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Friends United Meeting |
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December 2000
Valiant for Truth
A Message to a World in Need
By Trish Edwards-Konic
A general theme of the recent FUM General Board meetings was--the gospel message expressed by Friends is the message our world desperately needs to hear. Jonathan Vogel-Borne, New England Yearly Meeting, gave an impassioned plea for Friends to share this living faith to a world in need. Kevin Mortimer, Iowa Yearly Meeting, stated the Quaker understanding of the gospel is the best expression of faith for our world.
Questions were asked. "Are we hiding our Light under a bushel? Are we keeping our faith too private? Are we letting our Light shine through our actions but forgetting to add words?"
The Friends message shines in Ramallah, an ocean of Light in the midst of violence and mistrust. Here the gospel message of peace is tried in the crucible of hostility--the message of peace combined in actions and words.
For many Friends, our situations are not as extreme, our trials not as difficult. Yet, in this season of Advent, when Christians worldwide prepare their hearts to once again receive the Prince of Peace, the needs of the world cry out to us. Needs of singles and families, needs of suffering, poverty and neglect, needs of addiction, materialism, hatred.
After years of wandering, asking questions of everyone who would listen, and reading his Bible, George Fox heard the answer to all these needs--"There is one Christ Jesus who can speak to your condition." No matter what our condition before we meet Jesus, no matter what our condition and needfulness now, Christ can meet our condition and answer our needs.
Is our response the same as George when he heard the words spoken? "And my heart did leap with joy!" As we end the year 2000 and prepare for the advent of 2001 and the reminder of the birth of Jesus, may our hearts leap with joy--joy that Christ is present, joy that we have a message to share to a world in need! May we share Christ's joy!
Copyright (c) 2000 Friends United Meeting
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