Behind the Scenes

written by Graham Monroe

For each fellow and each leader, there are certain unspoken things that knit our community together in an encouraging and renewing way. I want to take a moment to go over each person that has a major roll in the Fellows Program and tell you some fun stories that will give you a better look into the life of a Fellow from my personal experience. 

Tripp Graziano, Director of the Fellows Program here in Greensboro is known for his lively personality and ability to make things happen. What you may not know about Tripp is that he is an early riser and a night owl. The man doesn’t seem to need much sleep as he values time with the Lord in the morning and time with others at night. 

Our Assistant Director Sarah Reid has an incredible servant heart, and with that comes many things that are unseen. Sarah has always been incredibly quick to encourage. Last week there was a large gathering for the youth group at Redeemer that Sarah and I were at and during that time I told her how nervous I was. The next day Sarah texted me the most encouraging words about how I was apparently a “natural” at hanging out with those kids, truly kind words that no one would have ever known about! 

The pastor of our church, Alan Hawkins, is a humble and caring man, so he is going to do many acts of kindness that no one will ever even know about, BUT I know about some of them. Alan not only makes time to teach our church history lessons on Wednesdays, not only does he lead our church every Sunday, but what people don’t see is when Alan opens his house to people like me and my friend Brian who have theological questions that we can trust him to answer. Alan is our pastor who opened his house to us and spent time just talking with us when he could be spending time with his family. I have not found that in any other church and trust me I have tried in many churches. 

Does Elijah Lovejoy get enough credit here? If we are talking about the unseen work that goes into the Fellows Program Elijah must be mentioned. Elijah is also a pastor at Redeemer who teaches our apologetic classes on Wednesdays. What people don’t see is Elijah giving jobs to the youth in our community, leading people in a healing ministry, and my personal favorite that most don’t see is Elijah's ability to hear from the Lord during a conversation with him. If you have ever sat down and had a conversation with this man, you understand what I mean. 

Now there are a lot of people that do a lot of things behind the scenes, but the Meriwethers must get credit for the “BEHIND THE SCENES” award. I am going to be honest, Jessie Meriwether has so many duties I just text her if anything goes wrong. Jessie helps with finances, scheduling events, hosting parties, hosting morning prayer, building the church website, building the Fellows website, she is the queen of everything that no one sees. Credit must also be given to the king of behind the scenes, Chris Meriwether. Let me explain what the Meriwethers did just this past week: they hosted a first year fellow to live with them, they hosted a current fellow to live with them, they hosted morning prayer on Monday where they made breakfast and delicious coffee, they let me come over to play N64 two days this week and to top it all off they hosted a movie night where there was a small army crammed into one living room. 

My hope is that those who are in life and feel as though they are just barely making it, you should know that you will be honored in heaven one day. The moments you may think don’t matter, the moments where you may think no one is looking, in those moments God is watching intently so that He can honor you for them later.

Living Together

written by Sarah Moubray

Over the last three and a half months that we have been in the Fellows program, we have met a countless number of people. From our church family at Redeemer, to our coworkers at our jobs, to the people we meet volunteering, to our business speakers each week, to our friends at soccer Sundays, the list could go on and on. But in the midst of all of the people that require me to still think really hard about names and faces, there are three people that I see everyday who require absolutely nothing of me but to just be myself. This year I get the incredible opportunity to live with Chris and Jessie Meriwether and Andrea Cuevas. Living with them has been one of the highlights of my entire year so far. When I’m upset or frustrated, they listen. When I’m hyper and weird, they play with me. When I’m being lazy and all I want to do on Sundays after church is eat and watch Netflix, they do that with me too.

Two of my favorite times with them this year both happened last week. On Tuesday, Jessie and Chris found out that they are expecting a little baby BOY! Andrea and I then screamed for about an hour and brainstormed all the cute little things we could get for a baby boy. We got to celebrate Little M and his soon-to-be parents that night and feeling like I’m going to have a little brother soon is something I’ll never forget (#onlychildproblems). The very next day, we had our weekly family dinner together and then set out to decorate our home for Christmas. We found the perfect chubby Christmas tree and spent the evening adding all of our ornaments to it and telling the story behind each ornament we chose to add to the tree. It was a wonderful family tradition that I’m so thankful to be a part of. These people have truly made Greensboro feel like home. The Lord knew I needed to live with people who are only a few years older than me. He knew I needed to live with people who had already been Fellows and experienced some of these same things that I’m experiencing. Christ knew that I needed to live with people who were going to walk beside me this year in all of the peaks and all of the valleys, laughing, fighting, and being weird with me the whole time. I couldn’t be more thankful for the people God hand picked for me to live with this year. Chris, Jessie, and Andrea, I love y’all more than I love Cheerwine, soup, cookout, and Gilmore Girls... which is a whole heck of a lot.

Nothing Can Separate Us

written by Stacey Greene

It’s surreal to realize I can no longer say, “In the next 9 months I hope to …” Time seems to be flying by faster than I’d like to admit. At the beginning of this year, somewhere along the epic 11-mile hike, Tripp said to us, “The end will come faster than you think. Time is really going to fly by.”

In the middle of traveling hundreds of miles I have come to realize how important it is to hold onto the present. So many times in life I have focused too much on the future. Where will I be, how will I get there and what will I have in my possession to show for where I am? Nowhere in that statement did I mention, God. More times than I’d like to admit I have focused entirely too much on myself, and have fallen privy to the idea I can amount to more without our heavenly Creator. 

This past weekend Drew Hill, Youth Pastor and Worship leader of Church of the Redeemer, gave a beautiful sermon on discontentment. His words were convicting, powerful and put a real magnifying glass to how I am living life.

I have come to realize more than ever, I simply cannot do everything on my own. Life experiences forced me to become independent and unconsciously put a barrier between every aspect of my life. Attachments, vulnerability and candid expression have been lost in this sea of self-doubt and separation. Am I so arrogant to believe I have a better plan than the God who loved me, saved me, and allows me to live this beautiful life?

One of my very first YL talks I referenced the gospel of Luke, and the story of a sinful woman. The woman comes up behind Jesus and the partygoers see the emotion that’s on her face. They see how she is filled with tears and as she gets down on her knees she begins weeping and weeping to the point where she is able to wash Jesus’ dirty feet with her tears. She dries them with her hair and she pours perfume on His feet. I think all of us can relate to this woman in some way. Many of us can relate to her because we have a reputation that haunts us just as this woman did. But maybe some of us, myself included, can relate to this place where she couldn’t even look Jesus in the face because of the sins she carried. And that’s why she came up behind Jesus. And some of us sometimes feel so unworthy to come into His presence because of our past. Just as I told my high school friends that day, I have to remind myself, there is no sin, past, present or future that separates us from the love of God.

Bringing Hope in a Dying World

written by Sean Geldner

In these last 8 weeks I have been in fellowship with the other fellows, I have experienced just about every emotion possible. Regardless of the times life gets us down we have to realize that as we stand here, in our flesh, in our humanity, we bring life and hope to a dying world through Christ. Two weekends ago, we went to the Storyline conference in Chicago. My initial thought was, “What has this tree hugging writers conference really got for me?” But I was quickly proven wrong. God used that conference to open my eyes to the beauty of literature, to family and to the grace and love that he provides in that. I wrote a spoken word, with a lot of help from my heart on this one:

Am I really searching? Am I truly searching for the answers to questions that beg for clarity? Am I on the steady path that leads to eternity? Am I a poet, am I a canvas that God has painted perfectly? Can I ever find my dreams, or am I just stuck here wandering? Through the heartache, through the sorrow, am I a being that can find joy consistently? Or will the jagged edges of my past overtake me? Can I take myself seriously when I search for love tangibly or try and take on ...the burdens that could break me? It's then that I realize I am redeemed, saved by grace, bought with a price... My HISTORY. I've heard it all before "you're blessed" "you're special" but why do I feel distant from your glory? But the truth is I can go on, I can fight this fight! I can bring about change and turn dark to light! I can burn as bright as a star and take on the day simply because I'm saved! I'm redeemed! I'm set free from my chains!

Every so often I get these really inspirational moments that I just can't hold back. But that’s the beauty of Christ. He doesn’t expect us to hold back. He wants us to proclaim his name with almost, I believe, a militant authority. In love and in peace, but at the same time with the roar of a lion to spread it to the four winds.

Thanks guys for this opportunity to share.

Love y'all

Sean AKA “Lionheart”

What We Learned In Chicago

"I learned the importance of stepping back every now and then to evaluate your dreams and goals, and if your life reflects those goals. It think it was a call to action for us - we've been soaking in so much learning and discipleship, and now it's time to put it into practice and move forward with who we want to become and how we want our lives to look" - Hannah Boning

Last week, the Fellows went to Chicago, IL to participate in the Storyline Conference. They heard from people like Donald Miller, Shauna Niequist, Bob Goff and others. The theme was learning how God fits into the storyline of our lives, and learning to invite Him to be a part of all of it.

"I just remember this one quote sticking out to me: 'In the greatest stories of all time, the main character knows what he/she wants. What do you want?'" - Graham Monroe

"Shauna Niequest's sentence that she kept repeating throughout the conference was 'Do your thing with great love right now'. Ever since the conference that's been on my heart and trying to figure out what my thing is, how I can do it with great love, and how I can do it right now, right here, where I'm at and with what I've been given." - Sarah Moubray

"I learned that pain and suffering can be the fuel and power in how we live and express ourselves in the future. God redeems and uses these pains." - Kyle Gassaway

"I learned that open vulnerability is a way to connect and build fruitful community." - Stacey Greene

"I learned how to love - love bigger, love courageously, and love enthusiastically." - Sean Geldner

Good and Busy

written by Hannah Boning

People keep asking me about the Fellows Program. How is it, they say, how's it going? I usually respond by saying, “good," and then follow it up with, “busy." Because I really have no idea how to describe how exactly it's been.

It's been a lot - early mornings dragging yourself out of bed, classes and papers and reading late into the night because of course we’re all procrastinators, so many weekend trips that you’re left feeling like you’re never actually in Greensboro, jobs and feeling our way into the grown-up world, Bible verses to memorize and to-do lists to keep track of.

But it’s also been morning prayer before the sun is up and heartfelt talks on road trips and dinner table conversations that we never want to end. It’s sitting around a bonfire making s’mores and it’s wandering around a used bookstore and piling books into each other's arms. It’s texting each other quotes from the church history reading and it’s cups of coffee together. It’s asking questions, the real and deep and hard questions that people sometimes shy away from. It’s ice cream on a perfect Friday afternoon. It’s nicknames and inside jokes and hashtags. It’s knowing that you have a family to sit with on Sunday morning. It’s praying for each other and sharing our stories. It’s holding hands as we pray the Lord’s Prayer before we separate. It’s Sunday afternoons spent playing soccer - or, watching others play soccer. It’s asking each other for help on the homework. It’s words of encouragement texted in the middle of a rough work day.

And everywhere, in all of it - it’s Jesus. 

These Fellows - this rag-tag bunch of people that has somehow transformed into a fast and true family - they are teaching me to throw my arms open wide and invite Jesus in. They are reminding me, daily, that wherever two or three are gathered, God is there.

He’s there because He loves us, because He claimed us as His, and so He will not leave us alone.

This thread is weaving through every aspect, every part of this journey - His presence. The Fellows are teaching to me to remember that God is always there, teaching me to look for Him, to seek in the every day.

And so He is there. He’s there at morning prayer and at family dinner. He’s there in the cups of the coffee and the afternoons on the soccer field. He’s there and I’m starting to see, starting to see God surrounding me. 

It’s beautiful, and it’s a blessing, and this Fellows family - they are loving me towards God. They are teaching me to remember, to see, to recognize, to give thanks, in all of it.

So it’s busy. But oh, it is good.

Meet Your New Brothers & Sisters

written by Kyle Gassaway

During the past six weeks I’ve gotten the unique opportunity to work with people that, in my main social circle, would have not been a part of my daily life.  These people I get to serve and be served by are the refugees from countries in Africa that have gone through much strife and difficulties with regards to war, economy, and government.  The first day of my internship, Alan told me that a major part of my week would be helping in the ministry of hospitality to the refugees.  I thought, “What a way to show the love of Christ to those that are strangers to this land and its culture.”  So basically my job would be to give rides to those that needed them and to help get them necessary things they needed to live.  It sounded easy enough.  It wasn’t until I actually met, face to face, the first family from a Rwandan refugee camp that I realized how precious this time was going to be with them.  Chantal, one of the refugees that came to Greensboro a year before and is part of Redeemer, translated between English and Kinyarwanda.  In this brief encounter I began to understand how special this opportunity was, to be with these people from so far away.  People that have the same desires as me.  People that want to learn and work and a make a way in this life.  People that are so grateful to be here, yet can’t help but feel out of place in a place where they try hard, but mostly fail to communicate the way we take for granted every day.  

So I am excited and have great hopes for my new friends from Africa.  I want them to find a home here with the people of Greensboro and Redeemer.  While I hope to teach them so much being with them, I already have learned much as I’ve heard stories of their lives in their homeland.  

They are a people of great strength, persistence, and love.  The truth is I see so much of what I am not in them.  I thank God for this opportunity to be among people that are so different from me, but at the same time just like me.  

May He show the world through our (which is really His) love for one another the beauty of His church, full of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

P.S. --- I urge you who read this to leave your comfort zone and get to know people that are different from you.  I think God can work on our hearts in a tremendous way when we seek to love and serve those that can be forgotten and overlooked.  Let’s be the ones God uses to show them they aren’t.

Meet:

Jean Pierre and Clementine and their children, Peter and Jean

Adolf and Jocelyn and their children Sany and Queen

Eric, Rose, Solange, Jean Claude

Chantal and Josiah and their children Nathan, Anna and Daniella

And many more I haven't had the privilege to meet yet

Hit My Heart

written by Graham Monroe

God is doing something on a heart level. Feelings are great but they have a tendency to follow truth. Truth can be known in our head all our lives but truth is applied when it reaches our hearts. For example, I can tell you that there are millions of people being forced to be a slave and sell their bodies right now in this world, some even in your city and you are likely to do nothing about that without your heart grasping the gravity of that situation. The reality of scripture has been hitting me on this heart level and I believe it is doing the same for the rest of the Fellows. In my opinion the most powerful testimonies we have to offer are the most recent testimonies. My most recent experience of God making scripture alive in my heart happened two days ago - I give credit to God and the stirring hunger that the Fellows Program has created in me. What was revealed to me was what many have probably heard a million times, but it seems to be a theme the past week. It is the concept of fearing God versus fearing Man. I am simply going to copy and paste what I wrote from my journal two days ago:

THIS IS WHY THE GOSPEL IS IMPORTANT!!! I can either live according to works or live according to who you (God) say I am! If I live according to works, I fear man. Fearing man says that, “If I succeed I’ll be happy but if I fail I’ll want to go into a hole because my life is ruined.” So now my joy comes from the outcome of my circumstances. THATS DUMB because all of a sudden others value me according to my success. If I were on an island alone, but I was super successful it just wouldn’t matter because if I am living according to how successful I am, and no one sees my success then what is the point?! So my joy comes from my success at the things I enjoy doing….as long as others see that success…and tell me in some way how awesome I am for being so successful. Well good luck with that life! CHOICE NUMBER 2 is living according to who God says that I am. You (God) tell me that you saw me as a failure, a weakling and a sinner and that is what separated us from each other. You sent your Son to be the perfect person I couldn’t be and then die the death I should have so that I could be close to You again. WAIT HOLD UP this means that if I succeed it doesn’t really matter because I’ll still be loved by God! If I fail it clearly doesn’t matter like I thought it did because God really loves me anyways. This doesn’t say I don’t do my very best at all things, but now my joy comes from the fact that I am loved. How do I know I am loved? Value is determined by the cost of something. God, you must have thought I was worth something when you sent your most valuable piece of heaven to die the death that I deserved to die.

Who hasn’t heard this before? I think I have heard this message a thousand times in a thousand different ways…but it finally hit my heart and I could not be more thankful. Like I mentioned earlier, when truth hits your heart it leads to action. Now that this truth has seriously hit my heart I feel as though I am acting out of who I am, when for so long I have been acting out of who I am not. I am acting out of the fact that I am God's son, instead of someone who is successful with a failed past, letting what other people think or say having way too much power. I hope and pray that you who are still reading may have God hit your heart in the areas that it needs to be hit, for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. GO and EAT!

Season of Becoming

written by Sarah Moubray

In this first month of being a fellows family together, a variety of rhythms have been working their way into our lives. Grace, laughter, love, prayer, rain, long nights, early mornings, community, the list could go on and on. In this time of transition, it has become so easy for me to get caught up in checking off items on my daily to-do list or going from one thing straight into the next. And although daily to-do lists are a great and much needed rhythm of my life, it is not what life is about. And although planning ahead and being prepared are also much needed rhythms in my life, they are not necessarily what life is about either. I started to get lost in all of the busyness of my everyday schedule and then I blinked. I blinked and the first month of our fellows program had already passed.

It’s probably hard to imagine this month seeming to fly by considering we did a million and one things in the past four weeks. From the mountains of Virginia, to Billy Graham’s library in Charlotte, to the Christian Community Development Association conference in Raleigh, to family dinners and soccer sundays and Monday morning prayer and church and ministry and work and class and everything in between, this month flew by in a way I never expected it could. But instead of getting lost in the chaos, I came across a quote from one of my favorite authors, Shauna Niequest, that is a perfect description of what these 9 months should be: “There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming.” That’s exactly what this season is for me. A season of becoming. Becoming who I am in Christ. Becoming a person who walks in Truth. Becoming someone who never stops pursuing Jesus. Letting God bring me in to the person He designed for me to become.

This new rhythm of becoming is something I want to focus on over these next 9 months. The last bits of a hot summer have now faded into the bright and brisk and beautiful season of fall and soon there will be a season of freezing cold and little red noses and frosty windows. Each of these seasons has distinct characteristics that set them apart from one another. I want this season of life to be set apart by simply becoming.

Unity

written by Stacey Greene

I want to preface this post by saying, thank you. If you are reading this blog you are more than likely a friend of the Fellows program and I cannot say thank you enough for your prayers and support. Knowing there are kind and loving people like yourselves, who sacrifice time and commit to us as we grow in intimacy these next 9 months is beyond words, thank you.

Unity. Rhythm. Intentionality.

Upon my arrival here in Greensboro these words have become a recurring theme of my every day life.

One of the first things we did as a Fellows community was hike an 11-mile trail. I would be lying to you if I said it was easy, it was quite the opposite. It was not only physically demanding but to some degree, emotionally. However, walking through what seemed like endless rain, hornets, and snakes, the Lord transformed my heart in only a way our Creator can. Barriers were broken and I was able to see my brothers and sisters in a surreal element. I was able to see their strength, character and a true passion for reaching a new beginning. At times we walked side by side and it reminded me when “Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two…” Two by two. Together – as partners in the mission – we work for the coming of the Kingdom, for the freedom of the oppressed, to make love visible in our own respective corners of this deluded, tormented, beautiful world we’ve been given. And what a relief this is! It’s not my job or your job to unravel the whole knotted mess of the world; it’s just my job to work on my small sliver. My friends who I have left back home to do their sacred work, and you who support the program here in Greensboro… complete my ministry where I cannot. What you do, I cannot. Two by two – together – we complete each other’s Work.

As I sit here at the beginning of what I know will be a challenging and rewarding year, I can’t help but think of the unknown. I used to be afraid of the unknown and the uncertainty of it all. But after being here for what seems like seconds in the eternal presence of God, and living in such a welcoming and genuine community, my heart is full of hope. I am hopeful for what will come and how the Lord will use you and I to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  

Recent Adventures & A Case For Narnia

written by Michelle Prillaman

I wanted to spend a little bit of this post sharing about a recent adventure, (and personal triumph), of running the Cooper River Bridge 10k run last weekend in Charleston. I admit- I had not looked forward to this event over the course of this year. Running is not my favorite… to say the least. However, I was blown away at how enjoyable this event was! There were 25 bands along the six mile stretch. 40,000 people ran and walked in unison. It was fun and exciting, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! If you ever get the chance to go run, do it!

I wanted to devote the rest of my blog entry to a research project I completed last semester for one of our classes, which I think has tied in beautifully to some thoughts that I have had . I completed a project on C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series. I researched the book series, C.S. Lewis’s life as he wrote it, and looked at the Christ allegory found in the books- especially in the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, (which, ironically, I am watching the movie of as I write!).

In the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the White Witch oppresses the Narnians with a hundred year period of winter onto Narnia. Narnia sits in waiting for the fulfillment of the prophecy- that Aslan would rise once again and that he, alongside of four children, would bring Narnia to deliverance.

I have thought lately of what it looks like to wait well for deliverance. This world can be hard. Everywhere I turn it seems that I hear or see brokenness, pain, injustice. So often in this world, people are waiting to deliverance. Recently we have been praying and researching Rwanda, where we will be heading in a little over four weeks. It has been hard, at times, to hear the history, and to see the brokenness and to not weep- both for what was lost, and for the potential of what could have been done.

Lord, thank you that you are present in the waiting. Thank you that you are in control- no matter how it seems. Thank you that somehow, in someway, this world is working to your glory, though often times I cannot see it. Lord, your people wait for deliverance. Show us how to glorify you. Give us your strength as our own fails. We trust in your deliverance, and in your mercy. As we wait, let us be compelled by your love. Let your light pour from us; use us to bring your hope into this darkness.

Through the Rearview Mirror

written by Emily Dao

"God does far more behind our backs than He does in front of our faces." These are the words that our director, Tripp Graziano, has recited verbatim on numerous occasions throughout the program. And they have surely proven to be true in several areas of our lives thus far this year. I have been confounded by many unpredictable experiences, yet have come to see God's sovereignty at play and often times, after the fact.

As our recent business seminar speaker, Pearce Landry, puts it, "God's providential hand is often seen through the rearview mirror." I stepped into this year with many preconceived notions of how the program would and should be for all of us. I am now starting to pick up on the reality that God will certainly flip many of your expectations at one point or another. His will can be mystifying at times, but it's always the perfect plan.

From a personal standpoint, I expected this year to be focused intensely upon professional development and that I would learn to apply Christian ethics in the marketplace. In principle, the program has fulfilled this expectation, but I find myself recognizing this aspect as a peripheral matter. In my playbook, I would have identified the professional development piece as the core purpose of this program. But my assignments for this year pale in importance to the lessons that God had planned for me.

As I look through the rearview mirror and search for one key thing that God has been teaching me since the early moments of this journey, I hear the voice of our pastor, Alan Hawkins: "God cares way more about who you are, than what you do." Character development has been one of the most unexpected, but yet most invaluable focuses of this year. I find myself flipped over and challenged towards conforming my character to Christ and discovering my worth in Him, rather than stacking up confidence in the things I can do--especially in the professional realm.

A by-product of my initial tunnel vision in seeing professional development as the primary purpose of this year, I did not expect the significance of our communal commitments in the program. I have gained life-long friendships, where I can trust that my best friends from this program will consistently speak loving truth and encouragement into my life. People like them are rare to find in most environments.

Another rearview mirror surprise would be the fact that I only intended to be in North Carolina for one year and have now discovered that God has opened the door for me to stay an additional three years for graduate school. I would never have consider this future for myself if God had not led me directly into it.

It's amazing to see God's goodness and perfect will worked out for my good and the good of my peers in the program. "God does far more behind our backs than He does in front of our faces." As I look towards life after the Fellows Program, I have a greater sense of assurance that God has it all figured out and His perfect will shall prevail, revealing nothing but good purpose.

Thank you for your prayers and support thus far this year. I hope that you will join us in looking through the rearview mirror and celebrating the many ways that God has moved in the lives of His people. He is good.

Colorful Community

written by Skylar Baker

Hello dear family and friends, 

The Fellows program is running its course with only a little over two months left. It is such an interesting time for us fellows, we are getting anxious and excited about the transitions of what is to follow the program while also trying to deal with the heartbreak of knowing that most of us will spilt up at the end of the program. If I am to leave the fellows program with anything it would have to be the absolute importance of community. Living life together. The absolute importance of life together is more than necessary for a healthy spiritual life. I am constantly amazed at how I am always learning from those around me, especially those specific ten who are scheduled into my days. I fear that at the end of the program we will have difficulty trying to spend a normal day without each other. I truly believe that God designed us to be communal for so many reasons.

One of my favorites parts about the fellows community is the opportunity we are blessed with on thursday afternoons to sit and listen to a business man or woman who is living out their faith in their workplace. There is something so special about hearing from individuals of different generations sharing their lives with us. A couple of weeks ago Jim Van Eerden came to speak to us, his advice to us was to reach forward and reach back, meaning that there is value in hanging out on the "front porch". By this he meant that we can gain so much by having conversations with individuals from all generations, we can learn so much from those who have come before us as well as those who are pressing towards what the future holds for us now. I loved Andrew's blog post on here last week because I believe in what he had to say about our generation. There is a rumble in young adult christians who seem to be searching for something similar to the fellows program, that there are some of us who hunger for community, fellowship, discipleship, growth, and love. It is an exciting time for us, and I look forward to seeing the different paths we take in which the Lord leads us.

I also would love to share what I got to do this past saturday in Winston-Salem with a couple of kids from my internship. My internship is at Hope Academy, which is essentially a private Christian middle school in a lower income area. Part of my internship is being helpful during the extended day program, and on mondays that happens to be enrichment day. The enrichment class I chose to offer this semester was running club, and to be honest I was a bit nervous about how many kids would actually be interested. I ended up with five kids, and that is basically the limit for each class so I was ecstatic. I showed the five fifth graders a video of the color run and they decided that they had to run it! I was able to get sponsors and we got the kids registered for the race! I started training with them eight weeks ago and they were able to run their first 5k this past saturday! I was surprised at how much fun running can be when you promise a little bit of color. The kids that joined seemed to have a blast....I mean you be the judge...check out the picture below. This would not have been possible without a community, who is supportive, loving, and excited to see where the Lord is taking us. The community that surrounds Hope Academy is absolutely heart changing, and I feel beyond blessed that I get the chance to spend hours with these people every single week. I really wish I could go into all the details about everything that has gone into building up this school and community. 

Another community the Lord has blessed me with this year is Greensboro Young Life, specifically Page High School Young Life. I get the awesome opportunity to hang out with sophomore girls who want nothing more than to ditch me...just kidding...but not really. Even though ditching comes with the territory there are so many more positives that come with being part of this community. These people have taught me so much about discipleship and how to love kids well. As leaders we are constantly pouring ourselves out for high school students because we believe that every single minute we are loving on these kids is another minute that they are getting a chance to find out who Jesus is. I love watching other fellows like Michelle, who go above and beyond the call of Young Life because that is such a testament to their heart and how they passionately want high school friends to know Jesus. This inspires me every single week. A couple weekends ago some high school girls wanted to go hiking and they actually invited me! We went to Hanging Rock which was such a blast and beautiful. The conversations I had while hiking were amazing and they showed me how God is everywhere and in every conversation. I would ask that you all continue to pray for the community here in Greensboro, that the connections can continue to be made, and that the Lord is glorified through it. 

Incredibly blessed by all of you,

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in YOU; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Peace and Blessings!

So Your Joy May Be Complete

written by Emma Ball

Hello friends, family & Fellows supporters!

I’m so happy to be able to share with you what has been going on with the fellows lately.  We are currently in Rwanda fundraising mode trusting God to provide the funds we need for plane tickets. The Fellows are also continuing to train for our 10k that’s only two weeks from now (eekk) in Charleston. The amount of snow and ice we have gotten has not helped our training schedule. We are also continuing to learn how to do Morning Prayer and enter into the same type of worship that Christians did hundreds of years ago. I am looking forward to our last two months, soaking in all that the Fellows program has to offer. I cannot believe how fast the last 7 months has flown by!

Even more importantly than what I am doing with the Fellows is what I have been learning. The theme that has been popping up over the past week over and over again is JOY.   The Fellows received a devotional book by Jon Piper about the fifty reasons why Jesus came to die and the entry that stood out to me was entitled “to gain his joy and ours.” God has been teaching me that joy is not dependent on my feeling. Joy is not dependent on my circumstances. Joy is something that was acquired at the cross and is a gift to me that comes with salvation.

Hebrews 12:2 says “For the JOY set before him He endured the cross…” Jesus joyfully took on the cross so that our joy could be complete. That is incredible! I am able to live a full and abundant life because of the joyful sacrifice that was made. 

Joy is jumping on a beautiful beach in Florida,

Joy is endless laughter on Tuesday night dinners,

Joy is playing monopoly when all the power is out,

Joy is cooking dinner together,

Joy is so many things…

But ultimately …

Joy IS Jesus Christ.

Love Always,

Emma Ball

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11

An Idealistic and Messy Generation

written by Andrew Edscorn

I have been thinking a lot recently about my generation. This is mostly due to the multitude of articles and books recently about my generation. I wanted to give some thoughts about who we are, and how the Greensboro Fellows fits in.

Every generation has a name and a legacy. There’s the Greatest Generation known for their heroism during World War II. The Silent Generation who fought in Korea and Vietnam. The Baby Boomers who are known for their rejection and eventual acceptance of social norms. Generation X who are described alternately as slackers and entrepreneurs. And finally the Millennial Generation.

We as a generation are still young, so we don’t know what our legacy will be. But there has been a lot of talk lately as what my generation will become. Some are fretting that we are leaving the church. Some fear that we care too much about the phones in our hands. Some are deriding us as “the Peter Pan Generation.” Some are calling us out for not focusing on the “things that matter.” I recently heard a marketing expert describe Millennials as “too idealistic and messy.” He meant this as derogatory, his point was that Millennials should stop caring about intangible matters, and start caring about money, business, and so forth.

However, I take this as a compliment. We as a generation are idealistic. We are messy. We care about human trafficking, the poor, the sick, the environment, and so forth. We want to create a better world, and as Christian Millennials, we want to create a better Church that will serve and minister to this world. Another term I have heard is that we are a “generation of potential world changers.”

And while many are worrying about how to “fix the Millennials,” some are trying to give us the tools to be a better generation, and to accomplish our goals. In the Greensboro Fellows, we are given the tools that we need, and we are taught how to be world changers. Through leadership classes with the Center for Creative Leadership, seminary classes through Trinity and with Elijah Lovejoy, internships and volunteer work with some incredible organizations, trips to different places, and being able to meet with and talk to those who have come before us, we are learning more about ourselves and how and where we are called. Coming up on the last few months of the program, I am extremely thankful of what I have learned in this program, and I feel sincerely ready and prepared for what is to come. I think we need more programs like the Greensboro Fellows, so that Millennials can be truly prepared to be a generation of world changers.

The Greensboro Fellows with Fil Anderson, author of Running of Empty