Introducing
Peachtree’s
Zacchaeus
Fellows

Meet Peachtree’s Inaugural Zacchaeus Fellows

Mariah Smith

Mariah Smith graduated in May from the University of Tennessee, with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in Leadership Studies. She led the women’s golf team, and was invited to play in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur as the only African American in the field. Conversely, she was the first amateur African American woman in history to compete at Augusta. She will combine her discipline on the golf course and love of the housing market into the servant-leadership culture of a leading residential real estate firm.

Uwezo Flewellen

Uwezo Flewellen is an Atlanta native, and recent graduate of Georgia Tech’s School of Mechanical Engineering. As a Bill Maness Good Samaritan Scholar, Uwezo has a lot of experience in helping others. Uwezo developed a keen interest in climate change’s impact, and is focused on providing clean-energy solutions to low-income communities. He enjoys writing, making, and recording music, and is a published musical artist. He serves in his childhood church as a choir member and a children’s ministry volunteer.

Schneider Alexis

From Pawtucket, R.I., Schneider Alexis graduated in May from Gordon College with a dual degree in business and Christian ministry. While earning these degrees, he launched his own creative business where he produced, marketed, and sold his faith-inspired designs on streetwear, named Kaos Klothing. In turn, Schneider used these marketing skills throughout his church’s media ministry. With his paid role in the retail e-commerce space, he will continue to build these skills.

In May 2020, Senior Pastor Rich Kannwischer invited Peachtree to assist in various ways to pave a path for establishing the Zacchaeus Fellows program in our congregation, with a goal of welcoming fellowship members in the fall of 2021. We now have our first group of three!

 

Named for the diminutive follower of Christ who ascended a tree to see Him better, the fellowship develops Christ-centered leadership skills for recent college graduates. Fellows will form a Christian worldview in real-world situations, while they work degree-related jobs, develop leadership skills, conduct spiritual formation studies, and commit to service and community opportunities.

“We want to build on the legacy of what we’ve been doing with our summer fellows in a year-long capacity—to gather with young adults, have them live in our church community, have jobs with local businesses, and also work in and through not just Peachtree,
but a couple of other local churches,” Kannwischer said.

 

Building on The Fellows Initiative program, Peachtree’s Zacchaeus Fellows have committed to spend 9 months in Atlanta, as we become their family. All three will serve as mentors and volunteers in Peachtree’s Student Ministry.

 

In return, Kannwischer continued, our community embraces an experience of faith from different viewpoints.

 

“We hope to be able to gather a unique community together, for us to know their stories, and to cut through the noise in today’s society around our differences,” he said. “We need to be able to appreciate the fullness of wonderful diversity that God has made united in the Body of Christ.”

So, Peachtree: Come say hello! And we hope you will warmly welcome our Fellows,
perhaps in one of the following ways:

Host a Fellows event, dinner, or outing

Contribute to their development by being a guest speaker during their Thursday Life in Leadership series, and share how your faith has shaped your career and life

Invite them to a family dinner

Hire them to contribute to your business efforts, during the program or afterward, as they find full-time employment

Invite them to join you in programs and events in our beautiful city

Email Zacchaeus Fellows Director Elizabeth Payne or call her at 404-790-9280 if you’re interested.

“I can’t think of anything more timely, and also a long-term investment, that’s important for us as a congregation,” Kannwischer said.