to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves, their faith, and their purpose. Yetzanit described the program as:
“A perfect place for emerging young leaders to find themselves and reconnect their faith with the work that they do.”
This kind of reflection can be difficult to prioritize in everyday life, especially for students and young professionals balancing multiple responsibilities at once. However, through the fellowship, participants are reminded they do not have to figure everything out alone. This program is specifically designed for young adults who may feel uncertain about where to begin their leadership journey.
How the Barnabas Fellowship Creates Transformation
For Yetzanit, one of the biggest changes was learning to see herself differently as a leader. Before joining the program, she struggled with confidence and often felt disconnected between her faith, values, and the work she was doing to support students at CCT. However, through reflecting on scripture and leadership throughout the fellowship, she began developing a stronger framework for her service and leadership. She shared that she now feels more confident walking into spaces and providing meaningful, intentional support to students because she has biblical role models to look to for encouragement, courage, and guidance.
That transformation is exactly what the Barnabas Fellowship hopes to cultivate in every participant: leadership rooted in encouragement, courage, service, and faith.
What Participants Can Expect
The Barnabas Fellowship is designed to fit into the lives of busy young adults. The nine-month program is primarily self-paced, allowing participants to engage with monthly leadership topics online before gathering together for reflection, discussion, and community-building.
Participants can expect:
- Monthly leadership themes
- Reflection activities
- Biblical leadership curriculum
- Community gatherings
- Opportunities to serve alongside local organizations
- Meaningful relationships with other young adults
“We’ll have monthly meetings to reflect on all of this and ask: What did we learn? How are we growing?” said Morgan. “And also some really fun opportunities to hang out, connect with each other, and have a good time.”
Leadership Beyond Ministry
While the Barnabas Fellowship is rooted in faith, participants say the lessons extend far beyond church spaces. For Yetzanit, the program is already shaping the kind of teacher she hopes to become after graduating from Fresno Pacific University.
“I feel like as a teacher I will be taking those things that I learned with me, to be encouraging, to be confident, and to have courage even when it can feel hard,” said Yetzanit. “I think I can take those things even into places that are not faith-based or congregations and share those values with others because I feel that I can truly embody them.”
The fellowship reminds participants that leadership is not limited to a title or position. Leadership happens in classrooms, nonprofits, churches, neighborhoods, workplaces, and everyday relationships. For young adults searching for purpose, faith, leadership, and authentic community, the Barnabas Fellowship offers more than a program; it offers transformation.
Register or learn more about the Barnabas Fellowship through the button below:
