Church Blog

During last Sunday’s morning services, we were pleased to welcome the new class of Fourth Fellows into our congregation. They’d just returned from the Fellows Opening Retreat, where they spent time bonding with each other and with Fellows Co-Directors Dave Frerichs and Tanya Klitsch, as well as having fun at the Chesapeake Bay. The retreat provided a space for the Fellows to pray and to clarify their shared purpose together as a community and orient themselves to the coming year. Read about the Fellows here and say hello if you see them around church! You can follow their progress this year by connecting on Instagram @fourthfellows.

Caleb Gray

Caleb was born in Greenville, South Carolina and grew up all over the upstate of South Carolina. He graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a BS in Business Analytics with a concentration in Marketing. While at UT he was very active on campus working for the Tennessee Volunteers football team as a Student Video Assistant which he did for four seasons, and he was also a member of the Christian fraternity, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX). In his free time, he loves playing sports, watching movies, traveling, learning new things, and meeting new people. He is excited to get plugged into and help serve the Fourth Presbyterian community. As a Fellow he will be working as a Legislative Fellow in Representative Mark Green’s office on Capitol Hill.

Ally Harnsberger

Ally grew up in Chattanooga, TN. In 2018, she headed up Lookout Mountain, GA, where she studied History at Covenant College for two years. She transferred to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2020, where she graduated with her B.A. in Exercise Science in December of 2022. During her college career, Ally enjoyed participating in chorale and pursuing her love of music by attending traveling or local theatrical productions and symphonies. Ally also enjoyed exploring many of Chattanooga’s reputable hiking trails and became an avid member of Orange Theory Fitness. Ally is excited to be working at Dominion Christian School, where she is serving the middle and elementary school students of Herndon, VA.

Elizabeth Hayslett

Elizabeth Hayslett is a recent graduate of the University of St Andrew’s, Scotland, where she studied art history and English. While at University, she was primarily involved in her school’s hiking society and her church’s Bible study. Elizabeth also loves literature and baking. She hopes to pursue grad school and a career in art conservation. During her Fellows year, Elizabeth is working at the Museum of the Bible in their Collections department.

Madison Herndon

Madison Herndon is a Tennessee native that grew up in Chattanooga, TN. She graduated from Covenant College in May, and majored in Art with concentrations in Graphic Design and 2D Design. Madison loves art history and learning about new artistic practices whenever she can. More specifically, Madison is passionate about the importance of art and how it plays a vital role in developing out one’s Christian faith. In her free time, Madison also enjoys painting and printmaking. You can also often find her at any local coffee shop. Using her experience in freelance and in-house design work, Madison will be working with the graphic design firm Toast & Tiger this year.

Lydia Joyner

Lydia was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated from Grove City College with a degree in Biology/Health and a minor in Biblical and Religious Studies. During her time at Grove City, she engaged with and mentored younger students by serving on the leadership team for Orientation Board and through a freshman mentoring program. Additionally, she was active as a leader for the College’s International Justice Mission chapter, spent time working as a laboratory assistant, and participated in undergraduate level research. She enjoys listening to podcasts, caring for her plants, and trying new outdoor activities. This year Lydia will be working as a research intern at REGENXBIO.

Kate Perko

Kate is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. She graduated from Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a BA in Communications concentrating in public relations with minors in professional writing and digital media studies. During her four years at Meredith, Kate was a member and co-captain of the women’s basketball team. She finished her career as the college’s all-time leading rebounder! Additionally, she volunteered for YoungLife and served as a leader at St. David’s School in Raleigh. In her free time, Kate enjoys going for a walk, trying new coffee shops, traveling, or reading a good book. This year, Kate is working at The Clapham Group as a Communications Intern.

Jon Schimpf

Jon was born in Philadelphia, PA, but lived most of his life in New Jersey. He graduated from Covenant College in May with a degree in Sociology. In college, Jon worked on his Student Government for three years, and served as the Student Body President his senior year. The arts has been a staple of Jon’s life since he was very young, and he is very passionate about the ways in which art can function in the church and in ministry, and ultimately bring people together. He has embraced this passion by working for an arts camp in Marlton, New Jersey for the past four summers. This year, Jon will be working as a Government Relations Fellow for the CCCU at their office on Capitol Hill, advocating for higher education. When not working or creating, Jon can be found at the beach, fishing, rollerblading, or talking about things that he is passionate about.

Ella Truslow

Ella was born in Baltimore, MD and ended up in McLean, VA. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in Cognitive Science and a minor in Computer Science. At UVA, Ella was actively involved in InterVarsity and lead a Bible study for three years. She also interned with the Center of Christian Study, a ministry aimed at unifying all Christian fellowships on campus. Ella enjoys long car rides to the mountains, stargazing, and spending time with her cat, Skip. This year, Ella is excited to learn more about the medical field and will be working at a doctors office, DC Internists.