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Friends United Meeting |
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November 2003
Friends United Meeting News
Mission News Notes
Mike and Kay Cain — The Boys School is now co-educational and has its largest class ever, with 32 boys and 6 girls enrolled. The school was awarded a scholarship from Best Buy for their students to participate in an Electronic Field Trip on October 21. The event was sponsored by Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and the Smithsonian Institute, Museum of Air and Space.
Mary Kay Rehard and Patrick Nugent — As the September term begins, third-year students at Friends Theological College are preparing for eight weeks of ministry internship. Students will serve in Nairobi, Turkana or Samburu. Before they go, they will have a three-day training workshop in HIV and AIDS prevention and counseling, and a week of retreat. Pat Shrock of Sycamore, Indiana has again arrived for a term of teaching and ministry and a new Peace Corps volunteer, Lonie Stimac, has arrived to do work in public health outreach and to help train pastors in basic community health education. Emma and Eliza Rehard are about to begin boarding school at St. AndrewÕs School, Turi. Patrick and Mary Kay continue to implement the new curriculum and spiritual formation program and are very grateful to have connected with friends old and new during their recent travels in ministry in the United States.
Colin and Kathy South — School began in earnest on September 1st. We are bursting at the seams this year with over 1,000 students, the greatest number we have had in the three years we have been here. We were disappointed not to start the school year with Jacob Kuntz, a teacher at the Boys School, who was returned from the airport at Ben Gurion. We are hopeful that the Israeli authorities will allow his entry into Israel in the near future.
There are many positive and growing signs of new appreciation for the school's Quaker roots. The increased use of silence and stillness before all meetings of staff and students, and a clear refocus on the ethics curriculum that includes conflict resolution, handling difficult emotions and non-violence. There is also a definite commitment to a clear set of Friends School values including Truth, Simplicity, Peace and Justice, shown through the translation of Quaker Advices and Queries of Britain Yearly Meeting into Arabic, and their distribution to teachers and students.
Something is happening this year that is very exciting and has been the result of a natural development through very difficult times over the last three years. There is so much more to do but the Spirit of Truth and Love is at work. The new ASHA building, which includes a multi-purpose hall and library, is almost complete and looks wonderful. Kathy and I are well and had a splendid time in the U.S.A. and in the U.K. over the summer — a fine mixture of work and leisure. It was great to see our three grandchildren albeit briefly. Thanks to everyone for their support.
Andy and Lisa Stout — Andy and Lisa are working closely with the guidance counselors at Happy Grove High School and Lisa is exploring the after-school reading program for students who are not reading at grade level. They are enjoying being part of the staff of over 60 people at the high school.
Plain and Plenty: A Quaker Cookbook
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With over 75 Friends meetings contributing, it also includes international and FUM staff recipes. Featured in this 288 page book will be the history of each meeting, their favorite recipes and a photo of the meetinghouse. Although it is arranged by yearly meeting, a complete index will enable cooks to find just the right recipe. Order your copy today for only $13.50 a copy, plus shipping ($4.00 shipping for the first copy; $1.00 each additional copy). Also, remember, cookbooks make wonderful Christmas gifts. Order from Quaker Life, 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond, IN 47374 or email Quaker Life.
Emerging Leaders Encouraged
Fifty-five Friends from seven yearly meetings came to Richmond, Indiana, September 19-21, for a conference that included training in evangelism, starting new ministries, youth work and leading worship. Highly energetic, the conference proved to be a time of deep sharing, challenge to faithfulness to the Gospel and spiritual anointing during times of open worship. Several hundred had been nominated for this invitational conference from their yearly and monthly meetings —and even those who did not come, received the affirmation of knowing that Friends are seeing the call of God and gift of leadership in a new generation.
Here are excerpts from the reports of three participants. Go to the North American Ministries section of www.fum.org for extended reports on the conference and more photos.
For me, the theme was evangelism
On Friday night, Ben Richmond set the tone for the conference, by reminding us that whatever we might do for the church, we are dependent upon God for the grace and strength to do it. We are called to listen to the living word of God in Jesus Christ and we are called to obey that Word. The Christian message is truly counter-cultural, in a world mired in materialism, inordinate sexuality and violence. We are called to proclaim a vision of that counterculture, which is the true culture God intended at the creation. Ben reflected that young people, especially, live in [a] mobile society, and they must be able to go anywhere, perhaps where there are no Meetings and, become seedbeds for the gospel.
For me, the theme of the conference was evangelization, and John Muhanji, the evangelical preacher from Kenya, was a sign of the love of God in our lives, and the presence of Christ around the world. Here is a Friend from Africa, where there is a strong Quaker presence, and he revived our faith in Jesus with his preaching and his friendship. One of John's themes centered on the image of "infection." We are all leaders in the Church of God. All of us, no matter our daily tasks, are missionaries and evangelists for the Lord. We have become "infected" with the word of God, and we must pass on this glorious infection to all we meet.
A second theme of the conference for me was the promise of our young people. Many young adult Friends were there in Richmond, listening for what God is calling them to do and considering how they might obey that call. I was pleased to meet some of them, to feel the power of their growing faith in Jesus and the strength of their emerging sense of leadership and ministry. There is a great hope for the future of Quakerism in these fine young people.
Finbarr Lismore
Westburg Friends
New York Yearly Meeting
The ambition to shake things up
This leadership conference was inspiring. Inspiring because I came away with the ambition to shake things up and the education of what to do about it, a renewed heart in God and a sense of hope for the future.
I think encouragement was key with Darlene Pittman. She challenged us to get the ball rolling by using our spiritual gifts and "having the confidence to know what those spiritual gifts are." Because of her speech, I have taken a closer look at where my strengths lie. That was great for me because I was still looking in the past. Now I know that teaching is something that I need to pursue.
Marsha Woods was a dreamer, but she gave me the keys to start a new ministry. Her workshop showed me what I need to do to take an active role in the ministry and how to relate to some of the people with which I will be working. More than steps, I learned about people in her workshop.
I think Eric Woods woke us up when he asked if we "love God like we used to." He asked if we were still as passionate for Him as we were in the beginning. Rediscovering God and our own selves was an awesome part of this weekend.
With Retha McCutchen I found hope for the future. Through her life's story, I could see, once again, that God still works in mysterious ways. He took her seemingly disadvantaged position and put her where she is today —able to influence many people through conferences such as these and many other things. Her story proved to me that even I can make a difference.
Each leader brought something to the group as a whole. Whatever gift he or she had in his pocket was what was pulled out, making a kaleidoscope of leadership. The future looks brighter, now. Knowing that I can make a difference relying on God, using my gifts, and trusting other people, I will go into the future with hope and inspiration.
Ashley Crew
First Friends, Kokomo
Western Yearly Meeting
Culture Shock?
Saturday afternoon one Friend asked me if I was feeling any culture shock since I come from the unprogrammed "liberal" tradition of Quakerism. The particular language of Christianity was a notable difference. Unprogrammed Friends...are more likely to favor a sharing of diverse languages and opinions.
This contrast in my experience at Richmond was deeply refreshing. I derive joy from a shared community language with particularity. I feel good about overtly expressed confidence in the saving power of Christ. I feel elevated by the types of assertions that are strong enough to sustain us in this life and at the hour of death. I hope and intend to meet my Creator equipped with more than a capacity to offer and consider diverse opinions.
So this experience was a joy for me, manifest not only in the strong sense of community spirituality and community morality. I also enjoyed the experience of hearing how such certainty can work in a person's life, in a faith community's growth and in one sub-tradition's relationship with other Christian communities as we usher in the coming Kingdom. For me this gathering was time well spent or, I should say, gift of time received.
John Benson
Purchase Monthly Meeting
New York Yearly Meeting
Copyright (c) 2003 Friends United Meeting
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