Our history

At Nashville Fellows, we love hearing how God has been, and very much still is, at work in people’s lives, churches’ lives and organizations’ lives. Here’s our story.

The Nashville Fellows timeline

1993: - The Fellows Program was initially founded by the Reverend John Yates in Falls Church, VA, at The Falls Church Anglican just outside of Washington, D.C. 

2009-2011: Sarah and Bo Bartholomew began hosting living room conversations with Nashvillians who all had experience within a Fellows Program. Their conversations centered around potentially launching the Nashville Fellows Program. Together, they developed a vision for a Fellows Program that would build strong relationships between churches that hold common core beliefs yet belong to different denominations. 

2011: The Fellows Initiative began discussions with Bo and Sarah to officially launch a multi-church, ecumenical Fellows Program to equip young adults to love the church, excel vocationally and live missionally in every aspect of life. The Fellows Initiative is the support organization providing leadership and resourcing to programs across the US.

2012:  Co-founders of the Nashville Fellows Program, Sarah & Bo Bartholomew, gathered Leigh Spruill (St. George’s Episcopal Church), Carter Crenshaw (West End Community Church) and Scott Sauls (Christ Presbyterian Church) as leadership, determining from the start that senior pastor involvement was critical for the success of the Nashville Fellows Program. All three churches contributed toward funding in order to officially launch Nashville Fellows. 

2013: In its first year, the three co-founding churches of the Nashville Fellows Program owned and shared the leadership load. Roundtables were held weekly at the Bartholomew home, and Shane Bowen was hired as the first NFP Director. 

2015-2019: - Serving as Executive Director of the Nashville Fellows Program, Theresa Wilson provided leadership and oversight as the program grew in size and budget. During this time, we saw:

  • Increased organizational structure.

  • Completion of filing and confirmation of independent 501(c)3 status.

  • Further establishment of the NFP Board as a governance board with multiple committees (admissions, jobs, etc.). 

  • Establishment of care teams at each of the three churches who serve in a shepherding role.

  • Lorianne Merritt served as Interim Executive Director from December 2019 - June 2020.

2020: John Allen appointed as Executive Director.

2022: The Nashville Fellows launched our Employer Partnership Program.

2025: First Presbyterian Church Nashville joined the Nashville Fellows Program as a new church partner.

2026: St. Cuthbert’s Way Pilgrimage through Scotland launched as a Capstone Experience.