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Friends United Meeting |
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May/June 2006
Sacred Moments by Sylvia Graves
Graves Named Interim FUM General Secretary
Help Build a Classroom in Turkana
Stepping Out for Mission: Uganda
Youth Surpasses Goal
Sacred
Moments
By Sylvia Graves, Interim General Secretary
One aspect of being a Quaker that I have always valued is the belief that all moments are sacred. That concept offers meaning and authenticity to all the dimensions of our lives, not just when we are in church on Sundays or sitting on the hillside at our favorite campsite. When we live with and breathe the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are more aware of His power and the influence He has in the choices we make whether small or significant. It is the reality of life, however, that sometimes we feel the Divine Presence more than others. This column will be about those times.
My husband and I were present last July when Retha McCutcheon announced her plans to retire after 11 years of service among and for FUM Friends. She had become a respected and valued representative of all that FUM stands for and we sensed the difficulty that replacing her would cause. Then around the first of this year, we learned that Colin South had resigned from his position as Director of Global Ministries. Our hearts became very heavy as we sat on the outside looking in to the voids that needed to be filled and to the struggles the FUM board and staff would have in the coming months. It was on my mind as I met a couple of the board members in the next few days and when we sat down to talk, I asked, “What can I do to help?” The answer came within days.
Having retired after 34 years as a teacher and then principal, I had used the past six months to get our material possessions in order and move next door to the house that had belonged to my parents. I really enjoyed the “time off” but was beginning to feel restless to do something else, find a job that was helpful to others and not just centered on my own well-being. I had prayed all along that I would hear God when He called but had no idea that He would call me here. John Muhanji said, “God knew and He was getting you ready.”
So, it is my great honor to be in both Retha’s and Colin’s chairs for the coming year to serve as the interim general secretary and to direct global ministries. Oh, my! I have much to learn. What is obvious so far is that the Richmond and field staff members care deeply about the work there is to do and that Friends United Meeting is made up of thousands of very devoted people who continue to seek the best ways to address the needs of this hungry and violent world. It is very humbling to serve God and you in this way. May we look for the sacredness of every moment as we are empowered to do the work He has for this organization to do.
Graves Named Interim FUM General Secretary
Sylvia Graves has answered the call as Interim General Secretary of Friends United Meeting beginning March 6, 2006. She follows Retha McCutchen who retired February 28, 2006 after 11 years of service.
Sylvia was recorded as a Minister of the Gospel by Western Yearly Meeting in 1997 and has led retreats and workshops as well as filled the pulpit in many meetings of Western Yearly Meeting. For many years she has been the Director of the 5th and 6th grade camp at Quaker Haven near Syracuse, Indiana.
An elementary school principal for many years, she retired in June 2005, which allows her the freedom to pursue new interests. She and her husband Dale have recently returned from serving on an FUM workteam to Belize. She has attended all but one FUM Triennial in the past 25 years, including the 2002 Triennial in Kenya.
Several of Sylvia’s relatives have been active in FUM mission work through the years and West Newton Friends, where she is a member, is very mission minded. Her main responsibility will be to maintain communication and support for field staff and their projects.
Her vision during her tenure would be “to join hands across theological and journey differences to do the work of the church rather than doing the work for the organization. The organization needs to support the ministries of our believers.”
Married 38 years to Dale Graves, they are the parents of two grown children: a son, Eric and a daughter, Maria.
Paul Smith began working with a new title, Director of Operations-Richmond on March 1, 2006, which includes oversight of programs and supervision of the Richmond Office.
Help Build a Classroom in Turkana
The Friends United Meeting Vacation Bible School Project for 2006 is to build a classroom for Lokoyo, Turkana. The project goal is $10,000.
Turkana Friends Mission began in 1970 under the leadership of Ersal and Dorothy Kindel, assisted by two students from Friends Theological College in Kaimosi, Kenya. Turkana, located in northern Kenya on the south edge of the Sahara desert, is a region familiar with hot temperatures, harsh winds, frequent droughts and limited resources for development.
Nomadic Turkanans move as often as every three to six months in search of water for themselves and their animals so providing education is challenging. The Turkana Friends Mission discovered the best way to help these nomadic people is to provide wells with clean water so they can settle in one region.
The next step is to build schools and churches. The government requires a building to be in place before they provide a teacher. In Lokoyo, many of the children sit on the hot, dusty sand under a tree for school. The sun beats down upon them and the sand burns through their clothing. When the wind blows, the dust and sand blow in their faces and onto their slates, making it difficult to concentrate on their studies.
Lokoyo needs another classroom for their many students. Can you help reach the goal of $10,000 to provide another classroom for some of the students of Lokoyo primary school?
Choose to make this a mission project for your Vacation Bible School, First Day School or your church mission program.
Your financial support will:
• further the work of Turkana Friends Mission,
• provide classroom space at Lokoyo Primary School and let students and
teachers know that you value their efforts and their own commitment to
learning,
• make a difference in the lives of children who struggle daily with the
things we take for granted: education, food and water.
Contact FUM (phone 765-962-7573) to receive the information packet.
Stepping
Out for Mission: Uganda
By Edgar Ala
“The Uganda trip is approaching and is around the corner.” These were the words John Muhanji of Friends United Meeting (FUM) Africa Ministries Office in a letter inviting our church to a work camp. This was the first-ever missionary journey undertaken by all yearly meetings in Kenya to neighboring Uganda. Excitement gripped me as one of the participants in the mission since the words of our lord Jesus Christ in the great commission says, “therefore go ye into the world and make disciples of all nations…Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Kisumu, the lakeside city of Kenya, was the place we assembled at the FUM office. John Muhanji addressed the group: “Everyone can do something for God, and nobody is going to ride on the back of the other.” At this point, I knew we had great work ahead of us and needed heartily commitment. Each member gave their introduction; we were quite a diverse group and were all set for the mission via the Busia border.
At the border, we separated into two groups. One group went to Lutolo, while we proceeded to Kimidi Friends School in the Bugiri District of Uganda. We worked on the construction of two new classrooms, an office and evangelized the members of the community.
Regardless of the culture shock we experienced due to differences in our culture, I found the welcome at Muwayo Friends Church warm. This was our first stop where we found nicely prepared porridge that gave us the energy to proceed to Kimidi. On arrival at Kimidi, the entire community was ready to welcome us and we felt at home. The team leader gave us the duties for the following day and after the evening fellowship, we retired to our sleeping rooms.
The second day was the beginning of exciting mission work. We came face to face with the work that had brought us all the way from Kenya. During the cutting and carrying of construction materials, the interaction with the community grew even more, since we were getting poles from the homesteads. Earlier I had thought that it would be very difficult to work effectively in a strange land with new people but it was very nice and the direct opposite of what I had thought. The people were friendly and fun to be with; in addition, the people were open to the word of God because we could evangelize as we worked.
During the three days of the work camp, we also held evening open-air meetings which were well attended by the members of the community. The greatest thing we witnessed was that the hearts of the people of Kimidi are open to the word of God and there are many opportunities to do God’s work there.
One might think mission work is not for them, but I learned that there is work and the need for everybody. Furthermore, I salute the early missionaries who came to us with the gospel that was a good thing. Their experience had never been real to me until this mission to Uganda. I am proud of Friends United Meeting for giving us an opportunity to do missionary work.
Finally, I would say God’s ways are amazing! He has taken me to a place that I could not have imagined before. Evangelism is common, but as Christians, such work camps are what our brothers and sisters from the whole world need, for it is the true gospel. We had so many new experiences at Kimidi—the food, the singing, the people and the general hospitality. It gave me joy how different people could come together and work for God. As members of the Quaker faith, we can surely offer a sense of community, where the church is seen as caring and bringing unity. We truly left the community of Kimidi more united than ever before.
Ala M. Edgar is a member of Friends International Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.
Dustin King had to decide on a Senior Project for Eastern Randolph High School in North Carolina. He conferred with FUM Clerk Brent McKinney and asked, “Where is the greatest need among FUM Friends.” Without hesitation, Brent replied, “Turkana.” That set into motion a chain of events that must be led by the Holy Spirit.
Learning that $2,000 paid the monthly expenses for the Turkana Friends Mission, Dustin set that as his goal. He developed a PowerPoint presentation about the ministry and people in Turkana and sought invitations to come to local churches and present his message. A member of Randleman Friends Meeting all his life, he started there. Imagine his amazement when they raised $1,349 for Turkana? Hoping to raise $2,000, he was already close.
But he kept with his plan and began sharing with other meetings. Carol Bullins, Treasurer of Asheboro Friends Meeting, wrote, “His presentation was exceptional as recognized by the members of our congregation.”
As of April 5, he had reached $5,800 and had reset his goal to $10,000. His Senior Project isn’t over until May 16 so he has plenty of time to keep sharing with others and raising money.
Dustin’s faith has stretched. From “studying Quaker history and seeing that Friends often go where others don’t,” he now is determined to assist those who “go where it is 104 degrees in the day to help social outcasts from their own government.”
He writes, “I am not finished. I hope this money will prove useful in the efforts of Friends to better the lives of people in Turkana.”
Dustin plans to attend Western Carolina University as a music major next fall. He loves playing his sax and piano as well as being the Drum Major for marching band.