UPDATE Week of March 16

Sophie-Earle wore the birthday crown of glory Monday night

CRAZY TIMES

Our verse for the week is a great one for times like this: "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25

We have had Fellows firsts before, and we have gotten through each one of them. So we are confident that we will get through this one as well. 

Late in this UPDATE, we will detail some of our creative ideas to keep this thing rolling. 

But up first, we had a great week. Here are some highlights...

MONDAY. 

Round Table was at the beautiful home of Chris and Virginia Perry. We had a lively discussion about fear and faith led by Chris.

We also had a wonderful time celebrating Sophie-Earle, whose birthday was last week.

Lively conversation

It was lively I tell ya

Meanwhile, Ned was helping out at Old Life to celebrate the opening of Young Life's new office and meeting space!

Andrew Boyd made this

Old times, Murf and Ned...what's YL without a wig?

the Grillmasters

We don't sit on the floor at Old Life

But afterward, we wrote prayers and verses on the floor

The bottom line, God was good all around Winston-Salem Monday night 

TUESDAY. 

God showed off Tuesday morning

WEDNESDAY.

Things started going a little crazy on Wednesday. 

Our Leader Lunch speaker was Christina Soriano. She is a professor of dance at Wake Forest, the Assistant Provost of the Arts, and the creator of IMPROVment a research-based program that uses improv, movement, and neurological training to help the elderly who suffer from diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons. 

Christina instructs us

We got our IMPROVment on - no pictures were allowed!

We picnicked for lunch

and got juiced up before Bible Study

Enjoying the outdoors at the Fiddlin Fish

That night, we had a great Board Meeting. So thankful for the team we have!

THURSDAY.

David had a dentist appointment. Yee haw

FRIDAY.

Nigel Alston led our Fellows in a reflective activity. Each student brought to class an artifact that held some meaning to them. 

One at a time, they practiced their public speaking by standing in front of the group and telling the others about it.

thumbs up on class

Nigel afterward passed on some written knowledge

Jacob joined Nigel at the Nub Cage to continue the conversation

Meanwhile, Ned traveled to Williamsburg to work with the Virginia Beach Fellows. We met at a retreat center for a twenty-four hour intensive on vocation and calling. 

We took a break to play some disc fold. 

That night, I traveled twenty minutes down the road to crash at Roger and Lisa Sams home (Abbey Sams now Abbey Thomas's parents). 

They are two of the best hosts I have ever met, all the way down to powdering the bedspread with this perfume stuff that makes you think you are sleeping in flowers. 

We had such a great time! 

The top picture is a young Abbey

the bottom is a married Abbey

Before heading over to the Sams we had a great night talking about deep stuff around the fire. 

For you Winston natives, Jay McCabe is the Virginia Beach Fellows Director. Many Many years ago, I had the privilege of being his Young Life Leader at Mount Tabor High School. 

Now, like so many others - Jay has surpassed me. I couldn't be more proud of him. 

Bonfiring

SATURDAY.

this was actually our dinner line up

We finished strong at the Fellows Retreat. Then, I headed back to Winston-Salem. 

Meanwhile, the Fellows (including JM on his motorcycle) went to be with Greg McClinton. As you may have read last week in the Update, his father passed away. 

Please hold this family in your prayers.

On the road to church

SUNDAY.

We held virtual church around the city. 

Later that afternoon, we made a fire and had our friends Richard and Tiffany over to pray and worship. They are both physicians, and we had a sweet time sharing and praying with them. 

It is well

Praying

Be of good cheer. We will get through this... This is a temporary season, not the new reality. 

SOME ENCOURAGEMENT

Also: this article by Andy Crouch has been helpful

https://medium.com/@ahc/love-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-26aaeb0396e3

RECRUITMENT

Future Fellows?

The Summit Girls I guess will end their season undefeated! How about that!

We are still recruiting for next year. 

We are hoping to hear back from a Fellow this week, and we plan to interview three more! They are all females. 

On the guy front, we could use some help. 

I know pretty much every college student has some free time over the next few weeks - so let's pray that we can reach them and they can reach us and we can finish up this class recruitment stuff soon!

As you can imagine, all my college visits have been cancelled for the foreseeable future. 

time to get creative!

If you know someone you would think would be a great Fellows candidate, please put them in touch with us. Thanks! Email winstonsalemfellows@gmail.com or call 336.413.4918

GIVING 

Jacob is doing his part

We would love for you to join this Fellows Community by becoming a giving partner. This is a great time to give! It is quick, easy and you can do it from home!

Mail checks:

Winston-Salem Fellows

PO Box 20514

Winston-Salem, NC 27120

or give online:

wsfellows.com/give

Thanks you all. 

SO HOW DO YOU DO A FELLOWS PROGRAM DURING A PANDEMIC?

GREAT QUESTION!

Enjoying family time by teaching the kids euchre

Like the rest of you we are monitoring the situation closely. I am married to a doctor so I have the luxury of some inside information. 

This is a serious deal. So we are taking precautions while doing what we can to stay connected in creative ways. 

Round Table: As of this moment, we are planning to have Round Table tonight. We are going to go picnic style and spend our time worshipping, praying and brainstorming ways to keep connected at a distance!

Virtual Leader Lunch, Bible Study and Classes. We are taking advantage of the gift we have of technology to continue as much of the content of the program as possible.

Community Buddies. Every three days, we are going to be given a new Community Buddy in our group. Our job will be to connect with our community buddy in some creative way during those three days.

Daily Checkins. We have a group chat and we will use tools like text, GroupMe and Google Hangouts to daily check in with each other as well as to share ways we can support one another and pray.

We have plans in place if and when one of us gets sick, or if one of our host families gets sick. 

All in all, like you, we want to make the best of things and hope this passes quickly.

It's planting season! Brianne bought this to cheer her up. she is looking for a name for her plant. Any ideas?

In the meantime, keep sharing the story and spreading the love!

Let's make lemonade y'all. 

A NOTE FROM OUR NETWORK

Benefits of the Fellows Initaitive

You probably already know that Winston-Salem Fellows is one of 31 fellows programs in The Fellows Initiative network. But, did you know that TFI sponsors offer great benefits to WS Fellows alumni? For example, Reformed Theological Seminary offers a 33% tuition discount for 5 years, and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary offers a 40% tuition discount! You can learn more about TFI's sponsors by clicking here.

If you know a graduate school, seminary, employer, or other organization that would be interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact TFI by clicking here. Thanks!