Fred Smith, Founder of The Gathering, Episode 109
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Fred Smith is the Founder of The Gathering, which he led for three decades through the end of 2018. He was the Founder of Fourth Partner, a local foundation in Tyler focused on philanthropy and community development within the East Texas area. Fred spent several years as a teacher and administrator at Charlotte Christian School in North Carolina and The Stony Brook School in New York.
Fred is also the author of The Edge of the Inside, filled with insights into the Scriptures.
Fred joins me on the podcast to share his journey to creating The Gathering, how it came into being and why it was so important to create a place where people can meet to exchange knowledge and build relationships. He shares his lifelong love of teaching Sunday school and the lessons he learned through sharing and exploring God’s word. Fred also discusses why the best way to start something big is often with the smallest step and why people who don’t understand that don’t succeed when trying to create something significant.
“I love getting God a better return on what he's invested in people.” - Fred Smith
“Once you've built up an asset of relationships and trust and a track record, you really don't need money going in.” - Fred Smith
“The Gathering is learning in the context of a relationship.” - Fred Smith
This Week on The Wow Factor:
How Fred got to know his father as an adult and how that has shaped his work
What Fred learned from his time in the Navy
Why Fred decided to apply to the Divinity School at Harvard Graduate School
How Fred started the Leadership Network with Bob Bulford and why he was so inspired to get a group of his peers together to discuss philanthropy
Why Fred founded the Fourth Partner Foundation to focus on the assets a community can exploit for good.
How Fred found one of the biggest backers of The Gathering
When Fred decided to participate in The Gathering as a full-time commitment
Why Fred dislikes setting goals for himself
How Fred created the core values of The Gathering and made a map to find the next President
Fred Smith’s Words of Wisdom:
You can have money, fame, talent, and education, but you’re impoverished if people don't trust you. The most important aspects of building something great are trust and the understanding that you only have to do one small thing to begin creating something huge.
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