Hanover Friends Listen to God's Voice and Live His Choice Every Tuesday

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

Hanover Friends Listen to God's Voice and Live His Choice Every Tuesday

A simple food closet grew into a Tuesday morning congregation and food distribution for thousands each year.

Kay Jones, Coordinator of Benevolence Ministries for Hanover Friends Church in Mechanicsvlle, Virginia, can only sit back in awe at how God has blessed and expanded this ministry.

From 1986 through 1994, an average of 32 households a year received food from HEFC through their food closet. Last year alone, more than 3,745 households and 10,463 individuals received food. This dramatic increase began with an unexpected catalyst.

In 1995, the Central Virginia Foodbank informed the church that they had been approved for the "Enabler Program." As an "Enabler," they are eligible to purchase food at 14 cents per pound and to distribute USDA items to those who met federal financial guidelines. Kay, along with Linda Cumby, director of HEFC's Friendly Care Day School, decided to try the program. It didn't take long before they had much too much food and began the Tuesday Food Ministry. Today, a whole team of volunteers work all week to collect donations from local grocery stores, a produce market, a local farmer, a bakery, members of the HEFC congregation, Friendly Care Day School families, and even some community residents.

During this time of expansion, the director began to question if increased numbers truly meant increased ministry. Kay sensed a restlessness within herself. And, God brought a new challenge. "So many times, we get busy with the details and don't realize how significant a specific ministry can really be to those receiving," explained Kay. "When I overheard a young pastor share about his small church in another state, I realized that we had more people walking through the doors at Hanover Friends for our food ministry on Tuesday morning than this young pastor encountered in a month!" She suddenly realized that God had placed an entire congregation at their church every Tuesday. She knew they had to do more. She met with Jim Trusty, Elder of Outreach, and Senior Pastor David Crisp. Both were excited about new outreach prospects.

Today, Tuesday mornings begin with a mini worship service of praise and worship songs or hymns, a message, an invitation, and prayer. "People are accepting the Lord virtually every week," explained Kay. "At times, almost half of those congregated come to the altar for prayer, for healing and other needs. Folks are being healed. Kenny has been paralyzed from the waist down. He can now move his toes."

Recently, Rosemary returned on a Tuesday morning to tell them that two weeks previously, she came for food. She was homeless and jobless. She thanked everyone for the kind way she was treated, and told how much she was touched by David's message that day. She said she prayed and, a week later, she got a job and now has an apartment. Everyone rejoiced! Rosemary gave us a thank you note which contained a $20.00 donation from her first paycheck.

Truly, Hanover's food ministry feeds the body and the soul.

Information and pictures submitted by Kay Jones.
For more information about expanding your church's outreach, contact Kay through Hanover Friends Church in Mechanicsville, VA

Women's Retreat

Women's Missionary Fellowship groups across Eastern Region always look forward to the Fall Women's Retreats. Two weekends in September were reserved for the women who traveled from the north and south to Ripley, West Virginia to hear Ethel Aust Anderson speak on "Fabric of our Heart." Lynn Reicherbach (Gilead Friends Church, Mt. Gilead, OH) led music the first weekend and Rhonda Dragomir along with women from Hunter Hills Friends Church (Greensboro, NC) led music the second weekend. Missionary speakers included Shawna Good (Jamaica) for the first weekend and Shobha Massey (India) for the second weekend.

This year, the two weekends were split pretty evenly in attendance with about 300 at each. Once again, the love challenge offerings and the silent auctions exceeded expectation and WMF was able to give funds supporting the following needs: $1600 provided Sangi Vanlal's transportation to the U.S. for the birth of her first grandchildren (twins); $1000 went to needs at our Christian English School in Chattarpur, India; and $500 went to flood relief in Nepal where they are very concerned about diseases spreading following extreme flooding.

To become involved in a local Women's Missionary Fellowship group, contact the local Friends Church or the EFC-ER Office.