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Friends United Meeting |
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October 1998
News from Friends United Meeting
Work Team Opportunities in Belize, Cuba, Lugulu (Kenya)
Ambassadors For Christ Youth Seminar
John Myers Joins Staff
John K. Myers, a recorded minister
in Indiana Yearly Meeting, joined the World Ministries staff in September
as assistant to Associate Secretary Retha McCutchen. John will have responsibility
for the interpretation and mission education work of the World Ministries
office, as well as general administrative duties.
John observed, "I feel very strongly that the Lord has opened the door and called me to this work. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone involved with the mission program."
Over the past fifteen years, John has worked with White's Residential and Family Services in Wabash, Indiana, as residential coordinator. At Whites, he supervised staff teams, provided training in crisis intervention and in human sexuality and sexual abuse. He also supervised the voluntary staff development program. Prior to that, John served in various pastoral staff positions, including minister of Christian Education, for Marion First Friends for five years and then as pastor of Fort Wayne Friends for three years. John earned a master's degree in executive development for public service from Ball State University in 1987.
John and his wife Jean are members of Wabash Friends Church, where John has been a Sunday School teacher for the last fifteen years. Among his special interests is woodworking: "everything from knickknacks to furniture," he says.
Work Team Opportunities
Belize Work Team
November 2-15, 1998
In early November, 10-12 people will be traveling to Belize City to work on the second phase of remodeling of the Friends Boys School. Participants will paint and caulk the siding that was applied by an FUM-sponsored work team in October, 1997, waterproof the concrete blocks, replace the old roof with a new metal roof, and build a fence to enclose the facility. The Friends Boys School, which began four years ago, grew out of a concern for the educational needs of those young men in Belize City who have not passed their exam to move on to high school. FBS prepares these young men to gain the skills need to continue their schooling. Newly named FUM field staff, Mike and Kay Cain, will be assisting the work team while in Belize. Contact FUM immediately if you are interested in participating.
Cuba Work Team
January 16-30, 1999
Beginning with its first Cuba work team in January, 1997, Friends United Meeting assumed the task of supplying workers and funds to assist Cuba Yearly Meeting in rebuilding some of their crumbling meetinghouses. Their first project was to rebuild the chapel at El Retrete, near the town of Banes, which was completed and dedicated in March, 1998. A second work team, in March 1998, continued the work on rebuilding the chapel in Bocas, near Velasco (which was started by a work team cosponsored by FUM and Guilford College). In January 1999, a third work team will return to Velasco to replace the roof of the pastor's home and, possibly, apply the finishing touches to Bocas Chapel.
Applications are being received for this work team until approximately November 1, 1998. FUM is looking for 10-12 volunteers, some with construction skills and all with the ability to work in sunny, humid weather without the benefit of modern machinery. Most of the work will involve hard physical labor. At least ten days will be spent working on the actual project with opportunities for recreation, worship with and visitation among Friends at the Velasco Meeting. Cost for this trip will be around $900 per person. Everyone who participates as a member of this team can expect to return changed in their spiritual outlook and encouraged about the strength and vitality of Friends in Cuba.
Lugulu Work Team
January 12-28, 1999
Also in January, a team of 10-12 will travel to Kenya to work at Friends Hospital Lugulu, in Webuye, western Kenya. The team will make improvements to buildings and the grounds including painting inside and out, minor electrical repairs, and small "fix-up" projects. Ray and Jean Bubak of Oregon will be the leaders of this trip. Ray and Jean have previously volunteered for Friends United Meeting, most recently helping to supervise the building projects at the Ramallah Friends Schools in Palestine. The Bubaks visited Friends Theological College in Kaimosi, Kenya, in 1996. FUM field staff, Drs. Jan Armstrong and Ray Downing, serve as acting medical officer in charge and staff physician for the Lugulu hospital.
Eight days will be dedicated for work at the hospital and four days are being reserved for a safari with additional time allowed for travel from the United States to Kenya. Work team members will worship in local Friends meetings. Approximate cost for the trip is $2400 per person. Applications are due by November 1, 1998.
For information, contact Curt Ankeny, program assistant for Outreach and Recruitment at Friends United Meeting.
Membership Curriculum
On Becoming A Friend, a good resource to introduce potential members to Friends, is now available through Quaker Hill Bookstore. These six lessons provide a concise history of Friends testimonies and organization. It helps people to discover spiritual gifts and suggests ways of spiritual nurture and growth. This material can be used in
1/2 hour segments or, for a greater depth, in one hour sessions. A one-day retreat format is also provided. Every student will need a book, available for $5.95. The teacher's book adds a guide for teaching. It costs $14.95.
Ambassadors For Christ Seminar
Attention Youth! If you are a high school sophomore through college sophomore and are planning to attend the upcoming Ambassadors For Christ Seminar (formerly UN Seminar) but haven't sent in your registrations, they are due October 15, 1998. This seminar will take place in New York City, November 21-25, 1998. Global Reconciliation: Focusing on Conflict Resolution is the theme. Participants will act out the roles of mediator, peacemaker, and servant to those in the midst of conflict in our world and in our neighborhoods. The group will be introduced to the Quaker United Nations Office, will worship at 15th Street Friends Meeting and will have opportunity to take in some sights and sounds of New York. Leaders for this seminar are Darlene Pittman and Ray Luther of North Carolina Yearly Meeting. Registration and lodging costs are $187.
FUM Chain of Prayer
Will you participate in 1999? The 1999 FUM Chain of Prayer will begin January 1 and run through Pentecost, May 23, 1999. Letters have been sent to meetings inviting you to participate. Meetings pray for 12 or 24 hour time periods. Mary Glenn Hadley, associate secretary for Meeting Ministries, says, "I urge you to agree to focus your individual prayers on our corporate concerns on a specific day, thus strengthening our corporate prayer."
This year's Prayer theme will be Whom Shall I Send? Who Will Go for Us? (Isaiah 6:8), the same theme as for the FUM Triennial, July 14-18, 1999. Friends have a special message to share in God's kingdom.
The Chain of Prayer packet is $10. It includes feature lessons for children and youth, a bulletin insert, suggested messages for worship, a poster, sign-up sheet, prayer guide and FUM prayer concerns. We look forward to your meeting's participation. Please respond by November 2, 1998. Online registration available.
Pastoral Ministry Seminar
Gaining Confidence in Pastoral Ministry is an intensive study for pastors to be held January 20-23, 1999. (Note date change from previous announcement.) This study will look at many issues for which pastor's feel untrained. Topics include: Administration, accountability, gift assessment, social graces, Christian Education, preparing people for membership, communication, making pastoral transitions, spiritual disciplines, handling money and family care. Frances Kinsey is our coordinator. In addition to Frances, presenters will include Stan Banker, Jr., Josh Brown, Della Stanley Green, Jay Marshall, Doug Bennett, David Brock, Curt Shaw and Bob Garris.
Friends United Meeting is underwriting the cost of this important study which will be hosted by Earlham School of Religion. The only cost to participants will be travel, food and lodging. We encourage meetings to help make it possible for their pastors to attend. Three breakfasts, and three dinners will be $45 for those attending the whole conference. The program runs from 1:30 p.m. through noon Saturday, but pastors may attend part-time. Communications during Difficult Times will be presented Friday evening, and Making Pastoral Transitions will be Saturday morning. Contact Mary Glenn Hadley at Friends United Meeting for details.
Copyright (c) 1998 Friends United Meeting
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