Alumnus David Fellers Completes Counseling Internship at DMC

David Fellers (‘16) grew up in a family of educators. His grandfather and father were both professors at Drake University, his grandmother was a teacher, and his mother spent time homeschooling him when he was young. Today, he is building upon that legacy in the Des Moines Christian Middle School hallways, as a counseling intern.

Mr. Fellers graduated from the University of Northwestern St. Paul with a double major in psychology and Bible in 2020. Since 2021, he has been studying school counseling at Drake University. He credits his experience at Des Moines Christian for helping him choose this career path.

“I wanted to pursue counseling due to a love of helping people,” Mr. Fellers says. “I lost my dad as a middle school student, to an unexpected heart attack, and I have had adults play instrumental roles in my life and my relationship with the Lord. When I was a student at Des Moines Christian, the Spiritual Life Director, Nathan Hiatt, played a large role in influencing me towards school counseling. He was able to walk alongside me in difficult stretches of life and point me to the love of Jesus. It was his influence that made me consider working in a counseling setting, specifically in a school.” 

Mr. Fellers attended Des Moines Christian for high school, and he knows those four years prepared him for the role he holds today. “I can relate to the challenges, joys, and unique experiences that come with being a student at DMC. I remember what it was like to go through school and feel the pressures to be like the world. I understand the amazing opportunity it is to open the Bible in the classroom and pray at the start of each period. I love that Des Moines Christian emphasizes a biblical worldview, and the new CBRR (Creation, Brokenness, Redemption,  Restoration) framework is a great tool to equip students to deal with the brokenness of the world and understand how Christ redeems and restores.”

When asked what he wants DMC middle school students to learn, Mr. Fellers had this to say: “I want them to believe that Jesus is better. It is so tempting to see the world and the things of the world and be drawn to them. Whether it be houses, cars, salaries, etc., the things of the world make big promises to satisfy, but only Jesus fills the hole in each person's heart. The other thing that I would encourage middle school students to believe is that identity does not come from something you do. It is not based on your performance on a field or court or stage. Your identity comes from being a son or daughter of the King who bought you for a price. It is constantly a battle to remind yourself that you are not loved and valued for what you do but for who you are.”

Mr. Fellers internship at DMC ends in December and he will fulfill the remainder of his internship hours at a long-term counseling sub at Norwalk Middle School. He says, "I am so grateful for this school and the Christ-centered education it provides. I also want to thank Head of Middle School Mr. Town, Middle School Dean of Students Mr. Hamer, and Middle School Counselor Mrs. Scarrow for the support and encouragement they have provided to me over these past few months. I am thankful for the freedom to practice being a school counselor and to learn and grow along the way. I feel more equipped to go into the world and be a light for Christ because of them."

Pictured below at the 2016 DMC Commencement (left to right) are Tommy Shisler, Noah Miller, David Fellers, and Keaton Van Soelen.