Van Wert Youth Travel to Mexico

Cover Stories:	In The Spotlight:
Hearing His Voice...	Peniel Friends Celebrate...	Creativity in Recognition Float
Reaching Our World...	Worship CD with Stan Hinshaw	Lynn Shreve Remembered
	"Power Team..."	Van Wert Youth to Mexico
	Damascus 9/11 Remembrance	Hunter Hills Completes...
	Alliance to Reach Inner City	Disaster Service Banquet
	Women's Retreat	Hanover Friends Listen...
	Spice Up Your Family Devotions

Alliance Friends Church Partners to Reach Inner City

Four Alliance (Ohio) evangelical churches bonded together again to offer their inner city residents the second annual "Fun Day" as an extension of Alliance Evangelical Friend's Sports and Recreation ministry.

An afternoon of free food, basketball tourneys, music groups, face painting, helium balloons, and a rented "bounce house" was offered to area residents at the inner city's most popular playground. Kids and parents of the inner city have come to love and appreciate this outreach.

Throughout the afternoon, as children and parents wait in line for the fun activities, volunteers from the area churches are providing music, skits, and even times of prayer with the goal of sharing "the reason for the hope we have within us" (I Peter 3:15).

"It's a way to tell the residents of the inner city who live near the poverty line and are largely unchurched that we love them, that we'd love to have them try out one of our churches and that Jesus loves them even more," explained Pastor Rick Sams. "It's one of the best ways we have found to bring this high crime neighborhood together and the churches of common core beliefs together to show the world that Jesus is for real."

submitted by Alliance Friends Church

Van Wert Youth Travel to Mexico

Twenty-one teens and adults from Trinity Friends Church (Van Wert, Ohio) traveled to Mexico City on a short term summer mission trip. The team engaged in a week of street ministry and work projects in Fuentes Del Valle, Viveros del Valle, and in the settlement of Solidarity. The trip was the vision of Trinity Friends Youth Director Gary Jones in conjunction with Manuel and Brenda Chavarria, Friends missionaries to Mexico City.

As a part of the mission project, a number of fund raising events were held in Van Wert to purchase a sound system, which was then donated to the La Familia de Iglesia Viveros Friends Church. Members of the mission group spent months in preparation learning praise and worship music in Spanish so that they could bring the message of salvation and hope to the citizens of Mexico City through the avenues of music and drama. Evangelistic messages were shared by pastor Earnest Ramierz of the La Familia De Iglesia Viveros church and Manny, who also spoke at some of the events. One hundred decisions for Christ were made during the concerts.

The twelve teens and nine adults who took part in the Mexico mission trip then shared about their experiences at Trinity Friends on Sunday, June 23rd. They are all thankful to have been able to have such a huge impact on the people of Mexico City, and hope to make a return trip in the near future.

submitted by Nancy Brown,
Ministry Assistant, Trinity Friends Church

Hunter Hills Evangelical Friends Completes Family Life Center

On Sunday, October 27, 2002 the Friends at Hunter Hills in Greensboro, North Carolina, held a dedication service for their new Family Life Center. The new 9,000 square foot building is home to Pendle Hill Friends School, which was started by the church in 1997. Thirty-six students are currently enrolled.

The $850,000 building also has a new fellowship hall and kitchen, and the church is planning new ministries to use the facilities. Current plans focus on expanded youth ministries and productions by the Creative Arts Ministries (CAM) group already formed at the church.

On Dedication Day, dignitaries from the community and representatives of the construction company joined the congregation in celebrating the completion of the first phase of building. A new song was debuted, written especially for the dedication by Dale and Rhonda Dragomir and Timothy Johnson entitled, "Come Build Your Kingdom".

The congregation then moved to the Family Life Center and hung a plaque over the spot in the foundation of the building where a Bible was buried. On the plaque is the inscription "Built on the Word of God" and the scripture verse, "We put our hope in Your Word" from Psalm 119:74b. Words of dedication and prayers of thanksgiving were offered by the congregation, who then enjoyed dinner on the grounds.

Pastor Dale Dragomir has served at Hunter Hills Friends for 21 years, and part of his vision has always been to maximize the usefulness of God's buildings. Currently the facilities are used by the school, a Hispanic church, and a First Place discipleship and weight loss ministry. Future plans consist of two more phases of building, including a full-size gymnasium and additional classroom space.

"God's Kingdom is built in the hearts of people," Pastor Dale said. "A new building is meaningful only because of the ministries that take place there. Because of this, I'm urging our congregation to continue to envision ministries that will put our new and existing facilities to use every day."

submitted by Rhonda Dragomir,
Hunter Hills Friends Church