| Cover Stories: | In The Spotlight: | Features: |
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| Yearly Meeting Highlights | Quick News from Around the Yearly Meeting | |
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"Lifting Christ high in Millennium 3" was the theme of our 187th Yearly
Meeting sessions. Friends gathered from our 83 churches and 10
extension churches to celebrate what God is doing both at home and
around the world.At the Missionary Banquet attended by some 750 persons, we were privileged to have guest missionaries from Hong Kong, Rwanda, India, Taiwan, Ukraine, Ireland, Jamaica, Hungary, and Haiti. Their sharing of victories, challenges, problems and concerns helped us realize the great responsibility we have to pray and support them.
In his keynote message, Superintendent Dr. John P. Williams, Jr. focused on "Jesus' Power to Change" as illustrated in Matthew 14:30, "Great crowds come to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them." So we are urged today to lay our hurts, weaknesses, problems, and failures at Jesus' feet. By surrendering them to Him, there is victory.
A two-hour Concert of Prayer preceded the business sessions, setting a climate of sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's presence in guiding our decisions. The reports given by boards and committees reflect the varied ministries in which we are involved.
Did you know there is now a new Haiti Yearly Meeting of Friends' A ministry to Haitians was started by Port St. Lucie Friends Church in Florida, and it has blossomed into a Yearly Meeting with five churches, four schools, and a nutrition center. William and Marie Bertrand invited John Williams to speak at their inaugural meeting.
Two guest speakers were a blessing to all. Dr. Kevin Mannoia, the new president of the National Association of Evangelicals, preached Monday night, emphasizing the Church as the only institution on earth to establish God's Kingdom. From Ezekiel 47 he likened the Kingdom to a river, different and changing, but flowing from the heart of God. "Now is the day," he said, "to call the Church to bring life and light where there is such darkness."
On Tuesday night the speaker was Glenn Barth from "The Lighthouse Movement" sponsored by Mission America. His message included a three-step outreach: Prayer-Care-Share, which is useful for individuals to use in obedience to the call of Christ to be "beacons" and shine forth His light.
As the sessions concluded, Friends were blessed by the exuberance of our youth who are responding to God's call and also by the beautiful music enjoyed by all.
Yearly Meeting Business Meeting Highlights...
E.P. & E. Board reported that God has led Friends recently to reach out to Hispanics and Haitians here in the US. There are now Extension Meetings for Spanish congregations located in: Toronto, Canada (2 meetings); Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Kingston, NY; and Martinsville, VA. The Haitian Extension Meetings are located in Ft. Pierce, FL and Brooklyn, NY. There are also Extension Churches in Chardon, Ohio (Morning Star) and Ridgeway, VA (New Life Community)
The Ministerial Accreditation Board introduced eleven candidates to be recorded as ministers. These include: Steve Witzki, Martin Ertel, Kimberlee Preston Thornton, Lanny Wagner, Geoff Schultz, Steve Lowe, David Mabry, and Al Voorhis.
Those to record through transfer include: Don Luellen, Nelson Puffenbarger, and Joesph Bailey.
The Friends Action Board continues its fight against pornography and obscenity by distributing white ribbons which delegates wore all week. The Board recommends the video "Suffer the Children" for concerned parents to counteract the increasing homosexual agenda in the curricula of public schools. Concerns were presented about gambling, joining the Disney boycott, and promoting abstinence education for youth in our communities.
Malone College reports that in 15 years its enrollment has grown from 919 to 2,200. Two buildings have been added, and the new residence facility will be named Haviland Hall in honor of Laura Haviland, 19th Century abolitionist from Raisin Valley Friends Church in Adrian, Michigan.
President Ronald Johnson expressed gratitude for Friends' support and urged faithfulness to "Christ's Kingdom First" stating it is his hope that this motto will always describe Malone College.
Friends Disaster Service reported commendable activities this year including rebuilding homes, aiding in flood relief, and assisting in hurricane relief to Honduras.
