Winter/Spring 2004
Facing Bench

Salem First Friends' Missions Fair a Great Success!
As part of their “Forty Days of Purpose” Salem First Friends held a Ministry Fair on Sunday, May 23, and a Mission Fair on Sunday, May 30th. All attenders were invited to participate after each worship service. There were commitment cards for registering interest in a specific ministry.

The Ministry Fair included all the ministries within the church such as Youth, VBS, Visitation, Choir, Coffee Fellowship, Small Group Bible Study, Quaker Bonnets Missionary Society, Hand bells, and many others.

The Mission Fair consisted of displays for E.F.M., U.S. and foreign missions, and local missions that our members are involved in. They were presented by continents and the theme was “Where is Your Samaria?” The Quaker Bonnets Missionary Society enthusiastically collected and displayed many artifacts and information in colorful and interesting ways. All missionary prayer cards were available and tasty food samples from some of the countries were offered. Eleven local missions had displays including Friends Disaster Service, Gideons, Awana, Lifeline, and others.

“The Quaker Bonnets, newly restarted this year, are getting to know our missionaries better and better,” explained Barb Lamancusa. “We love to get their news reports and pray for them. We are trying to increase correspondence. We started our ‘new life’ last Fall with a public breakfast and had a wonderful turnout. We were able to give $600 to missions from the breakfast fundraiser. In March, we sold food at a big farm auction and made another $1,000. Those were both amazing experiences. God be praised!”

Submitted by Barb Lamancusa,
Salem First Friends Church, Salem, Ohio