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Prepare for the Path Ahead

Invest nine months deepening your biblical worldview, developing spiritual rhythms, and serving others domestically and internationally, all while preparing for a life of Spirit-empowered influence.

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The Fellows Experience

Impact 360 Fellows is a nine-month Christian gap year experience that offers biblical worldview training put into action through a unique combination of experiential learning, dynamic teaching, vibrant community, domestic and international travel, and servant leadership training.

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Why Impact 360 Fellows?

1. Know God Intimately 2. Vibrant, Christ-Centered Community 3. Join in God's Heart for the Nations 4. A Life of Discipleship

Know God Intimately

Impact 360 Fellows isn’t about head knowledge, it’s about learning to truly own your faith.

Ask the most important questions about life and your faith. Be equipped by brilliant and engaging teachers who are passionate about equipping you to think well about your faith and how it affects everything about life. Grow your confidence in the truth of Christianity, God’s character and goodness, and cultivate spiritual disciplines as you align your life to the essential theological foundations of historic Christianity.

Impact 360 Fellows are fully enrolled students of Union University (Jackson, TN) and earn 18 hours of transferable college credit.

Vibrant, Christ-Centered Community

We are made for relationships.

Our souls need rich friendship and our faith is deepened by living life with those who have the same goal – to become more like Christ. Live and learn alongside others who desire a lifelong relationship with Jesus, learn the skills needed to create and sustain healthy, Christian community, and practice cultivating deep-rooted friendships.

Join in God's Heart for the Nations

We serve the God of every nation tribe and tongue.

By serving alongside local churches and organizations in Brazil and South Africa, Learn the importance of servant leadership and selfless love for others. During these cross-cultural experiences, broaden your perspective, deepen your empathy, and cultivate a heart for God’s people across the street and across the globe.

A Life of Discipleship

Discipleship is for us and is meant to go beyond us.

At the heart of Fellows is holistic discipleship: spiritual, intellectual, and emotional. Be equipped as a Christ-centered leader who is grounded in your faith, is passionate about making a difference in the world, and is motivated to share the gospel with clarity and boldness. 

Fellows Peak Experiences

Utah: Biblical Worldview
During this first peak experience, Fellows spend a week in Utah putting their classroom learning into action. This is one of many opportunities where Fellows apply what they have been learning about worldview, other beliefs, and their own Christian faith in a real-world setting. They engage in spiritual conversations with those who believe differently and grow their confidence in clearly sharing the gospel with boldness.
Spiritual Rhythms
Fellows spend the academic week in nature, experiencing the wonder and adventure of creation firsthand. Fellows explore some primary spiritual disciplines through both instruction and practice. Fellows come away with an understanding of the disciplines and a strategy for implementing them in their personal lives.
TrueFace
Fellows discover what it means to live in authentic Christian community by discussing biblical truth regarding gospel-centered identity, common obstacles to authenticity, and key concepts such as grace and forgiveness. Fellows come away from this week with a deeper understanding of community and a renewed desire both to live in and to offer an environment of grace.
International Immersion
During the month of January Fellows partner with and learning from the local church in Brazil or South Africa. This experience gives Fellows the opportunity to grow their love of God and His people through serving alongside others who love him. While abroad, Fellows serve in many different ways including working at youth camps and orphanages, ju-jitsu ministry, and volunteering at local churches, schools, and organizations.
Biblical Womanhood and Manhood
During these two retreats, Fellows grow in their understanding of what it means to live a biblical life in today’s culture. Fellows leave excited to practically pursue their faith. Having spent time deepening their understanding of who God is, this retreat explores how to practically apply that knowledge as a man or woman who follows Jesus. These retreats pull the big pieces together and bring the practical perspective of what it means to be a biblical man or biblical woman who follows after the heart of God.
Kingdom Influence
During this last peak experience, Fellows spend a week in our nation's capital exploring what it looks like to live with Spirit-empowered influence. Fellows spend time learning from individuals who are serving God in their own unique callings and exploring history and art museums. They walk away with incredible examples of people faithfully following Jesus and trusting God to guide their path, even at some of the highest levels of influence in our nation.

Impact 360 Fellows Staff

[ View Bio ]
David Blanchard
Director, Fellows

David Blanchard

David has spent the past ten years working among college students in the areas of leadership and discipleship. He has received his M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and a B.S. in Youth Ministry, Family & Culture from Columbia International University, as well as a Minor in Outdoor Recreation and Leadership. David first joined the Impact 360 staff in 2009 as a Student Learning Coordinator. He went on to spend several years living in Brazil, coordinating teams for Impact 360, and serving as Manager for Brazil Ministries with the Lifeshape Foundation. He began his current role as Associate Director of Student Learning and Living in July 2018 and now serves as the Director for Impact 360 Fellows. David lives with his wife, Melva, and their sons in Hamilton, GA.
Ed Bort
Senior Associate Director & Faculty Chair
Todd Foster
Associate Director, Student Living and Learning
Matt Dee, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Leadership & Philosophy
Charmaine Porter
Learning Community Coordinator
Adam Story
Learning Community Coordinator
Aly Nicholas
Learning Community Coordinator
Rafael Torres
Learning Community Coordinator
Katie-Marie Stout
Educational Resource Coordinator
Mitch Mask
Discipleship Manager
Jen Carr
Discipleship Specialist
Molly Baker
Service Learning and International Coordinator
Milena Dutra McManus
Service Learning and International Specialist

Visiting Faculty

[ View Bio ]
Alisa Childers
Apologist & Singer-Songwriter

Alisa Childers

Alisa Childers is a wife, a mom, an author, a blogger, a speaker, and a worship leader. She was a member of the award-winning CCM recording group ZOEgirl. She is a popular speaker at apologetics and Christian worldview conferences, and has been published at The Gospel Coalition, Crosswalk, The Stream, For Every Mom, Decision Magazine, and The Christian Post. Her book, Another Gospel: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity was released by Tyndale on October 6, 2020. Her newest book Live Your Truth and Other Lies: Exposing Popular Deceptions That Make Us Anxious, Exhausted, and Self-Obsessed., will be released in late 2022.   Alisa is an instructor, teaching on the topics of Progressive Christianity and Worship at Impact 360 Fellows, Immersion, and Propel
[ View Bio ]
Brett Kunkle
Maven

Brett Kunkle

Brett Kunkle is the founder and president of MAVEN, a movement to equip the next generation know truth, pursue goodness and create beauty. He has more than 25 years of experience working with junior high, high school, and college students. He was a youth pastor in Southern California and in the Denver area for 11 years and was the Student Impact Director for Stand to Reason for 14 years. Brett has developed a groundbreaking approach to mission trips, creating a one-of-a-kind experience that immerses participants in real-life engagement in apologetics, theology, worldview and evangelism in Berkeley, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, Brett is a Teaching Fellow at the Impact 360 Institute. Brett is an author, contributing to numerous articles and books. He wrote the Ambassadors Guide to Mormonism, was an associate editor for the Apologetics Study Bible for Students and co-authored A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World. He received his Master’s degree in philosophy of religion and ethics from Talbot School of Theology. Brett lives with his wife and kids in Southern California.
Carl Trueman
Guest Lecturer
[ View Bio ]
Christopher Yuan
Professor, Moody Bible Institute

Christopher Yuan

Dr. Christopher Yuan has taught the Bible at Moody Bible Institute for over ten years and his speaking ministry on faith and sexuality has reached five continents. He speaks at conferences, on college campuses, and in churches. He has co-authored with his mother their memoir, Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God, A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope (100,000 copies sold and now in seven languages). He is also the author of Giving a Voice to the Voiceless. Christopher graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2005, Wheaton College Graduate School in 2007 with a Master of Arts in Biblical Exegesis, and received his doctorate of ministry in 2014 from Bethel Seminary. Dr. Yuan’s newest book, Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God’s Grand Story, was named 2020 Book of the Year for Social Issues by Outreach Magazine.
Jacob Shatzer
Guest Lecturer
[ View Bio ]
Megan Almon
Life Training Institute

Megan Almon

Megan Almon, a former University of Georgia gymnast, worked as an award-winning journalist until 2008, when she decided to pursue a career speaking and teaching about Christian apologetics—especially in the area of bioethics. She joined Life Training Institute in 2009 and was awarded an M.A. in Christian apologetics from Biola University in 2011.  Megan and her husband, Tripp—Director of Programs and Summit Semester for Summit Ministries—have been married since 2003 and have two children, Neely and Rogan. Megan enjoys spending time with her family at home in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and is still known to practice handstands in her kitchen. She has spoken to high school and college assemblies and classrooms, youth organizations, women’s groups, pregnancy care centers, congregations, and legislators across the nation on multiple topics, including bioethics, preparing Christian students for college success, and marriage. 
[ View Bio ]
Monique Duson
Center for Biblical Unity

Monique Duson

Chantal Monique Duson has a background in social service and children’s ministry. She has worked with a diverse array of under-served communities.

Monique worked as a Missionary to South Africa for over 4 years, serving children and teachers impacted by drugs, violence, and trauma.

Monique spent 2 decades advocating for Critical Race Theory (CRT), but through a series of events began to see the contradictions of CRT with the historic Christian worldview. She is now convinced that  CRT is not the best way to achieve racial unity and actively speaks out against the use of CRT within the church. Monique's vision is to promote a vision for racial healing based on the historic Christian worldview.  ​

Monique has a BA in Sociology from Biola University. She is working on a MA in Theology.

Monique has appeared on shows such as Relatable (with Allie Beth Stuckey), the Alisa Childers podcast, and Breakpoint (with John Stonestreet).

Paul Gould
Guest Lecturer
Scott Rae
Guest Lecturer
[ View Bio ]
Sean McDowell
Apologist & Associate Professor, Biola University

Sean McDowell

Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences in a tangible way through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life through a Biblical worldview. Sean is an Associate Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Sean still teaches one high school Bible class, which helps give him exceptional insight into the prevailing culture so he can impart his observations poignantly to fellow educators, pastors, and parents alike. In 2008 he received the Educator of the Year award for San Juan Capistrano, California. The Association of Christian Schools International awarded Exemplary Status to his apologetics training. Sean is listed among the top 100 apologists. He graduated summa cum laude from Talbot Theological Seminary with a double master’s degree in Theology and Philosophy. He earned a Ph.D. in Apologetics and Worldview Studies from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014. Traveling throughout the United States and abroad, Sean speaks at camps, churches, schools, universities, and conferences. Sean is the author, co-author, or editor of over twenty books including Chasing Love, The Fate of the Apostles, So The Next Generation Will Know (with J. Warner Wallace), Evidence that Demands a Verdict (with Josh McDowell), Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage (with John Stonestreet), Is God Just a Human Invention?(with Jonathan Morrow) and Understanding Intelligent Design (with William A. Dembski). Sean is the General Editor for A New Kind of Apologist, Apologetics for a New Generation, Sharing the Good News with Mormons, and The Apologetics Study Bible for Students. Sean has one of the leading apologetics blogs, which can be read at seanmcdowell.org. In April 2000, Sean married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie. They have three children and live in San Juan Capistrano, California. Sean played college basketball at Biola University and was the captain his senior year on a team that went 30-7.
[ View Bio ]
Thaddeus Williams
Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Theology at Biola University

Thaddeus Williams

ABOUT DR. THADDEUS WILLIAMS

Thaddeus Williams (PhD, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) serves as associate professor of systematic theology at Biola University. His book Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice (Zondervan, 2020) is a best seller. He has taught jurisprudence at Trinity Law School, worldview studies at L’Abri Fellowships in Switzerland and Holland, and ethics for the Blackstone Legal Fellowship and the Federalist Society in Washington, D.C. Thaddeus resides in Southern California with his wife and four children. Connect with him on his website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Impact 360 Fellows

Learn More About Impact 360 Fellows

Impact 360 Fellows is a Christian gap year experience intentionally designed to prepare you for the path ahead. Invest nine months deepening your relationship with God, serve others, build intentional community, and discern God’s call in your life. Receive leadership training from Chick-fil-A® Inc., experience international ministry for one month, and sharpen in your faith in community.
Express Interest