UPDATE - Week of March 20

Wow. Another great week. In this issue:

- Highlights from the Week. 

- Giving Snapshot and Israel Update

- Recruitment Update

- Other News

HIGHLIGHTS

Silas protecting his eyes from his helicopter sock

 No. this is not me from when I was eight. This is Silas, the first child of Austin and Erin Pfeiffer, two great friends of the Fellows who hosted our Round Table on Monday night.

The soup was SO good

Reese was tempted to eat the whole pot

The Pfeiffers are two of the most hospitable folks I have ever met. In fact, while they were out at Silas' soccer game, they left their house open with food on the stove for us! Wow! What a model of trust and love. Thanks Austin and Erin and family!!!

The Fellows Team with two of the Baird Team Members

Speaking of great models...we were welcomed by the entire staff of RW Baird on Wednesday for our Leader Lunch. It was one of our largest panels of the year, but it was incredibly informative on multiple levels: the first being the simple sage financial advice they gave us, the second being an insight into what it looks like to have a service-minded team, the third being the circuitous journeys each one of these members had getting to where they got - having former careers in things like motorcycle mechanics, raft-guiding, and ministry. Thanks guys for your honest and wise counsel. A truly great time together.

Speaking of education...we are approaching the end of our Faith and Culture Class with Dr. Clay Cooke. It has been absolutely fantastic. We will be getting photos this week. Thanks Clay.

Afterward, I led us through the second of our group debriefs for the Highlands Ability Battery. In addition, I have been meeting one-on-one with Fellows. The conversations have been so good. Very thankful for the opportunity to be able to administer this assessment.


GIVING SNAPSHOT and ISRAEL UPDATE

Thanks to those many of you who have been financially supporting us this year. For those of you who have had intentions to support us or were waiting for tax refunds to come around, please consider this opportunity to contribute. We are a small, lean nonprofit so a little bit can go a long way. Thanks!

Send Checks to Winston-Salem Fellows

Winston-Salem Fellows
851 W. 5th Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27104

or give online at wsfellows.com/give

MISSION: ISRAEL!

The gals getting ready for our Art Fundraiser

Artists at work!

Our fundraising goal for Israel is $13,000. As of today, we have raised nearly $9,000 of it! That is amazing. If you haven't already given, please pray about supporting this opportunity of a lifetime.

You can give in the same manner as above.

Cabernet and Canvas was a big success. We had fewer ladies than we hoped but we managed to raise more funds than we dreamed! Wow! Thank you! You know who you are!!! Here are some photos from a great event!

Melissa Martin showing off her work

Camille and Beth Hilliard...who is either left handed or paints with both hands!?

Susan Scott one of our Host Mothers

Melissa and her mother!!!

Lia and David

Rahel with a blank canvas

Christina doing her thing

The set up crew

Looking great!

RECRUITING UPDATE

We have had a couple quiet weeks on the admissions front. We are interviewing a pretty exceptional candidate this Friday and are awaiting applications from a few others.

The good news is that this week I am having high level conversations with Winston-Salem State University, as well as a few face-to-face meetings with potential candidates; meetings at Wake Forest University, both in their office of career and professional development and their athletic department; and next week a presentation at Elon University. Very encouraging.


OTHER NEWS

Jessica with Melissa, the Director of Innovation and Initiatives at Senior Services after winning the Reaching for the Stars Innovative Program Award from the NC Association on Aging!

Petey Crowder interviews Will and Jessica at First Presbyterian Church

I got to worship with and speak to seventy teenagers in Raleigh Friday and Saturday at Edonton Street United Methodist Church. 

Rush Beam (on the left, his brother David on the right) was one of my all time favorite Young Life guys. Now he is the Youth Minister at Edonton Street! Such an honor to be with him this weekend. Thanks Rush!!!

This is Jeremiah Fields, one of my new friends at WSSU. He needs an internship this summer. Let me know if you are interested in talking with him. This guy is worth hiring!!! He is only a freshmen but I am already recruiting him to be a Fellow!!!!

Thanks ALL! Keep spreading the work and sharing the love. 

UPDATE - Week of March 13

The Fellows Celebrate Camille Stogner on her Birtthday!

Happy Birthday Camille!

I tell people all the time: If the Fellows was just for Camille - it would be worth it. Her year has been nothing less than transformational. I am so thankful for her and what she brings to the group. Happy Birthday Camille!

LADIES!!! You are invited!

THIS FRIDAY from 7-8:30pm at 925 S. Hawthorne St. Winston-Salem, NC 27103 (you can park at Redeemer Presbyterian Church) the Lady Fellows and Friends of the Fellows are hosting a Fundraiser for our Israel Mission Trip. 

It sounds awesome: painting, wine, and a silent auction from some of our finest local artists. 

Please RSVP to Jessica at jessannkok@gmail.com or text her at 708-606-6257 so we can make sure we have enough supplies. 

This event is open to all, so please invite friends!

Can't wait to see the pictures next week!

Rahel, Alex, Christina, Camille, Julia and Jessica hope to see you there!

If you can't make it, but you wish to support our mission trip, you can send checks to 

Winston-Salem Fellows

851 W. 5th Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Or go online to our giving page by CLICKING HERE

Thanks! 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK

Camille's Gigi and Pop Pop hosted the Fellows this week

Round Table this week was at the home of Camille's grandparents. Dinner was delicious, but the dessert was legendary! Holy Smokes! I don't know what Gigi puts in those brownies, but wow! They'll be serving those things up in heaven, I'm sure! Thanks Gigi and Vince for your hospitality. 

We had a great night of sharing culminating in an open-eyed prayer of gratitude for Camille. 

Leader Lunch was hosted at River Oaks Community Church. Andrew Wild, one of the pastor's there and one of the speakers that day, had the great idea to have the meal catered by some Syrian refugees. 

Oh my! Can anyone say wrapped grape leaves? If you are interested in getting these ladies numbers, let me know. I'm getting it from Andrew today!

Lentils, bow tie pasta, coconut surprise, and little sausage-like wrapped grape leaves

This is the Egyptian woman helping the Syrians with their business

For Leader Lunch, I asked Andrew Wild, Frank Thomas, and Matt Peterson to share with us. These men have a couple things in common: one, they are all currently pastors; two, they all used to serve in the military or government.

They had us on the edge of our seats - and reminded us all that we were built for adventure. Thanks guys! What a day.

Matt and Frank are on the left. Andrew is up front on the right.

After lunch we went to Cleveland Avenue to spend time with beautiful children like this.

Across from Rahel, Antwon and I were competing in some complex math problems. He slayed me. 

RECRUITING NEWS

We received another application on Thursday. I have been working on this guy for over a year! Please pray for us as we go through the interview process with this fine young man. His name is Antonius.

Please pray for Fellows for next year. Recruiting is always the most challenging part of this program. If you know of men and women that are ages 22-26, who are looking for direction and purpose - please put them in contact with me.

They are out there!

On Thursday night I was at Petsmart with Anna Rose when we struck up a conversation with Mitch the cashier. Mitch is 24 years old, a computer whiz with a degree in game design. He is also witty beyond all get out. I gave him my card. I hope he applies!

FUTURE?

This is an interesting time for our Fellows. With things like Israel and the National Conference to look forward to, there is also the reality that this program will not last forever.

For many of these Fellows, this year has been an important year of discernment and direction. But now is the time for decisions!

PLEASE PRAY for them. Many Fellows are either pursuing opportunities, waiting to hear back from opportunities, or working on plan B's, C's and D's.

Here are a few general truths.

• Most of these Fellows if offered the right opportunity would stay here in Winston-Salem. 
• I would hire any of them if I could. 
• Any of these Fellows would be open to having coffee or lunch with any of you.

If you are interested in connecting with a Fellow about an employment opportunity - let me know.

We have Fellows who would be fabulous in Recruiting, Sales, Analytics, Ministry, Community Development, Project Management, Business, Education among other things...

FELLOWS HAVING FUN

The ladies at the movies Friday night

Accidentally giving Antler Ears to Vince on Monday!

Shamrock Shake at McD's on St. Patrick's Day

Fellows adventure at Grayson Highlands

"Wild" Ponies

Christina and Dave Dave

Not the warmest on top

Julia is holding onto David for fear of him getting blown off!

So beautiful

Dancing that night at the Allegheny Jubilee

There will be bluegrass and clogging in heaven

Will walk dogs!

Christina continues her journey of learning how to cook (Pancakes and bacon!)

LOOKING AHEAD!

• Round Table will be at Austin and Erin Pfeiffers! We will be going over the Highlands Ability Battery and checking in for the week. 
• Leader Lunch will be at Baird Financial - WITH the entire Baird Team!
• FRIDAY NIGHT - DON'T FORGET - CABERNET AND CANVAS!!!
• Ned will be speaking Friday and Saturday at Edenton Street Methodists Youth Retreat in Raleigh. 
• Pray for Recruiting!
• Pray for Fellows Futures
• Pray for Fundraising
• No need to pray for my NCAA tournament bracket - it is totally busted. 

Thanks all! Love you!

UPDATE Week of March 7

The Future is Bright...Anna Rose, future fellow

The Week That Was...

Thanks John and Pat

This week's Round Table was at the beautiful home of John and Pat Gerstmyer. Pat outdid herself with a meal for the ages. 

As we started meeting, I asked John and Pat if they wouldn't mind sharing their story. Fifteen minutes later, they had us all in stitches. It was a great teaching moment because one thing I have learned over the years is the power of open ended questions. You really never know what you're going to get!

Thanks John and Pat! You made a great impression. 

WELCOME TO THE FELLOWS!

Welcome, Caleb

Caleb McKillop comes to us from Chattanooga, Tennessee via Covenant College via Jamaica, where he spent his formative years. He came in Monday to interview and came with me to Round Table at the Gerstmyers. Later that night, he commented that he was really blown away by the community we have been able to establish here. On Thursday, we extended an invitation to him. He accepted an hour later!

As the fourth newest member of the Class of 2018, we are anticipating quite a year two!

Welcome, my friend. 

Griff Shuler and David Daggett

On Wednesday, we had a fabulous Leader Lunch with David Daggett and Griff Shuler. They are great motivators. David inspired one of our Fellows to wake up two hours early, and an hour earlier than he wanted to, just to get a jumpstart to his Thursday. If I told you which Fellow it was you would know how amazing that is!

These men are true inspirations. If you ever wondered if there was such a thing as a value-driven law practice specializing in personal injury law, I can tell you there is. Thank you David and Griff for taking nearly two hours out of your days to share your warm hospitality and valuable pearls of wisdom with us. You all rock! (Also, special greetings to David Jorgenson who joined us)

Tutoring at G.I.D.E. continues to be a blessing to all.

This week, G.I.D.E. will be moving offices, so we will be helping out in the Rolling Hills Neighborhood on a H.U.D. project. Looking forward to that!

FUNDRAISING NEWS

CHIK-FIL-A SPIRIT DAY TOMORROW!!!! Tomorrow, Chik-fil-a in Thruway Shopping Center near Knollwood is donating 15% of sales to anyone who purchases lunch or dinner and says that they are with the Winston-Salem Fellows. 

So please stop by, say hi to Jade and Jess Costen, and support the Fellows!

ART SHOW! The Female Fellows are putting together a wine and art show on March 24. Please save the date. Details forthcoming!

ALSO, Thanks to all of you who have supported us financially this year. As you enter tax refund season, please consider the Winston-Salem Fellows as a place to give back to the community!

Mail checks to 

WS Fellows

851 W. 5th Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

or give online at www.wsfellows.com/give

YOU ARE OUR BEST RECRUITERS!

No strategy has ever been better than good old word of mouth. 

High School Campbell Anderson

Campbell Anderson joined the program last year because a friend of a friend told his mother about it. This year, you could be that friend!

If someone comes to mind, please get them in contact with me or get me in contact with them - thanks!

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating Clay's first birthday (Clay is a young South Korean who will join Michael and Joan Mitchell in six weeks as their newest child!)

Christina Sandstedt gets cooking lessons!

Not pictured...several of us went to see the documentary I Am Not Your Negro. Sooooo good...

This photo was taken during UNC/Duke game. By the look on Will's face, you can probably tell about the time this photo was taken. 

Overlook at Hanging Rock

You can imagine how loud we were screaming, can't you?

Ski Day at Beech Mountain

Will is getting ready to shred

We sure do live in a beautiful part of the country

PRAYER MATTERS

Please remember to pray for the Fellows both current and future. 

Pray for our Board as we gather on Wednesday night. 

Pray for the Director that his sore throat goes away. 

Pray for our week. 

ONE MORE THING!

Celebrate Camille Stogner with us! Her birthday is on Wednesday but we will be celebrating her all week. If you have a note you wish me to pass on to her, let me know!

Thanks all!

Keep sharing the story and spreading the love