Spring 2002 Facing Bench

News from EFC-ER Churches

Construction Begins for Orange Road Friends Church's New Family Life Center

Sunday, April 14th, Orange Road Friends Church in Columbus, Ohio, celebrated the ground breaking ceremony for their new addition. The new Family Life Center will be connected to the present building at the east end of Orange Road and will include a multipurpose room and additional classrooms.

Special guests included Area Superintendent Wayne Evans and the building contractor Bob Sellers and his wife.

Information submitted by Orange Road Church Office

Church Family and Friends Celebrate the Steel's 40th Wedding Anniversary

On Saturday, January 19, 2002, Pastor Thomas Steel, with wife Jean, drove to their daughter and son-in-law's home, believing they were going to a restaurant for dinner to celebrate their anniversary a day early.

Yet, on entering the living room, they looked awe struck. The church members shouted, "Congratulations!"

Melanie had pulled off the surprise she had hoped. With cards and gifts from the church and members, they reminisced about things that had happened 40 years before in Gateshead, England. From there, Melanie led the way to the dining room where she offered a table loaded with tasty foods. Members of the Peniel Friends Church in Onemo, Virginia enjoyed the time to express their love and support of Pastor Steel.

Submitted by Catherine Brooks
Church reporter for Peniel Friends Church,
Onemo, Virginia

Kids Connection A Huge Success

Gilead Friends Church in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, has held Kids Connection for the past three years in lieu of the traditional Vacation Bible School. Myron and Julie Stump of Union City, Ohio have led this ministry.

Hundreds of flyers were passed out at three of the county elementary schools and energetic, spirit-filled youth passed out flyers in various areas of the community. The church rented large vans and had their bus picking up kids at central locations in local towns and rural areas.

The Stumps presented the Gospel with music, skits, games, Praisin' Raisin, a wide variety of slides and life stories. The kids have really looked forward to it from year to year.

Julia, age 6, liked Praisin' Raisin. Julia's name was in the basket for the drawing and she got a surprise. She got to play a tambourine, too.

Lucy, age 11, said "It was fun. I liked the races and contests they had. I liked the lessons and stories, too."

Garrison, also age 11, added, "It was fun. I liked Praisin' Raisin and the time at the end."

Over the four days, the average daily attendance was 150 and there were 115 first-time commitments to the Lord!! Follow-up letters are being sent to every family who does not have a home church, inviting them to join Mt. Gilead Friends Church for worship on Sunday mornings.

Submitted by Kitty Halfhill
Gilead Friends Church

Cereal Coupons Saved Advantage Miles

The Dave Goode family would like to express their thanks to EFC-ER Church families for continuing to eat cereal for breakfast! To date, they've accumulated over 70,000 frequent flyer miles and have been able to purchase one round-trip ticket for each family member from Jamaica to Ohio. Thank you to all who have contributed!

For more information on this program, contact the World Outreach Center.

Submitted by David Goode
Missionary to Jamaica

Group Fasts to Raise Funds and Awareness

Teens from Trinity Friends Church in Martinsville, VA spent 30 hours abstaining from food. Their reward?

   A Youth pastor with neon pink hair!

They experienced hunger pangs, hard work and a sense of accomplishment, but the dedicated nine teens never lost sight of their goal: painting their youth minister, Bob Gunter's hair pink. After 30 hours of dedicated self-discipline, they were rewarded.

Trinity Friends Youth participated with approximately 600,000 other teens across the country in a 30-hour fast to raise money for the hungry around the world in cooperation with World Vision. It was the 11th Annual 30-Hour Famine.

Their 30 hour fast was filled with community service and fund-raising projects for World Vision. They visited residents of a nursing home and sold donuts in front of K-Mart (raising $430 in 7 hours). But, all agreed that their most difficult task was reorganizing, unpacking, and sorting food for the Salvation Army's Food Pantry on Saturday afternoon. After over 24 hours without food, the task of sorting the boxes and crates of food was almost too daunting for the 12-member team. As they were working in the food pantry, a youth leader was heard to say "Here's peanut butter - we could eat that now. I don't need a knife" as she motioned with her finger that she was ready to dig in.

The irony of wanting food while they were handling it was not lost on the group, and, it gave them a deeper understanding and appreciation for the needs around the world. "I was thinking that in a few hours, I was going to get something to eat," reflected Stephanie Amos, "It was heartbreaking to think we get to eat and those people are still without." Grace Satterfield added, "We just got a little bitty taste of it (hunger). They live their lives like this."

Their 30 hours concluded Saturday evening with a lasagna dinner. Even more than the food, the youth enjoyed their promised reward for exceeding the goal painting their youth minister's hair neon pink! All were pleased that they exceeded their goal by over $500. Total received was $1810!

Information provided by Bob Gunter
Youth Pastor for Martinsville Trinity Friends Church
Martinsville, VA

Being at the Right Place at the Right Time - An Encouragement

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal. 6:9)

Like most people at times I wonder if my efforts for the Lord will bear any fruit. Sometimes the fruit seems slow in coming! However, this year the Lord has allowed me to see some of the seeds developing.

Every year, our church hosts a breakfast for the staff of a Jr. High School in our city on the day before the school year starts. Relationships were formed with the High School Athletic Director and the man who organizes the concerts for the city when they worked at the Jr. High. Both are relationships God has blessed.

Last year, the Athletic Director asked me about the possibility of area pastors doing something for the Football team. Together with several pastors we started "The Line of Scrimmage," a 20-minute chapel service held each week before the game. Several team members came to Christ as a result of this effort and our school is organizing a local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Plans are underway to do the chapel again this year, possibly expanding it to other sports. One seed of friendship bearing fruit for the Kingdom!

Each year our city sponsors several music events. This winter I got a message from the man who organizes these for the city asking about the possibility of having a concert with a Contemporary Christian group. FFH agreed to do a concert sponsored by the City of Barberton. The Gospel was shared at the concert and 45 people made commitments to Jesus!

Both relationships have born fruit for the Lord! Be encouraged! God does bring His fruit from our faithfulness!

Brian Cowan
Pastor of Barberton Friends Church