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Friends United Meeting |
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Quaker Life
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| Valiant for Truth | Contents |
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By Patricia Edwards-Konic I was 13-years-old when it happened. I was raised going to church but something different happened — I experienced God in a new way. It was June 1961, a hot, stuffy evening in an overcrowded Methodist Church. The evangelist was preaching his last message and I had been there all week. I wasn’t hearing much new, just the same old Bible stories I had heard from as far back as I could remember. Distraction abounded. Flies buzzed overhead, my three-year-old brother was wiggling; my two younger sisters, their heads pressed together, were whispering. Papers rustled, a hymnbook dropped, the preacher increased in volume. My brother, Mike, two years older than I, looked at me and crossed his eyes. I tried to suppress a giggle as I glanced out the corner of my eye at my parents. They were staring straight ahead, seemingly taking in every word. Something began to happen; the mood shifted in the congregation and I began to listen to the preacher. If it were to happen today, I would say the Spirit was settling over the meeting. But then, as a 13-year-old girl, I was surprised and curious about what was happening. The words of the preacher began to speak to me and they seemed important. My brother poked me, then poked me again, but I ignored him, focused only on the message I was hearing. I don’t remember the message today, but I do remember what was happening inside me. A hunger to really know Christ rose within me. As the hunger washed over me, on the next wave came a yearning to follow Him and commit my life to His service. It was as I was in an ocean of love that lapped over and over me, with each new wave bringing me closer and closer to Christ. Sitting still among these tidal waves, I hear Christ’s Voice speak clearly to me: “Come. Follow Me.” My heart responded, “Yes! Yes, I will follow You.” My heart was released and Christ’s love was accepted. No sooner than my response when Christ continued, “Will you serve Me? Will you publicly announce my calling on you? Will you go forward now with the others?” Whoa! Now this was getting serious. Not only follow Jesus but serve Him too. I knew what He meant — He meant in ministry, but other than missionaries home on deputation and Sunday School teachers, I had never seen a woman in ministry. And announce it publicly. I had never seen an altar call before that night. It looked a long journey to go forward, even from the second pew — over one brother, past my parents and down the aisle. People would stare, they would wonder why, my friends might tease me. My objection after objection was countered by Christ’s presence pulling me forward. Even Mike noticed my struggle and asked, “Hey, what’s going on?” But the pull became stronger. I was on my feet, moving across the pew and kneeling at the rail. As I promised God I would serve Him, tears fl owed among the waves of His love. Jesus stood before me, placed His hand upon my head and blessed me. I was truly His servant now. On the cover: “Springtime” by Sonja R. Kincaid, is a chalk pastel. Sonja is a junior at East Clinton High School, Ohio and attends Wilmington Friends Meeting, Ohio. She recently received an art award at the Southern State Cabin Fever Art Festival for “Another Starry Night.” |
8 Will It Be Quakers By Name or Quakers By Action? 10 A Friendly Perspective 12 On Being Single and Quaker: Opposing Forces? 13 Priorities of the Media 14 Bittersweet Expectations 16 Are We as Ready for a Draft as the Selective Service System Is? 18 Let’s Restore Social Responsibility _____________________________ 4 News from Friends United Meeting 4 Commitments 19 Soul Food Annointed or Just Greasy? 20 News 22 Peace Notes 24 Reviews 26 Passages 28 Classifieds 30 Meeting Directory 33 Friends United Meeting Member Yearly Meetings 34 Viewpoints
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