Welcome to the Pursuit, a series documenting the experiences of a Colson Fellow-in-Training as they seek to walk wisely in this time and place. 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.
In this segment, we sat down with Gil Lopez, a retired military member and former pastor, and asked him to share his experience with the Colson Fellows program. The Colson Fellows program is designed for busy men and women from all walks of life in mind. Here's a glimpse inside. Enjoy!
The Pursuit: Gil Lopez
How a Retired Military Member and Former Pastor Does the Colson Fellows Program
As told to the Colson Center communications staff
Where are you from? I currently reside in Salt Lake City, Utah.
What is your occupation? I’m retired military, and a former pastor. I left the denomination I was ordained in when they became liberal.
What led to your interest in the Colson Fellows program? I was looking for a Christian training program with substance. I heard about the Colson Fellows through a Facebook post featuring Michael Craven. It piqued my interest, and I investigated the program.
What Colson Fellows cohort are you in? I participated in the online Mountain Cohort with Steve Hunter. I enjoyed the small group breakout sessions during the meeting times, where I could get to know other people and have more meaningful conversations.
How did you approach the workload for the Colson Fellows program? Do you have advice for other participants? I woke up early since I was working full-time. I stayed on top of it, scheduled my time, and it went smoothly. Ultimately, it comes down to priorities. You have to decide what’s important to you and what’s not. I felt that this was important and that if so, I was going to have to spend some time on it.
What was your favorite book or topic to study? The Secular Creed by Rebecca McLaughlin. Our Bodies Tell God’s Story by Christopher West was my biggest surprise—I really enjoyed it. Carl Trueman was great too. I was so motivated by it all that I read other books. I don’t know how I found the time, but I ended up working it all in.
Most challenging moment? I think the most challenging aspect for me was that I participated in an online cohort, so I missed out on the in-person fellowship. Once a month on a computer screen made it more difficult to get to know others. The prayer time in the small groups at the end helped a lot.
What aspects of the Colson Fellows program most impacted you? The books and reading were great. It’s a program of substance!
What did you do for your personal mission plan as a commissioned Colson Fellow? My personal mission plan is to use the training I received through the readings, meditations, and talks to infuse a newfound understanding and information into the greater Salt Lake City area. I’ll call on other Colson Fellows alumni to form an association to help support their personal mission plans.
What would you say to someone considering the program? Any advice? I would definitely recommend the program. I would encourage them that it involves people from all different denominations and vocations. You’re going to have to spend a bit of time on it—it’s worth it. Prioritize it ... and remember you’re not getting graded!