How a Busy Retiree Does the Colson Fellows Program

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 Karen Wiley, a wife and retiree from the Christian publishing and retail industry, and asked her to share her 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: Karen Wiley

How a Busy Retiree 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 from working in Christian publishing/music/retailing. I also previously held positions outside of the Christian industry in human resources, marketing, and the service industry. 

What season of life are you in? I’m in my mid-60s and married to my husband of 31 years.  

When did you become a follower of Christ? As a child of nine, I prayed and thought I accepted Christ during VBS, and got baptized soon after. Over the years I struggled with doubts of salvation and wondered about my lack of spiritual growth. Scripture says, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 

Even though I “prayed the prayer,” a thorough examination of my life revealed no evidence of conversion. Perhaps a curiosity about Jesus, the fear of dying, and pleasing others led me to pray the prayer. I do know I did not fully comprehend the Gospel message or understand the cost of following Jesus. I had no desire to read and obey God’s Word. Instead, I emulated friends and the world, not Christ. Most of all, there was no suffering for Christ. Fundamental questions about God were unanswered, leaving me vulnerable to any worldview system I encountered.   

Reading about Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection in 1994 as if for the first time, I read the most incredible act of love displayed to mankind. God loved this ungodly, unrighteous world. He gave His only Son to die for us. I saw how wretched I was. I repented of my sin, the Holy Spirit worked within me and brought about a change in my life. I agreed with God, confessed my sins. He was faithful and just to forgive and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.   

I am redeemed, called, beloved, and restored to a right standing and relationship with God. 

Thinking I was a prodigal daughter, it wasn’t until I put myself under the scrutiny of God’s Word that I realized why my life was unsettled and full of doubts all those years. I wasn’t a prodigal—I was His enemy. God justified and adopted me as His daughter on resurrection Day, April 3, 1994! 

What led to your interest in the Colson Fellows program? For years I have prayed for wisdom, discernment, and understanding. I’ve purposely chosen to stand on God’s never-changing foundation versus man’s ever-changing foundation. He has given me a hunger to learn (something I did not have while in school). Our church piloted a Colson Fellows Church Affiliate program in 2024, and I was asked to participate. I started researching Colson Fellows prior to the first meeting and delved deep into discussions with my husband and accountability group regarding my pursuit. 

Having previously studied a biblical worldview and made it a life pursuit, I thought this would take me to the “next level,” given the cultural shift I was facing in conversations with friends and family. The journey of Colson was an adventure! A biblical worldview is viewing the world as though I am looking through the eyes of my Lord. The Holy Spirit wakened my heart to an intense desire to know more. 

What Colson Fellows cohort are you in? How many CFITs were in your class? I participated in the West Cannon Baptist Church Affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There were about 10 of us, a diverse group of people with unique personalities, which fed my desire to learn. I learned much from this group. They were quick to participate and give insights from their sphere of influence. Each person participated wholeheartedly, which contributed even more to the learning experience. 

How did you approach the workload for the Colson Fellows program? Do you have advice for other participants? My husband, a retired neurologist, role-modeled a well-balanced schedule and encouraged me to develop a workable plan and stay in front of it every step of the way. He supported me 110%. Keeping his words of wisdom in mind, I did the following:

1. I created a workable plan for my learning style. I researched all the materials before the class began to ensure I knew what I was facing. When I was in school, I did not have good study habits, and I knew there was a potential struggle with the workload. I analyzed each month in Pathwright, printed each monthly assignment ahead of time to help keep me accountable, and I did what I could do in advance.
2. I created a Colson Binder containing “my Colson life” for ten months. For each writing assignment, I found it easier to type it out and then copy/paste it into Pathwright. Then, I also had my book assignments in hand for our monthly discussions. I highly recommend doing the hardback devotional journal. It added to my discipline and enhanced my Bible reading and inductive study. Note-taking was critical while reading and watching the webinars.
3. I set priorities. Once the commitment was made, I remained dedicated because I wanted to stand strong and end well. My priorities were my personal devotions, my husband, the Colson Fellows, and my prayer group. I had the luxury to spend hours studying, but I purposed to stay in front of my assignments by one month, allowing a variance of one week.
4. I made sacrifices. Friends knew I had to limit activities because of my ten-month Colson commitment. My health was an issue—I suffer migraines and epilepsy, so taking care of my health was of great import. I did not take a break during the holidays. I committed myself to studying, writing, and application, which improved other aspects of my life.
5. I selected a Scripture verse as my prayer. My prayer was, “Lord, anchor my faith in your bedrock of Truth, so I will not be carried away by the varied and strange teachings that have deceived the hearts of the unsuspecting,” (Hebrews 13:9 and Romans 16:17-18). 

I was able to take what I was learning into my sphere of influence and share with others. What an eye-opener! God granted the desire of heart and gave comprehension so I could share incredible truths with so many people in my sphere of influence.

Before you think I did nothing but Colson for ten months, I am an avid reader. I read about 12 fiction books to help “close” my brain before bed, attended a women’s conference with best friends, and enjoyed time with my husband and our beloved dog Phoebe.

My husband cheered me on every step of the way. He listened to my concerns, my writing, my questions, and helped me figure out things when I got stuck. My prayer team was such an encouragement as well. Without the support of my beloved husband and loving prayer team and friends, I would have grown weary. 

What was your favorite book or topic to study? Knowing God by J.I. Packer. What a treasure for followers of Christ—a book to build a solid foundation for His true followers. I found myself in awe, weeping, humbled. I could hardly write because I needed to worship His holiness. And yet, the Triune God knows me and wants me to know Him—and it will impact me to live differently for Him. 

Most challenging moment? The very beginning of the program, when I was establishing how I would do things. I struggled with Mere Christianity, but then I discovered the “why” of the book, and the light came on, so to speak! 

I also struggled at first with the questions for each book, but then I started leaning into them and they helped me with comprehension. They helped me stay on track as I read each book assignment.

Finally, at the seven-month mark I started growing weary, but I knew the end was near. That is when you need your support system! 

What aspects of the Colson Fellows program most impacted you? What transformation did it bring about in your life? Years ago, I participated in a task force, and we closed each meeting with “Aha” moments. I applied this tool to my Colson Fellows meetings, webinars, reading, and writing assignments. I had many “Aha” moments! It was like sitting in a theatre and the curtains were being drawn back on the opening act. 

The sanctity of life from womb to tomb and the centrality of it all was significant. In the West, there has been such a focus on abortion. When the light was shone on IVF, MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying), the border, our founding fathers and how they crafted each law, I was stunned. I have engaged compassionately with this in mind during discussions, resulting in “Aha” moments for those I speak with.

I also realized many followers of Christ are lacking a solid foundation for where they should stand on these issues. Colson helped peel back layers that I had not thought about and helped me delve deeply and “take ideas to their logical conclusion.” I loved the catch phrases from the program that helped me remember concepts—like “Ideas have consequences. Bad ideas have victims.”

What did you do for your personal mission plan as a commissioned Colson Fellow? Each encounter with an image bearer is an opportunity to encourage, edify, equip, and further the kingdom of God. I Intentionally engage with image bearers in my sphere of influence on relevant issues in this ever-changing culture.

God gifted me with the ability to equip and encourage those in my sphere of influence to dig deeper into their study of God’s Word, to know Him deeply and live differently.

As a commissioned Colson Fellow, my mission is...  

1. To learn and share truth with others.
2. To encourage Christians to know God, stand firm, and take action.
3. To share the Gospel with unbelievers. 

What would you say to someone considering the program? Any advice? Pray and seek if it’s God’s will for your life. Talk and seek counsel from your spouse (if applicable). Do you have their support 110%? If not, don’t do it. The pursuit of becoming a Colson Fellow will take discipline, intense study, and sacrifice. But the reward is priceless. Knowing and loving God deeply will prompt you to live differently. The struggle is real, but you will reap growth for the Kingdom.

Have a prayer and support team. I’m part of a weekly prayer group, and they also serve as an accountability group. Each week I met with them via Zoom and we prayed for one another. They prayed me through! I highly recommend this! 

Pace yourself. You will grow weary, especially around the seventh month. Prepare for the inevitable. If you work ahead, you can take a breather like I did, which helped.

Celebrate upon completion! This was a huge accomplishment for me. My prayer group, close friends, and husband celebrated me becoming a Colson Fellow. 

 

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