Deadline to apply for HELM Leadership Fellows Program extended to April 30

April 30 is the new deadline for college-bound students who want to sharpen their church leadership potential by participating in the HELM Leadership Fellows Program.

Current high school seniors and community college students planning to attend a regionally accredited American college or university as full-time students beginning in 2010 are eligible. Applicants must be members of a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation and express a commitment to serve the church as a clergy or lay leader. Participation in the program can be renewed up to three additional years.

The application requires an essay, three references, and official transcripts, and all materials must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2010. All complete applications are reviewed anonymously by a scholarship committee, and students will be notified by May 31 whether they have been named as fellows.

The original deadline was March 15.

Applications and guidelines are available on HELM's web site, www.helmdisciples.org or may be requested by calling HELM at 314-991-3000.

The unique program provides several different ways to help students explore and strengthen their leadership potential:

• Covenants: Students design their own covenant with HELM describing how they plan to work on developing their leadership abilities. Fellows craft their own leadership development project in cooperation with a campus chaplain, director of church relations, ecumenical campus minister or another appropriate mentor. Many participate in planning and leading campus ministry programs or similar activities, while others lead youth groups in local congregations or engage in outreach programs.

• Leadership Conference: Fellows also attend annual leadership conferences, where they learn from Disciples leaders, pastors, and each other while building bonds to support each other as their leadership skills grow. The 2009 conference in Dallas focused on creativity in ministry and vocation.

• Summer internships: HELM works with Leadership Fellows to identify internships that will expose students to the wide variety of ways Disciples minister.

• Grant: Fellows receive a $2,000 scholarship at the beginning of each school year for educational use.

• Intangibles: HELM connects students with mentors within the denomination, providing students with networking and insight beyond normal connections. Students maintain regular contact with HELM staff and other denominational leaders via e-mail, denominational meetings, and informal get-togethers. This network of Disciples has helped some find additional financial aid, make decisions about transferring to a new college, or discover God's call to ministry.