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Friends United Meeting |
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August/September 2002
News from Friends United Meeting
Thurman Web Site Launched
Friends United Press has launched a new Howard Thurman web site, www.howardthurmanbooks.org, to increase visibility of this best-selling author. A noted theologian, philosopher, teacher and author, Howard Thurman was a mentor to many of the visible leaders of the civil rights movement. His connection with Friends began when he studied with Rufus M. Jones at Haverford College; his Friends connection continued throughout his life. The new web site includes biographical information on Howard Thurman, a direct link to Howard Thurman books available at Quaker Hill Bookstore plus links to other related Thurman web sites.
Press Author Featured at Levi Coffin House Event
Mary Ann Yannessa (Levi Coffin, Quaker, Friends United Press, 2001) was the featured author June 19 at Fountain City, Indiana's Levi Coffin House during the dedication of the first in a series of historic markers bearing the Underground Railroad logo, a part of the Indiana Freedom Trail Historic Marker Program. Mary Ann is also a speaker for the Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Indiana First Lady, Judy O'Bannon was the featured speaker and was introduced by Levi Coffin House Association President Janice McGuire. The event drew more than 100 state and county officials, representatives of state and local tourism groups, and area supporters of the Levi Coffin House and the statewide Freedom Trail.
"Levi Coffin's heritage is one of building teams to free all of us to be the best we can be," said Judy O'Bannon. "Levi Coffin was the first to give African Americans leadership in the combined effort to guide escaped slaves to safety and freedom. We need those reminders and opportunities today. The Levi Coffin House Association are very good guardians of the Levi Coffin story."
Judy O'Bannon continued the theme, building community, as she spoke of plans for Indiana's Bicentennial in 2016, of which the Freedom Trail is a significant part.
"If you don't acknowledge barriers and oppression, you can't do anything about it," she said. "We want to celebrate 2016 by building community. The Indiana Freedom Trail will be the fingerprints and footprints for the future."
The Levi Coffin House is also celebrating its 35th year as a state historic site.
Sharing Friends Faith
Over the next several years, Friends United Meeting will develop a major program to share the Christian faith of Friends with the general public. This task was identified as one of three FUM priorities by the General Board in the last triennium. We welcome input from, and the creativity of, Friends with experience in public relations, marketing or work in various types of public media. Please contact Ben Richmond, director of North American Ministries at FUM or call (765) 962-7573 to discuss this program.
Young Friends Seminar in New York
Young Friends (11th and 12th grades through college sophomores) will come to New York, November 22-26, as part of the annual Ambassadors for Christ seminar. With the theme, "Gifted to Serve," the group will explore issues of peace and poverty in practical ways by providing hands-on service in the city and exploring Quaker international peace witness in the post 9/11 world. Tours of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, plus Monday night on Broadway with tickets to "The Phantom of the Opera" will make this an exciting experience. Registration of $150 is due by September 27, 2002. An additional $125 for four nights lodging at the Vanderbilt YMCA is due by October 15. For more information, contact Pat Sickmann at (765) 962-7573 or e-mail the North American Minstries office.
Report from the 2002 Triennial
A short video with highlights from the 2002 FUM Triennial sessions in Kenya will be available by late August. Included will be selections from the major addresses, scenes from the conference and the workteams plus the tours that proceed and follow the Triennial; it will be the next best thing to being there. Please call the Friends United Meeting office to schedule the video for your Sunday School class or Monthly Meeting at (765) 962-7573, or email your video request.
FUM Missions News (World Ministries Updates)
Ramallah Friends Schools (Ramallah, Palestine)
Graduation was held at Ramallah Friends School on May 26, 2002. Because
of the recent situation in Ramallah, graduation ceremonies were limited
to the presentation of diplomas and students could only invite parents—far
different from the usually invited six or seven guests consisting of parents,
grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters. The decision to limit
the ceremonies was jointly made by the seven private Christian schools
in Ramallah, of which the Friends school is a member. Schools are now
adjourned for the summer with classes resuming in August.
Applications for fall enrollment have surpassed the number of students who can be accommodated. Due to the loss of income over the past year, it will be difficult for many families to afford tuition and school fees. In order to assist these students, a scholarship fund is in place at FUM. You can donate by specifying on your check—"Ramallah Friends Schools Scholarship Fund."
Colin and Kathy South, FUM's field staff in Ramallah, left Ramallah in early July to attend Triennial in Nairobi, Kenya. From Kenya they went to their home in Britain to visit with friends and family. They will return to Ramallah in August.
Friends Lugulu Hospital (Webuye, Kenya)
Dr. Daniel Auckerman, who has been serving as field staff at Friends Lugulu
Hospital in western Kenya, ended his term of service with FUM in early
June. Daniel has returned to the U.S. and plans to pursue an advanced
degree in public health. A tremendous asset to the hospital during his
term of service, Daniel will be missed. There have not been recruitment
efforts for another doctor at Lugulu, and a current evaluation of the
hospital and its future needs for field staff is under way.
Lyndale Girls Home and Swift-Purcell Boys Home (Highgate, Jamaica)
Dwaine, Becky and Sarita Williams, field staff at the Lyndale Girl's Home
and Swift-Purcell Boys' Home in Highgate, Jamaica, will soon end their
service with FUM. Dwaine, Becky and Sarita came back to the U.S. in early
June to attend the wedding of their son and brother, and Becky and Sarita
remained there. Dwaine returned to Jamaica in July and officially ends
his service as administrator of the homes on July 31, 2002.
Recruitment efforts have been in place for some time to find a replacement for the Williams, but to date those efforts have been unsuccessful. Administration of the homes will be carried out by the Friends Education Council in Jamaica, the governing board for these projects of Jamaica Yearly Meeting, until new field staff is recruited. FUM will accept donations for the Williams until September, since their support funds have been short of their expenses in recent months. Donations for the Williams can be designated to Dwaine, Becky and Sarita Williams and sent to FUM.
Friends Boys School (Belize City, Belize)
The Belize Friends School is out for the summer and Mike and Kay Cain
have returned to the U.S. as usual during the break. They plan to use
the time at home to take some well-deserved time off with loved ones and
friends, and will also speak about the school and their experiences at
various venues this summer.
Enrollment at the schools has been down, but Mike has been working hard to meet with those in the community to increase enrollment. They've been encouraged by the ambition of three students who want to go on to attend St. John's College, the most prestigious high school in Belize. Mike and Kay can be reached this summer at mkcain@btl.net.
Friends Theological College (Kaimosi, Kenya, East Africa)
Rich and Sandy Davis continue in service at the college until September
and will then end their term of service as FUM field staff. Stan and Karen
Bauer will replace them starting in September, and remain through spring
of 2003. Patrick Nugent, Mary Kay Rehard and their children will take
up the post as field staff in the spring of 2003 for a three-year term
of service.
Rich and Sandy reported in June that construction of the new men's dorm continues with the addition of a roof. The projected completion date is September 2002. Other construction at the college in the past year has included library and dining hall expansion, a womenÕs dorm and a staff house. There have also been a number of repairs to existing structures, including fixing leaky roofs, which will be much appreciated by the students during the rainy season!
Enrollment is at 50 students, the largest ever for the college. Third-year students are currently involved in community evangelism in their Evangelism and Missions class. Second year students have begun their ministries in various village meetings and area schools. The first year students are involved in teaching Sunday School and mid-week Christian Education classes in the Junior School. All students are assigned at various times to hospital ministry, and at the time of this writing, the hospital was full of malaria and typhoid patients due to the rains.
Rich, Sandy, Stan, Karen, Patrick and Mary Kay all attended the Triennial in Nairobi, Kenya. Stan, Karen, Patrick and Mary Kay will also speak this summer at various gatherings to help inform people about their upcoming ministry. If you'd like information about having them come to speak at your meeting or special gathering, please contact the FUM World Ministries department or call (765) 962-7573.
Turkana Friends Mission (Kenya, East Africa)
Herman Otioko will complete his service to FUM's ministry in Turkana this
summer. Watch in next month's Quaker Life for a look at Herman's
career with FUM. John Moru will be continuing the Turkana ministry. We
congratulate Herman on being a good and faithful servant and look forward
to our continued work together with John.
Samburu Friends Mission (Kenya, East Africa)
Samburu is this year's Vacation Bible Study Mission Project with a goal
to raise $5,000 to build and equip two new classrooms at Lotulelei Friends
Mission Primary School. As of this writing, $765 has been received toward
this project. Your prayers and support for the success of this project
are appreciated.
Read more about the VBS mission project and all FUM World Ministries on our web site.
Copyright (c) 2002 Friends United Meeting
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