The Kinston Fellows

Shayna Smith

Kinston Fellows — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:03:56 +0000

Name: Shayna Smith

Hometown: Havelock, NC/Kinston, NC

College: University of Phoenix

Major: Global Business Management

Why did you decide to come to Kinston?

What are you hoping to get out of the Fellows Program?

Meet the Kinston Fellows Director

Kinston Fellows — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:13:51 +0000

Hi, I’m Bryan Johnson and I’m excited and honored to be the director of the Kinston Fellows program. I am married to Courtney and we have two children, Becton (3) and Molly (1.5). I graduated from NC State in 2002 with a degree in Secondary Science Education. After four years of teaching high school science, I took a job in sales and currently work full-time in pharmaceutical sales. Originally from Kinston, I grew up down the road in New Bern and said I would never live in Kinston. Contrary to our belief, Courtney and I moved to Kinston in 2007, which was also the first year of the Kinston Fellows Program. We were both involved with Campus Crusade for Christ in college and saw that there was a disconnect with students involved in para-church ministry in college and the local church. This disconnect is what attracted Courtney and I to be involved with the local program here in Kinston.

We have been involved with the program over the past two years by participating on the Board, and this year is my first year in the formal role as Director.

Fellows Fall Retreat, 2011

Kinston Fellows — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:09:53 +0000

The Kinston Fellows traveled to the mountains of Virginia for the Regional Fall Retreat in early November. We had the chance to listen to Dr. Amy Sherman as she challenged the Fellows from Micah 6:8. It was a great opportunity to get away for the weekend and interact with Fellows from other programs!

Below are images from the weekend, including the Ultimate Frisbee Tournament and Skit Night:

National Prayer Breakfast, 2011

Kinston Fellows — Mon, 30 May 2011 21:18:20 +0000

The 2010-2011 Fellows continued the tradition of attending the National Prayer Breakfast when they traveled up to Washington, D.C. during the first week of February. As ushers, the Fellows enjoyed welcoming politicians, diplomats, and celebrities from around the United States and the World to Wednesday’s and Thursday’s events. Highlights from their trip included hearing President Obama speak, touring D.C., and a nighttime tour of the Capitol building. The Fellows also helped to save the day when one of the breakfast’s speakers, Captain Mark Kelly, discovered that he had accidentally dropped his medals somewhere on the ballroom floor. As Kelly, who is an astronaut and the husband of Arizona congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, frantically looked around, Mac and Justin spotted the medals. After overcoming the temptation to bring back a really cool souvenir, the guys returned the medals to Captain Kelly, and consequently enjoyed getting to chat with him for several minutes. All in a days work for a Kinston Fellow! Check out the pictures below:

President Obama gives his remarks at the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Politicians, diplomats, celebrities, and other guests listen as President Obama gives his remarks at the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Captain Mark Kelly at the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast. (Official Reuters Photo by Kevin Lamarque)

The President and his wife bow their heads as Captain Mark Kelly gives the invocation at the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Fellows Christmas Party, 2011

Kinston Fellows — Mon, 30 May 2011 20:48:04 +0000

The 2010-2011 Fellows Class closed off the first half of their year right with a party out at the Perry Fun Farm. Check out the pictures below.

From left to right: Mac ('11), Austin ('10), Justin ('11), and Stephen.

Friends of the Fellows enjoying some good food and some good hang out time.

It's always a good time hanging out at the Fun Farm.

Regional Retreat, 2010

Kinston Fellows — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 01:10:25 +0000

During the weekend of November 5th-7th, the Fellows gathered together with other fellows programs from around the southeast to fellowship and discuss social justice. Meeting at the Eagle Landing Retreat, Conference and Adventure Center in New Castle, VA, the fellows enjoyed hearing from Gideon Strauss of the Center for Public Justice and among other things, playing ultimate frisbee and performing at the open mic coffee house on Saturday night. Check out the pictures below.

Justin and Mac pose for a picture with some of the Charlotte Fellows.

The guys are confused at to when their director will arrive?

Opening Retreat, 2010

Kinston Fellows — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 20:32:11 +0000

The Fellows enjoyed kicking off the year by spending the weekend cruising to Cape Lookout. Amidst enjoying some fishing, high diving, and good eating, the Fellows had a great opportunity to share their testimonies. After telling their own stories, the Fellows got to hear from a few of those who are “a little bit further along in the journey” as they shared their stories and how the Fellows’ testimonies related to them. All in all, it was a fun and regenerating weekend. Check out the pictures below:

Our fearless leader, and host for the weekend, Ely Perry.

From Left to Right (Clockwise): Doug Hampton, Nancy Kern, Kathy Hampton, and Kurt Kern enjoy lounging on the deck of the Son Seeker.

Mac with the Spanish Mackerel we caught.

From left to right: Justin and Mac pose for a picture at sunset.

From left to right: Uncle E gives Justin and Mac a lesson on how to fillet a fish.

From left to right: Lindsay and Josiah Corrigan, Justin, Mac, and Doug gather around the table for some post-dinner discussion.

Lisa Jongsma

Kinston Fellows — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 23:13:46 +0000

Name: Lisa Jongsma

Hometown: Dearborn, MI

College: Baker College

Major: Interior Design

Why did you decide to come to Kinston?

What are you hoping to get out of the Fellows Program?

Samantha Brewer

Kinston Fellows — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 23:11:08 +0000

Name: Samantha Brewer

Hometown: Ocala, FL

College: Trinity Baptist College

Major: Biblical Studies–Missions Concentration

Why did you decide to come to Kinston?

What are you hoping to get out of the Fellows Program?

Jay Falk, Class of ’09

Kinston Fellows — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:47:11 +0000

Jay Falk

Name: Jay Falk
Hometown: Rocky Mount, NC
College: UNC-Chapel Hill (Graduated ‘07)
Degree: Management and Society

Man where to begin when describing the Kinston Fellows Program and what it meant to me. I graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in December of 2007, and then spent four months in Ethiopia following that. I then signed on to come to Kinston shortly after returning home. I first believed going to Kinston was only going to be a time filler between college and my next road, be it graduate school or a job. Man I was wrong.

I arrived in Kinston in September of 2008, and began to work for Jimbo Perry, and was truly blessed to live with Glenn and Karla Gannett. Around this time my attitude started to change towards the Fellows Program. I came to Kinston having always wanted to go to law school because it was a dream, but spending each day with Jimbo drastically changed my perception of things. I realized life was much more than my daily job, and found out that what I was going to do with my life must be a mission for the Lord. As the time passed in Kinston, I grew so much in my faith. This was because of the love bestowed upon me from the Gannett’s, Jimbo Perry and his family, and especially Grace Fellowship Church. I grew attached to this small Eastern North Carolina town, and when I left I felt blessed that God had called me to Kinston. My year in the Kinston Fellows program will be something I remember for the rest of my life, and a time where God used many people within the Kinston to drastically impact my faith.