October Fellows Update

Dear Redeemer Family,

Our new group arrived on September 2! What a rush—these first 6 weeks! Becky and I are encouraged to see and experience their hearts for Christ and desire to grow!

The first several days we headed to Smith Mountain Lake for our orientation retreat, enjoying God’s beauty and presence all around us. We spent four days bonding together in worship & the word, eating meals, playing games, telling our stories, building trust and care for the next 9 months.  This group bonded quickly; we are thankful. 

We then spent time exploring Greensboro and helping them gain a heart for the city. We believe God wants us to love and serve where we live, no matter where He leads us. We went to the NC Folk Festival, the Civil Rights Museum, good local restaurants, and explored the city. Greensboro is one of the best kept secrets of North Carolina!  

We spent time at The Center for Creative Leadership’s (CCL), which is always a highlight. They are ranked #2 in the world for a reason. We covered great material on personal and professional growth: effective leadership, a “fixed-mindset” vs “growth-mindset,” working through conflict, goal setting, understanding your personal leadership style, discovering your strengths and talents, working on a personal mission statement, and more. Our time with CCL provides a solid foundation for us to build on for the rest of our time.

One highlight for us are the two nights a week we meet for community building. One is our Monday night family dinners (on the right). The second is our Wednesday night Bible Study. It is life giving to see how they are opening up, pursuing God, wrestling in good ways, desiring to grow in Christ and make a difference with their lives.  

We could not do this without your prayers and support. Thank you for the way you welcome and love the Fellows---they tell us frequently how they have felt loved by our church family! 

Dodd and Becky Drake