Art and Business Fellowships

Connect your faith to your work

We believe that our faith should be part of everything we do—especially our work. We were made to work, creating and cultivating culture to bring glory to God and to serve others. To support and help you implement your faith into your work, we’ve designed the Art and Business as Mission Fellowships. This program has two tracks—one for artists and one for entrepreneurs—and runs for nine months, from September–May. It includes office space and opportunities for development and networking, and applicants must be able to dedicate 15 hours a week to the fellowship.

Apply

All fellows are required to participate in the Training Program and must fill out a separate application for it.

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Goals

  • Participate in the story of God’s Kingdom. We want our fellows to have a greater sense of the role of their vocation within the kingdom of God.
  • Appreciate a distinctly Christian approach to their work. We want our fellows to understand and appreciate how their faith influences and enriches their vocation.
  • Create something that will have a positive, meaningful impact on the church and city. We want our fellows to complete a tangible cultural artifact or business.

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Opportunities

  • Workspace – Each fellow will be given a monthly stipend for a workspace.
  • Training Program – All fellows will be required to participate in The Village Church Institute's Training Program and will be in a cohort together. You must fill out both the fellowship application and Training Program application.
  • Mentorship – Executive Director Kent Rabalais will meet with groups of fellows monthly to discuss the growth and development of their projects. Fellows will also have opportunities to learn best practices from local artists/business people.

Who Is This For?

Though no one entering the fellowship will be in the exact same stage of life, ideal candidates will be on the cusp of their vocations, with both a need for spiritual and career development.

Art Track

For over 1,000 years, the Church was at the center of supporting the cultivation of the true, the good and the beautiful. Over the last few centuries, as beauty was relegated to the sidelines for pragmatic concerns, the Church has waned in her interest and investment in this important, God-exalting work. The Art as Mission Fellowship is our attempt to recover the Church’s role in commissioning and championing the arts and to strategically support “culture making” through artists here in DFW.

Milestones for Art Fellows

  • Art for the Church – By the end of the first semester, we expect that the artist will have created one significant “piece” that could be used for the edification of our church (e.g., installation at campus(es), video, story, performance).
  • Art from the Church – By the end of the second semester, we expect that the artist will be able to present their work to a collection of their peers, contemporaries and fellow citizens in a public form that is conducive to their medium (e.g., gallery, reading, recital).

Click here for a look at work done by a former Art as Mission Fellow.

Business Track

We believe that the kingdom of God is being built day by day and that Christians are empowered by the triune God to be priests and prophets, heralding the good news of Jesus and acting as ministers of reconciliation in culture. We also believe entrepreneurs are strategically positioned to have a unique multiplying effect on our cities. The Business as Mission Fellowship is our attempt to recognize the unique gospel-centered multiplication opportunity entrusted to entrepreneurs and intentionally invest in them as they seek to glorify God in their work.

Milestones for Business Fellows

  • Business for the City – By the end of the fellowship, we expect the entrepreneur to understand more about how their vocation uniquely serves the kingdom of God.
  • Share a completed business plan with at least five potential investors if an investment is needed.
  • Grow a business. If the entrepreneur joins the fellowship with revenue already coming into their business, the goal for the time would be to see revenue increased, even if it’s a small increase.

Business Fellows

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Julie Ballard

Julie is the Executive Director of Still Waters Ministry, a nonprofit providing gospel-centered community and support to abused women. She is a member at the Plano campus and has three children.

What has been the most helpful aspect of being in this year's fellowship?

“The thing that stands out the most has been the depth of instruction and knowledge I’ve received through the Training Program. I have been a Christian for many years, but I’ve really been pushed and challenged to think about my beliefs in new ways. Another aspect of the fellowship that was extremely helpful was to have office space to share with other business owners. The atmosphere was relaxed, and it was encouraging to have support from other people who were working to get their businesses up and running. I also loved going to lunch with successful entrepreneurs, hearing their struggles and receiving support and answered questions.”

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Dru Ball

Dru loves turning regular houses into dream homes. He is the owner of Granger Remodel & Design, a kitchen and bath remodeling firm in Frisco. He is a member at the Plano campus and attends with his wife and two children.

What has been the most helpful aspect of being in this year's fellowship?

“I was surprised by how helpful the theological training portion of the fellowship was. Starting a business can put a lot of stress on a person. Often I would find myself showing up on Wednesday nights beat up, exhausted and worried about the future, but by the time class was over, I would leave refreshed and at peace. It couldn’t have come at a better time.”

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Philip Likens

Philip is a designer and entrepreneur with a passion for building products and mentoring the next generation. He is a member at the Flower Mound campus and lives in Lantana with his wife and children.

What has been the most helpful aspect of being in this year's fellowship?

“I’m thankful for my cohort and the time we’ve spent together. Each person in the fellowship is working toward their own goal on a parallel track. Having the opportunity to walk side-by-side through the process has been a real gift. The mentorship provided has grown my understanding of theology and the practical aspects of starting and running a business.”

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John Jelinek

John owns Yellow Theme, PBC, providing software solutions with a mission to help churches multiply. He is a member at the Southlake campus and lives in Grapevine with his wife and children.

What has been the most helpful aspect of being in this year's fellowship?

“I love being able to engage with others at the church with a similar focus to make much of Christ through our vocations. The feedback that I’ve received from guest speakers as well as my cohorts helped me hone the focus of my business. I'm grateful for these relationships and shared experiences.”

Art Fellows

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Christina Jelinek

Christina Jelinek is the founder of Leaven + Liturgies, a monthly meet up for creatives seeking to live out the gospel story within community. She serves as a Program Director for Apartment Life, a nonprofit seeking to build community in apartments to see them transformed through connectedness. She is a member at the Southlake campus and lives in Grapevine with her husband and three children.

What has been the most helpful aspect of being in this year's fellowship?

“This year’s fellowship has allowed me a level of intentionality in the discipline of creating. I have had access to other creatives who have shared their process and honest feedback as well as a dedicated space and accountability. The Training Program has played an integral part in opening my eyes to the role I get to play in God's story and has transformed the theological foundation from which I create.”

Central Office

2101 Justin Road, Flower Mound, Texas 75028
Phone: (972) 537-1100  |  Fax: (972) 441-2275

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