Memphis Fellows

What Memphis Fellows does

Memphis Fellows at Second Presbyterian Church is a nine-month Christian leadership and discipleship program based in Memphis, Tennessee, serving recent college graduates aged early 20s. Founded in 2005 through the vision of Kem and Norma Wilson — whose son had participated in the original Fellows program at The Falls Church Anglican in Virginia — it operates as a ministry under Second Presbyterian Church (EPC), a congregation of approximately 3,800 members founded in 1844. Across 18 cohorts the program has graduated more than 150 alumni, with over 50 alumni remaining in Memphis serving as missionaries, seminary students/graduates, counselors, teachers, nonprofit workers, and business leaders.

The program's core offering is the Memphis Fellows Program, a single integrated product composed of multiple modules: seminary-level coursework (Christian Worldview and Bible Orientation, taught Fridays by pastors including Barton Kimbro, Todd Erickson, Chuck Jacob, and Bradley Morrow); paid workplace internships (Monday-Thursday) at 60+ Memphis employers; free room and board provided by 125+ host families from the host church; one-on-one mentoring; ten retreats per year (including the Micah 6:8 Retreat, Vocational Discernment Retreat, Civil Rights Pilgrimage, and mission trips); weekly roundtable dinners; and community service at local ministries. The program also maintains a 2015-launched Alumni Network coordinated by a Memphis alumna. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations run on a Squarespace website, a monthly email newsletter, and a basic online application form.

Memphis Fellows generates revenue primarily from participant tuition of $6,700 per Fellow (with a $200 non-refundable deposit, a $3,350 installment due by September 1, and eight monthly payments October–May) and from charitable donations through the Second Presbyterian Church foundation. Scholarships based on financial need are available, and accepted Fellows can raise support similar to mission-trip fundraising. Recruitment is community-led — relying on Campus Outreach campus ministries, Second Presbyterian Church communications, alumni referrals, and word-of-mouth — and admissions are rolling, with applications submitted online, interviews held in person or via Zoom/FaceTime, and decisions communicated within 3-4 weeks. Geographic scope is strictly Memphis, Tennessee; the program is part of The Fellows Initiative, a network of more than 20 church-based Fellows programs.

Name

Memphis Fellows

Legal name

Memphis Fellows at Second Presbyterian Church

Website

https://memphisfellows.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Memphis Fellows is a nine-month Christian leadership and discipleship program at Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis that serves recent college graduates through seminary-level coursework, paid work placements, host family housing, and mentoring; founded in 2005, it has graduated 18 cohorts of 150+ alumni.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Leadership Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Missionary Training Colleges & Schools (EDAHAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Alumni, Peer & Community Networking Programs (EDAMAKAM), Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service (EDALAHAG)

Keywords

• Faith-based leadership program
• Spiritual formation program
• Post-college discipleship
• Vocational discernment training
• Christian leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Fellows Tuition: Recent college graduates pay tuition to participate in the nine-month program. Tuition is $6,700 per Fellow, with payment plans available. Fellows can pay themselves or raise support similar to mission trip fundraising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Memphis Fellows is a nine-month spiritual and vocational leadership program operated under Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, that prepares recent college graduates to live a seamless life of faith. The program combines seminary-level coursework (Christian Worldview and Bible Orientation), paid Monday–Thursday workplace internships in fields of interest, free room and board with Second Presbyterian host families, one-on-one mentoring, ten retreats throughout the year, weekly round-table dinners, community service with local nonprofits, and access to an alumni network. Tuition is $6,700 per Fellow with scholarships available based on financial need.

Product overview

Memphis Fellows is a single, unified nine-month leadership program at Second Presbyterian Church, not a multi-product platform. The core Memphis Fellows Program is the primary offering, which integrates multiple component modules: Christian Worldview and Bible Orientation seminary-level courses taught on Friday mornings; paid workplace internships on Monday-Thursday; host family housing with free room and board; one-on-one mentoring; a retreats program with 10 retreats including the Micah 6:8 Retreat, Vocational Discernment Retreat, Civil Rights Pilgrimage, and mission trips; community service at local ministries; weekly roundtable dinners; and alumni network access. Scholarships are available to offset tuition costs. The program celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Memphis Fellows Program An intensely practical nine-month spiritual and vocational leadership program at Second Presbyterian Church (Memphis, Tennessee) that prepares recent college graduates to live a seamless life of faith through seminary-level coursework (Christian Worldview and Bible Orientation), Monday–Thursday paid workplace internships, free room and board with host families, one-on-one mentoring, ten retreats, community service, and weekly round-table dinners.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Fellows Initiative (TFI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006TFI is a network of more than 20 church-based Fellows programs. Founded in 2006 as an outgrowth of the original Fellows program created by The Falls Church Anglican. TFI trains, encourages, and supports churches applying the Fellows model. Memphis Fellows participates in TFI gatherings including the Micah 6:8 Retreat and Civil Rights Pilgrimage with other Fellows programs.
• The Falls Church AnglicancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal creator and developer of the Fellows program model. Kem and Norma Wilson's son participated in The Falls Church Fellows program, which inspired them to bring the program to Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis.
• Work Placement OrganizationsminorOthersOver 60 organizations provide paid workplace internships for Fellows, including Advance Memphis, FedEx, LeBonheur Children's Hospital, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Baptist Hospital, University of Memphis, Hope Presbyterian Church, and various businesses, healthcare facilities, and non-profits across Memphis.
• Host Families (Second Presbyterian Church)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost families from Second Presbyterian Church provide free room and board for every Fellow. Families range from empty-nesters to families with young or older children. Over 125 host families have been provided since the program began.
• Second Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond Presbyterian Church (EPC) is the host organization for Memphis Fellows. Founded in 1844 with approximately 3,800 members. Church provides facilities, host families, mentors, and pastoral support for the program. The Fellows program is part of the church's young adult ministry.
• Mission Partners and Non-ProfitsminorOthersFellows visit and volunteer at local Memphis non-profit organizations monthly as a class and weekly at individual organizations of their choosing. Memphis is noted as the second most generous city in the U.S. with numerous locally-focused non-profits.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AmeriCorps: Federal post-college service fellowship program placing young adults in paid community service positions. Comparable in offering structured post-graduation service-learning and stipend-based fellowship experience, though secular in orientation.
• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship: Large established evangelical campus ministry serving Christian college students nationwide. Broader in scope than Memphis Fellows but shares the audience of recent Christian college graduates and integrates faith with vocation and leadership.
• CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ): National and global evangelical college ministry with leadership development programs for recent graduates. Comparable in targeting Christian college students for spiritual formation and vocational integration, though operating at much larger scale.
• Young Life: National evangelical youth and college ministry organization. Comparable in faith-based youth and young adult ministry targeting college-age Christians for spiritual development and leadership formation.

Emerging players

• Adventures in Missions: Faith-based gap-year and missions discipleship program for young adults. Comparable in offering post-college Christian formation with a service and missions orientation, though primarily short-term missions focused.
• Campus Outreach: Faith-based collegiate ministry organization that partners with Memphis Fellows for student recruitment at colleges like Rhodes. Comparable in serving the same audience of Christian college students for spiritual formation and leadership development.

Direct peers

• The Fellows Initiative: The parent network of 20+ church-based Fellows programs, of which Memphis Fellows is a member. Directly comparable as the coordinating body for the same fellowship model and shared retreat events.
• The Falls Church Fellows: Original Fellows program from which Memphis Fellows was replicated. Same nine-month Christian leadership and discipleship model for recent college graduates, housed at The Falls Church Anglican in Virginia.
• Nashville Fellows: A sister Fellows program in the TFI network, offering the same church-based post-college Christian leadership fellowship model in Nashville, Tennessee. Directly comparable in structure, audience, and curriculum.
• Austin Fellows: Another TFI-affiliated church-based Fellows program following the same model in Austin, Texas. Comparable structure, duration, target audience, and faith-based leadership development focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/memphisfellows
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/memphisfellows

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Memphis Fellows