Elizabeth Sherrill Master’s Writing Workshop—Introduction

Authors of such Christian classics as The Hiding Place (Corrie Ten Boom), Cross and the Switchblade (David Wilkerson), and God's Smuggler (Bro. Andrew), Elizabeth and John Sherrill have ghostwritten, co-authored and edited more books and articles than I can grasp. They were editors and contributors of the Guideposts Magazine back in the day when people thought it was a travel magazine, if they’d heard of it all. The Sherrills traveled coast-to-coast, up to Alaska and around the world, writing over two thousand stories of real people and the great work God had performed in their lives. In April 2012, I had the privilege of attending Elizabeth Sherrill’s Master’s Writers Workshop. The week I spent at YWAM (Youth with a Mission) Woodcrest was so huge it’s hard to approach in a mere blog post. So I’m going to make it a six part series, taking it one day at a time with the hope I can be as interesting my witty teachers.

Sunday—New Friends

Last minute plans in place, a week’s worth of work done in a day, frantic packing, and then we were on the rainy road for the thirty minute drive to YWAM Woodcrest on that Sunday evening. I hadn’t been there before, but it wasn’t hard to find back in the lovely piney woods of East Texas.

My mama helped me unload at the building that contained the classroom, Resonate News office, and upstairs’ dorm. With no one around, we found the office with my new friend, the copy machine. After playing with it a bit, my other new friend, Joyce, arrived and showed me how to operate the machine we’d run manuscript copies through. I estimate we handled about 3600 sheets by the end of the week.

Finally, I met my roommate, Meliza. She settled me in my room, showed me where the important things were, i.e. restrooms and the separate kitchen building.

I spent an hour and a half making copies and stapling them together. Four manuscripts, 4-6 pages each, 25 stacks. This is what’s known as “working your way through.” I was blessed with that opportunity.

Too much excitement pumping through my veins, I laid awake that night, only imagining what meeting Elizabeth and John Sherrill in person would be like.

In the next post, you’ll read about the first day of the workshop and a special visit and stories from Loren Cunningham, founder of Youth with a Mission (YWAM).

Have you read one of Elizabeth and John Sherrill’s books? How did it impact your life?

Update: I recently saw on Facebook where the Sherrills were flying to London for their 65^th wedding anniversary!