UPDATE - Week of Jan 15

Tucker is grubbing at Mary's Ofcourse!

 In this Issue:
- Weekly Recap
- Enneagram Workshop Info
- Recruitment Update
- Giving Snapshot
- Looking Ahead

WHAT A WILD WONDERFUL WEEK IT WAS

What alliteration!

Round Table isn't always Round (rarely is round actually)

THANK YOU Dustin, Holly, and Owen Heath for welcoming us in your new home! It was quite an honor to be the first of what I am sure will be many, many, many people that you will be blessed by the Heath's hospitality. 

JP really loved the tacos

 LEADER LUNCH was spectacular!

Steve Childs welcomed us into his new studio called Spinning Stone. Easily the coolest venue for a Leader Lunch ever. (Until this week...hmmm. What could Ned have up his sleeve?)

Steve shared his story and his paintings and glimpses of his movies and read from a living document of life lessons that he wrote just for us! Unbelievable.

Spinning Stone

Steve using hand gestures to describe his football career

Ashley, Morgan and Tucker checking out some of Steve's art

Steve made a welcome sign!

Steve and the Fellows

Steve and the ladies and JP

This could make the website

After Small Groups we visited with Ron Pegram down at the 14th Street Rec Center. I actually ditched for an interview with a potential Fellow.

Then, we all met up at Crafted for dinner.

We've got lots of eating pics this week I'm realizing

Thursday I had a Program Committee Meeting with our Board then went to Wake Forest for a meeting. 

They reserved a spot for me! How cool is that?

I almost kept it. Maybe should have. 

Friday. We all took the Enneagram Test. 

(see details below on how you can take it). 

Ashley taking her test

Then we had our first class of the semester Spiritual Formation with Joe Moore! Joe is an amazing guy. He was the head of Spiritual Formation for Intervaristy (like all of Intervarsity) - and now he is teaching us!!!

I took lots of notes before I lost my journal over the weekend! Yikes!

(more on my weekend in a bit). 

ENNEAGRAM INFO

YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE INVITED!

HERE IS THE INFO

JANUARY 27th from 9am - 1pm The Winston-Salem Fellows are bringing a certified Enneagram expert to provide an in depth workshop for our community to better understand this powerful resource. 

FEATURING: FIL ANDERSON - certified expert in the Enneagram, author of two books, and President of Journey Resources. 

WHERE: Redeemer Presbyterian Church. 1046 Miller Street. Winston-Salem, NC

WHEN: January 27th. 9am - 1pm

WHO: You and your friends (Space is limited)

HOW DO I REGISTER:  RIGHT HERE (Just type right onto the google form - if it doesn't work email winstonsalemfellows@gmail.com

COST: FREE!!!

Childcare is provided at $10 per child

YOU DO NOT NEED TO TAKE THE TEST PRIOR TO COMING. However, if you would like to, we recommend taking the test found at wepss.com

ALSO, If you are looking for reading, Fil recommends Marilyn Vancil's book Self to Lose, Self to Find

You don't want to miss this!!!!

Pass it on!

BACK TO THE WEEK

Joe Moore led a Day Retreat at St. Francis Springs. Grace and Mentor Michelle went!

Morgan went to Quarry Park

Abby and Grace were joined with real life daughter of Holly and Jon Brower

Sarah and Grace cheered on the wrong team at the Wake Forest Basketball Game. Joined by Steve and Molly Lineberger

Young Life Africa/Middle East

Lia and I joined Hunter and Lauri Lambeth and Rich and Nancy Keshian at the Young Life Africa/Middle East Conference in Dallas

Lia and the James Davis Young Life Director of Liberia

We got to stay with great old friends Robert and Debra Milam. Plus Ford and Ezra

Ford and Robert joined us

I also got to spend the afternoon on Saturday with Robbie Mills, another one of my old Young Life guys who is starting a For the Nations Church in Dallas.

So proud of these dudes.

Yousef

I got to hug on Yousef, my dear friend. 

 RECRUITMENT UPDATE

We continue to interview candidates. Right now we have only ladies in our pipeline, so pray for some dudes!

I just left a conversation with two potential Fellows.

This week we will have two phone interviews. Checking references and may be extending offers in the next couple weeks. Very exciting stuff!


GIVING SNAPSHOT

Thank you to all of our generous donors. I told one thank you this week and apologized because I hadn't gotten a handwritten thank you to him yet - he said, you can count this as your handwritten note. Thanks Jeff Andrews. You are the man.

If you want to join Jeff in supporting us here is how:

wsfellows.com/give

or mail checks to

Winston-Salem Fellows
851 W. 5th Street
WSNC 27101

Thank you!


LOOKING AHEAD
- Round Table at the Lenhams (it won't be a round table Jeanne tells me)
- Leader Lunch with Drew Gerstmyer - part of the brainchildren behind our downtown revitalization. 
- Classes with Ben Milner and Joe Moore
- Luncheon with Tony Evans on Racial Reconciliation

A sad note. On Tuesday, I will be attending the funeral of one of my heroes, Ray Seigler. obituary link

I was a member of Ray's "Young Guns" whom he mentored for several years. I will always be thankful for that. Ray is also responsible for starting the Raleigh Fellows. His impact cannot be measured. Please pray for our family in Raleigh. The whole city is mourning.

Thanks all. Keep spreading the word and the love.

UPDATE Week of January 8

WE'RE BACK!

Sarah on Ice!

Lil' bit slippery!

GOOD TO BE BACK

I hope it is not becoming a tradition but so far we are two for two that our First Advance of the year coincides with the coldest week of the year!

Fortunately, our pipes held up until the last morning and only stayed frozen for an hour or two! That's what single digits for five straight days will get you I guess!

Grace and I are hopefully not on thin ice

The good news is that our objective for the four days that we were together was to give each other space and time to share our life stories with one another. 

And since it was so cold it was not hard to huddle up around the fire and do just that. 

Tate and Morgan have matching pajama bottoms!

There were a whole of of sweatpants and comfy clothes. Tea. Hot chocolate. Coffee. And good times around the kitchen table. 

But for the most part we listened. And these Fellows did a great job at it, something that is not so easy to do twelve times for over an hour each time. 

Walking on water

I then had the privilege of marrying these two love birds. 

Kelly and Kyle Byrnes

It has been so fun getting to know these two even better the last few months. They are very loved. There was not a dry eye at the ceremony - including mine. 

It's official!

Back at the cabin - I am continually surprised at what happens when we give each other the opportunity to share our stories. You'd think you'd know someone after spending so much time with them over four months - but there is so much more to know.

There is always more to know. I love that.

Our time together was a perfect way to launch into the spring. Community is messy - but as one of our fellows said - we got all these broken pieces and we will just have to let God make something beautiful out of it.

He does!

And he will!

ENNEAGRAM!

YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE INVITED!

HERE IS THE INFO

JANUARY 27th from 9am - 1pm The Winston-Salem Fellows are bringing a certified Enneagram expert to provide an in depth workshop for our community to better understand this powerful resource. 

FEATURING: FIL ANDERSON - certified expert in the Enneagram, author of two books, and President of Journey Resources. 

WHERE: Redeemer Presbyterian Church. 1046 Miller Street. Winston-Salem, NC

WHEN: January 27th. 9am - 1pm

WHO: You and your friends (Space is limited)

HOW DO I REGISTER:  RIGHT HERE (Just type right onto the google form - if it doesn't work email winstonsalemfellows@gmail.com

COST: FREE!!!

Childcare is provided at $10 per child

You don't want to miss this!!!!

Pass it on!

THIS WEEK

Grace reading scripture at church

Round Table at the new home of Dustin and Holly Heath - woohoo! We will be cutting our time short (a) because of weather, (b) because we have just spent 96 hours together, and (c) because we want to watch the BCS National Championship Game

Leader Lunch with Steve Childs! I can't wait for this. Steve is an artist, filmmaker, and great friend. He is going to knock our socks off!

Small Groups and G.I.D.E. resumes.

Friday Class. We will begin a new semester with Joe Moore, Intervarsity Legend and Spiritual Formation guru who will be leading us in four weeks of Spiritual Formation Class! (of all things!)

Ned is also speaking at NCS Brookberry Tuesday night.

and Ned and Lia are attending the Young Life Africa Conference in Dallas this weekend! Woo Hoo! and getting to hang out with old friends Robert and Debra Milam and Robbie and Kelly Mills! Lucky us!

Here is some love my wife got today that I think everyone should know about...(read before my wife makes me take it down!)

so true

GIVE!

Here are the ways to financially give to the Fellows!

wsfellows.com/give

or write and mail checks to WS Fellows

851 W. 5th Street

Winston-Salem NC 27101

RECRUITING!

We are in the process of interviewing three more applicants. They all seem pretty stellar! I just met with another guy yesterday who I really hope will go through the process with us (I think he will. Fingers-crossed)

So keep us in prayer - in so many ways, the Fellows lives and dies on the people who come. 

Who would not want to be a part of this?

Here is a little music for your listening pleasure...

Thanks all!

Keep spreading the word and sharing the love!

UPDATE - Week of January 2

Fellows Alum Camille Stogner brings me so much joy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

You would be proud of me - Ned took some time off! I know. Hard to believe. But it's January 2 and it's time to get this thing revved back up! So strap on your safety belts - HERE WE GO!

THE WINSTON-SALEM FELLOWS INVITE YOU TO OUR FIRST COMMUNITY WIDE EVENT!!!

I'm sure many of you have heard of the Enneagram. In recent years it has regained popularity. I was introduced to it about fifteen years ago and didn't find it very useful. However, it recent years, it has in many ways revolutionized the way I see myself and others.

So on JANUARY 27th from 9am - 1pm The Winston-Salem Fellows are bringing a certified Enneagram expert to provide an in depth workshop for our community to better understand this powerful resource. 

FEATURING: FIL ANDERSON - certified expert in the Enneagram, author of two books, and President of Journey Resources. 

WHERE: Redeemer Presbyterian Church. 1046 Miller Street. Winston-Salem, NC

WHEN: January 27th. 9am - 1pm

WHO: You and your friends (Space is limited)

HOW DO I REGISTER:  RIGHT HERE

COST: FREE!!!

Childcare is provided at $10 per child

UPDATE

Before leaving town, we had an epic Fellows Christmas Party at the home of Chris and Virginia Perry. The hosts with the mosts. Thank you guys for a wonderful evening. 

Fellows alumns Christina, Rahel and Jessica were there

Host mom Becky Paynter and Host Son Tucker Bartholomew lightening it up

Wilsons, Jorgensons and Raineys - three churches represented right in this one picture

A true community celebration

CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY

On Thursday, many of our Fellows joined many of the people of this city to celebrate CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY at the Benton Convention Center. Truly one of the most beautiful events of the year. Can't believe it's been 10 years!

Lia was able to see two of her patients dance

Our kids gave JP bunny ears

We ran into some friends from G.I.D.E. - they were much more behaved than my kids

What a great way to put an exclamation point on the year!

MOST FELLOWS WENT BACK HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

I had the chance to get coffee with Natalie in her hometown of Columbus OH. I have a great picture but can't get it to download. Erg. 

Sarah Wilkins discovered that Moravian Stars have made it to LA

Morgan tried to fool us by sending a selfie with her identical twin

Abbey was reunited with her beloved dog, Pippin

As well as her sisters

Grace paid her a visit

Natalie spent the last day of work cleaning up at ABC

Grace and sister actually joined host parents Jon and Holly for Christmas in Winston!!!

LOOKING AHEAD

The Fellows are arriving back in town and immediately heading to the mountains for our annual Testimony Retreat. This can be a pretty intense couple days - so keep us in your prayers. 

Monday we will be back at work and in the swing of things with Leader Lunches and New Classes!

RECRUITMENT

Is going well. We are interviewing a great candidate next week, and will be interviewing another on in the near future! Very excited about who has applied so far. (We need some guys though! So if you know one - give him a prod!) 

GIVING

Thank you to so many of you for your generosity toward this movement. 

If you would like to participate, you can give online at

wsfellows.com/give

Or send checks to Winston-Salem Fellows. 851 W. 5th St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101

THANK YOU!!!

Keep spreading the love and the story. 

UPDATE - Merry Christmas One and All

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE WINSTON-SALEM FELLOWS!

Thank you for joining us on this wild adventure.

We hope your Christmas holiday was and will continue to be pure joy.

In lieu of an update, here is a recent blog I wrote for EverydayExiles.com

enjoy...

Room

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

There was no room.

No room for Mary and Joseph, not in the inn, not anywhere. So they made room in a manger for Jesus and that was where Jesus was born.

I’ve been thinking about that word.

The word room.

I came across it the other day when I was reading through John 8. It’s the chapter when Jesus has to deal with the scheming men and the woman caught in adultery. Later in that chapter, Jesus says one of my very favorite things that Jesus ever says: “If the son sets you free, you are free indeed.”

Well, right after those two things is where I was reading the other day and this verse stuck out to me. I’m not sure why it stuck out other than verses tend to do that to me every once and awhile.

It was verse 37. It says: “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.” There it was, the word room.

I don’t know, maybe it was because of Christmas, and Jesus was laid in a manger because there was no roomfor him in the inn, and now here was Jesus dealing with these Pharisees who were out to kill him because they didn’t have any room for him either.

All I know is it got me thinking about how much room have I given this man?

I thought about all the stuff in my life – the schedule and the people and the actual stuff that clutters my mind and my heart and my house. It clutters it up so full there is hardly any room for me, let alone the savior!

How much room have I given him? Not much if I’m honest.

And yet what if that is the one thing Jesus wants? Not our stuff, not our doing, not more of this or less of that – what if he simply wants room?

Some space in your life for him to occupy.

What if you gave Jesus room this Christmas?

What would that even look like?

I’ve been thinking about that.

Creating space
Showing up
With unplanned time
And a moment of quiet
With some resources unaccounted for
And energy unused
And a little brain power left in the tank
With wait and see expectancy.

That is making room.

And resting.
Resting, too, is making room.

There are lots of ways to make room.

Like hope.
Like awareness.
And a smile.
And a hello.
And a can I help you?

And silence.

Making room ain’t easy…

But remember this:

Jesus makes room for us, too. Did you know that? Did you forget it? That His Father’s house has many rooms! And Jesus has gone to prepare one for you!

How cool is that?

Jesus is making room for you! So why don’t we, this Christmas, amidst all the crazy and the family and the presents and the stuff, make a little room for him, too?