UPDATE - Week of February 27

Alex made a surprise visit to Chattanooga and handed Morgan Bonds some Fellows love

REAL LIFE

What comes to your mind when you see those words? Real Life. 

For you - is it the daily grind? Is it the ordinary, the mundane, the stuff of life? Is it the mess, the hard, the challenges? Is real life for you "just the way it is?" 

If we are honest, real life is all that. 

Life isn't one epic adventure after another. 

And yet, I believe real life really is a daily adventure. Real life is an invitation to live as you were intended to live in the normal and mundane and every day. Real life is to know there is a greater story going on and that you play a vital role. 

Real life is not a program. Real life is living for real...on purpose. 

That's what we are working on this month with the Fellows. Less program. More purpose. 

I invite you to join us!

The Week That Was

Steve Beck keeping the peace

We completed our Peace Making class at Salem Presbyterian Monday night. Steve Beck as usual poured gasoline on the fire then showed us how to put it out.

Camille, Jessica, Christina, Alex Julia, Campbell, Reese, John Dickenson, Will, Dakota and Sean

John Dickenson, my dear brother and Fellows Board Member, came and met with us Wednesday for our Leader Lunch.

A couple gems from our time:

"When you have that radical faith, you know that whatever you have lost, it WILL grow back better."

"Surrender. Know Him for who He is and not what you want Him to be. This is the cornerstone to have a successful life."

"Don't be selfish with your goals. You must have a posture of obedience."

"Lead in the little things. If you are faithful in the little things, God will trust you with the big things."

Thanks John!

No photo of this...but I had a fantastic time with future Fellow Patrick McCarthy. He and I had an experience at the Sovereign Lodge of the International Order of Odd Fellows (with the unfortunate acronym IOOF) that I don't think either of us will probably ever forget. Unbelievable things are happening in this city. Unbelievable...

Thanks Alfaro's for donating your faces

On Thursday, I attended the Winston-Salem State Career Fair. It was an honor to be there. So many young, inspiring men and women. Join me in prayer as I am hoping we receive three or more applications!

Christina caught on camera during lunch break at work

Jessica and Rahel eating some of Rahel's favorite things

Randy and Paula

Reese helped lead a group of Middle Schoolers from Hope Presbyterian and Redeemer on a work project day at Solus Christus. 

Jessica at Senior Services

 Jessica helped put together an Art Show at Senior Services on Saturday

Amelia Earhart

 Anna Rose performed as Amelia Earhart in the Living Biographies program in her 4th Grade.

Bengt Carlson

One of my best buddies, Bengt Carlson (Wake Forest grad) spoke to the Chattanooga Fellows on Friday.

Frank Thomas and Ned

 The Ericksons went to High Point to join our brothers and sisters at Mt. Zion Baptist Church for worship yesterday. David asked me, "Why is that man yelling?" I said, "What did you say? I can't hear you."

It was awesome. Frank is one of the best.


ISRAEL

We are in the middle of fundraising for our Missions Trip to Israel. Please consider helping us. You can send checks to

Winston-Salem Fellows
851 W. 5th Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Or give online: http://www.wsfellows.com/give/

Or email me if you have some odd jobs, babysitting, yard work...anything!!!


THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday, we will be interviewing another Fellows Candidate. Please join us in prayer for what's best for Caleb McKillop.

Also Monday, we will be enjoying a Round Table at John and Pat Gerstmyers. Very Excited about that. John is Campbell's mentor.

Wednesday we have a Leader Lunch with David Daggett and Griffis Shuler. Should be amazing.

Also Wednesday, we will be volunteering once again with G.I.D.E.

Thursday, several of us will be going to Aperture to watch I Am Not Your Negro.

Friday, we will have class with Dr. Cooke.

Saturday, we are invited to attend a public conversation about Loving Our Muslim Neighbors.

Exciting stuff.

PRAYER

Prayer is so important to the life and, frankly, the existence of the Fellows. Please choose a time in your calendar to pray for the Fellows every week.

I'm putting down a reminder to pray at 12:12 every day.

Specific needs:
- 13k for Israel
- 18k to complete our fiscal year budgetary needs
- 12 Fellows for next year
- the Right Next Thing for each of our current Fellows

General needs:
- for wisdom as I meet with individuals in this community and listen to their dreams
- for open doors for the Fellows
- for favor across this city
- for opportunities to make an impact.

One Last Thing.

If you are interested in learning more about this assessment and what it can do for you, let me know.

Last story. 

I was getting lunch with one of my best friends on Friday at Chipotle. He had pre-ordered. He's that kind of guy. Another great friend of mine was five people in front of me. We exchanged a text greeting and then fist bumped. As I was finishing up my order, the man in front of me at the cash register started acting really flustered. Turned out someone had paid for his meal. I realized it was my friend who must have been trying to pay for MY meal, but the lady behind the cash register had picked the wrong customer! I started laughing and before you know it both the customer and the cash register lady were looking at me. I said, "The free meal was most definitely meant for him." The man put his cash back in his wallet (after giving the cash register lady a tip), and I got a story which is ten times better than getting a free lunch (which is saying something).

UPDATE - week of February 20

Freedom Ride - 2017

Hard Week 

Thank you so much for your prayers for the Wittenberg family. It was one of the hardest, most emotional experiences of my life - and a great honor to serve as a representative for so many, whose lives have been touched by Doug. 

that little guy is me

Here is a Link To The Sermon Doug gave just a month ago. 

This is Doug: "Any suffering we go through in this life is an opportunity to remember our salvation - that this is just temporary. There is an eternal life waiting for us where none of this will be a part of it. I have been healed fully - this I know. I have been healed from the ultimate disease that is killing us all. And that is what I stake my future on. And where my hope is."

Special Guests

On Monday, we had two very special guests at Round Table. (Thank you Susan Scott for hosting!)

...MY PARENTS!

This photo was taken from their time in the Peace Corps in China

After dinner (thanks Susan!), we had Q. and A. with mom and dad. It was pretty hilarious. And touching. 

I'm a lucky guy to have parents like I do. 

I am loving this spring-like February we are having - being able to eat outside in shorts! Crazy!

On Wednesday, we had a special Leader Lunch with Steve Lineberger. 

Thank you Baird for allowing us to use your conference room. 

Steve absolutely nailed it. He understands the Fellows and seamless living better than I ever will. It truly was an honor to listen to his stories and gather some of his wisdom...

Like: "You are not here to make a name, you are here to glorify a name."

And: "Use your God-given gifts with humility because you know where they came from. But use your God-given gifts with boldness because you know where they came from."

Wow!

On Friday, we thanked our professor Jack Wilkerson with the title of "Honorary Fellow."

Jack, you were amazing. You took this year to an 11!

Helping Hands

Dakota and Jordan and Will and Jalen

Every Wednesday, the Fellows head down Marshall Street to help tutor and spend time with our young friends. It truly gets better every week!

Reese takes helping to the next level as he drives Lucy to school for his Host Family

FREEDOM RIDE!

On Friday, my friend Terrance Hawkins took us on a Freedom Ride, a moving (in more ways than one) education of the story of Winston-Salem through the eyes of African Americans.

Awesome! I hated to miss it.

HIGHLANDS!

I have finally become an official Highlands Ability Battery Consultant!

Thank you, Dori Stiles, for being an amazing coach. It is an honor to join your ranks. 

To learn more about the H.A.B. CLICK HERE.

Let me know if you or your organization have interest in getting assessed.

Also, Thank You Kerry and Kelly Koberg for hosting me this weekend in Highlands Ranch, Colorado (see what I did there?). 

Kerry and Kelly are such amazing friends. They welcomed me in as part of the family. And I am writing it here for all to see - we will be visiting them as a family soon. 

Kelly, Ned and Kerry

Pressley, Piper and Jackson

ALSO! The Fellows Board had a great Board Retreat on Saturday without me! So proud of our team! Thank you Josh Benoit for your leadership!!!

LOOKING AHEAD

-This week we have our final Peace Making Class with Steve Beck.
-Leader Lunch with John Dickenson (board member and Jamaican!)
-Center For Creative Leadership
- Ash Wednesday Service at Hope Presbyterian
-Class with Clay Cooke
-Team Trip to West Forsyth to cheer on Sean Henderson as he coaches High Point Central's JV Baseball Team

Pray for family time as we re-engage after being away. I'm unfortunately leaving again this coming weekend for an Elder Retreat. Bummer.

Pray for more applicants. We are 25% full, and I'd like to be 100%!
Pray for our finances. We need 13k for Israel and about 20k to complete our year in the black.
Pray for our Fellows and their Futures.
Pray for our Host Families, Mentors and Churches.

It takes a village!

I'm glad y'all live in mine!

The next three weeks are pretty quiet for me. So I'd love to get some coffee, walks, adult beverages scheduled! Let me know!

Keep living the dream!!!

Doug Wittenberg

Doug and I in October

Jen called me yesterday to tell me that Doug had passed away. The news nearly crushed me. I'm still reeling from it. Needless to say, please pray for Jen and the children: Louise, Stella, Jacob, Andrew, Micah and Luke - some of the most inspirational people I know.

I'm still making arrangements to be with them later this week.

I'll need your help to keep the Winston-Salem Fellows going while I'm gone. I know Lia will also need help back at home. Please reach out. Thanks.

Doug was my boss, my band-mate, and most of all my friend. One of the very best. He had the amazing ability to make you believe the very best about yourself. I can honestly say I would not be the man I am today if it weren't for the friendship, brotherhood, and encouragement of this man.

I love you, Doug. I know you are jamming with the angels right now. I will miss you. We all will. You left a lasting legacy. I am part of it, and I am forever grateful.

UPDATE Week of February 13

We are on fire!!!

Lots of people tell me that when they read these Updates the Fellows look so busy. I usually say, "Well, I guess I could write about how on Thursday they went to work and then went home. Or on Tuesday I spent the morning reading."

All that to say is that the goal of the Fellows year is what we call seamless lives of faith. We build in activity and rest, giving and receiving, work and fun in a way that does not necessarily create balance (there is no such thing), but we do work to create congruency, restoration, and wholeness. That's the target. Sometimes we hit it - sometimes we don't. But that's what we're shooting for.

When you communicate in pictures - burning 100+ Christmas trees is a whole lot more entertaining than watching television on a Tuesday night...

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK

Campbell and a Tibetan Mastiff Puppy

Campbell Anderson has been a highlight! For those of you who have been following us this year - Campbell has had some struggles: a broken leg, a job placement challenge to name two...

But the last few weeks, he has experienced a dramatic turnaround. He has finally been cleared by doctors to run and workout again. The new job at Boosterthon has been a perfect fit. But what really has stood out is his new found faith in Jesus. It has been nothing less than inspiring to watch.

On Saturday, he voluntarily spent the day with Bill McClain and his basketball team for their tournament in Statesville. That night, he held this Tibetan Mastiff puppy while we got ready for the annual Geer/Nicholson Families Christmas Tree Bonfire. (see above).

MONDAY NIGHT. The Fellows attended a Peacemaking Seminar hosted by Salem Presbyterian and led by the Peacemaker himself: Steve Beck.

With Special Guests Nikki Armengual on the left and Anne Glenn (the host family extraordinaire) and Steve Beck on the right

We learned the first step to peacemaking is GRATITUDE. That's a free nugget to all of you who were unable to attend...

LEADER LUNCH. On Wednesday, we were hosted by Betty Ann Faulkner, the Executive Director at the Center for Smart Financial Choices.

Yep. That's a photo studio!

Betty Ann works at the Enterprise Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, so we had a little two-for-one action because we were also given a behind the scenes tour of the facility. So cool.

Betty Ann led us in a Money Habitude activity.

Julia thought she was Care Free but turned out to be Security. Alex thought she was Carefree and was Carefree

Campbell was a Planner. Rahel of course was a Giver

I was Security and a Planner - aka Getting Old. 

Thank you Betty Ann for your wonderful introduction to Budgeting. It was a great jumping off point as we sit down with these Fellows and talk financial wisdom over the next few weeks. 

VALENTINES DAY. The Glenns had the gals over for wine and a viewing of Pride and Prejudice to celebrate Valentines Day. Very Romantic. 

Thanks Anne! You made the Update Twice this week!

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. We had an AMAZING conversation with Bill McClain and his basketball team about recent incidents with violence in our community. Thank you Bill for your leadership. We ended with the most powerful prayer time I had this week. 

I missed the first half of the conversation because I got swarmed by a bunch of munchkins...

There were eight of us on that couch.

No complaints here. 

SATURDAY. As mentioned, Campbell was in Statesville and returned in time for the bonfire. 

We had also been invited to the free screening of the Maya Angelou documentary. I registered but was put on a waitlist. The Fellows didn't even sign up but just went (good for them). 

Turns out there was plenty of room...and from the looks of Alex's plate, plenty of cheese!

There is a story behind this picture

90% of life is showing up.

FRIDAY. We went to Reynolda House to reconnect and celebrate the 70 degree February weather.

AND Help out our friends at The Variable with their Social Media Campaign for Sunshine. 

This was SO staged!

SUNDAY. I had the distinct privilege of speaking to the Redeemer Church Middle Schoolers. Thanks Tripp and Houston for the invite!

It was fun to see Campbell there volunteering

WELCOME!

Welcome Morgan Bonds! Our newest Fellow is coming to us from UT-Chattanooga where she is finishing school and serving as student staff for Young Life. 

One of her employers gave her the best compliment. "Morgan is like water. She finds the soft places and fills them." Wow! Can't wait to welcome her to Winston in the Fall!

ISRAEL

Things are coming together for our mission trip April 30 - May 7

Camille raised $23.20 from her Grandmother - our first donation!

If you wish to help us reach out $13,000 goal. Please send donations to:

WS Fellows

851 W. 5th Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Or Donate online by Clicking HERE

OR By contacting Ned - nederickson@gmail.com or (336) 413-4918

for us to do odd jobs, babysitting, yard work, etc.

Let me tell you - we got some baby whisperers in our midst. 

 

UPCOMING NEWS AND PRAYER SUPPORT

The Fellows does not exist without the support of this community. In other words, we need you! We are built on the prayers and support of this city. 

- Pray for our Fellows that they would continue to develop a profound understand of our Lord and a rich intimacy with Him. 

- Pray for our Fellows as they continue to explore future opportunities. 

- Pray for our Recruiting Efforts. We are praying specifically for 12 Fellows for next year: 6 guys and 6 gals. 

- Pray for our BOARD RETREAT this Saturday.

- Pray for our FUNDRAISING. Pray if God wants you to be part of His answer!

- Pray for the Ericksons. Lia has a full week, and I have some church commitments in the evening, which is going to make family time a little tricky. 

- Pray for another full week!

Looking ahead: 

- Round Table at Susan Scott's. Q. and A. with my parents!!!

- Leader Lunch with Steve Lineberger!

- Volunteering with G.I.D.E.

- LAST CLASS with Jack Wilkerson

- We have plenty more with Clay Cooke!

- Board Retreat on Saturday. 

A few more photos for you...

Me and Dakota.

Anna Rose and David made a killer fort!

 

Dakota made the Milestones section of the WS Journal!

Christina and Jessica traveled to Dallas to be with family and friends. 

Drinking in the Sunshine

 THANK YOU!

Keep sharing the story and spreading the love!