Community Built on the Rock

Coming into my Fellows year, I realized that I was leaving almost everything that I knew behind, including my friends from James Madison University and my family from Sterling,

Virginia. Everything and everyone that I knew was going to be a five hour-drive away. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t even slightly worried about what community would look like with the move and this complete change. But, by the grace of God, I can confidently say that the community has been as strong as ever, if not stronger.

One way that God has blessed me with a community is through my housemates. Every Sunday night, before heading back to the work that God has ordained for us, we

gather together to start our week in prayer. We take time to worship, read Scripture, and pray

together while growing closer to one another in Christ. We each have a prayer

partner that we take time to pray for and follow up to see how they are doing in their

walk and in their work.

Another blessing has been through the Pittsburgh Fellows Alumni network. Each fellow is paired with an alumni buddy. My alumni buddy, Landon Sjoberg, has not only been an

amazing friend, but also a mentor and someone who I can share life with through random phone calls and Sunday afternoon walks. I also have the privilege of serving alongside many alumni at St. Stephens through the youth ministry. God has poured into me through these alumni that I get to serve alongside.

One additional way in which God has been faithful to me is through accountability with a few of my housemates. From Monday nights talking with Jackson or Tuesday nights with Jonah, I have been beyond blessed that God has put people around me who have my best interest in mind and are willing to walk alongside me. Through all these ways, it can be easy for me to look at who I am spending this time with and know that it has truly been through His grace and faithfulness alone that I’ve been surrounded by these amazing people.

-Written by Nick Bach, Class of 2026

Nick graduated from James Madison University and works at the Sewickley Valley YMCA as a Pittsburgh Fellow.