Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends (Quakers)

Jesus Christ, Matt Macy (Mid-America Yearly Meeting’s Youth Superintendent), Brad Carpenter (an Evangelical Friends Mission worker) and maybe one or two others in the room were talking about future missionaries when a stroke of genius hit. Or maybe it was Jesus’ contribution. Why not hold a retreat for future missionaries? Everyone in the room liked the idea, and so did everyone they talked to later.

Brad and Chelsea Carpenter (Rwanda missionaries on furlough, and seated in the photo) took on the challenge. As they prayed and planned and worked it seemed that the Lord Jesus kept giving them new  ideas. Yearly Meeting and Regional Superintendents, Missions Directors and EFM staff spread the word.

Fast forward to May 27-30, 2009, at Camp Quaker Ridge near Colorado Springs. The Retreat started with everyone standing in a circle playing a crazy game to help remember each other’s name. It worked. About 35 folks who plan to serve overseas in the next five years began a journey together that included space for discernment, worship, mission orientation, and great mentoring opportunities. Each yearly meeting was well represented. NWYM sent six participants!

Abby Hutson (MAYM) and Chelsea Carpenter led in worshipful singing, and former missionaries spoke and served as coaches-Ray Canfield (Guatemala and Cambodia), David and Mae Kellum (Burundi), Willard and Doris Ferguson (Burundi and Rwanda), Gene and Myra Pickard (Guatemala), and Russ and Esther Zinn (Taiwan). It went so well that most everyone jumped at the chance for on-going mentoring.

Unforgettable were the Concert of Prayer led by John Williams, Jr. (Superintendent of Evangelical Friends Church-Eastern Region), and messages from Scott Sward and Matt Macy.  EFM board members from NWYM shared personally and practically with these future missionaries. Ron Stansell (Newberg Friends and Director of Evangelical Friends International Church Council), Dan Cammack (Tigard Friends and clerk of NWYM’s Board of Global Outreach), Colin Saxton (NWYM Superintendent) and Shawn McConaughey (NWYM Associate Superintendent of Global Outreach) provided helpful insights about missionary life and the preparation for ministry. In addition to formal sessions, the EFM Board got to interact with these future missionaries at meals and during breaks. The conference participants were a huge encouragement to the EFM board.

The sessions shared between the EFM board and the future missionaries retreat were delightful for all of us-and highly educational. Built into the schedule were times of solitude with the Lord. The exit reports reflect what the Holy Spirit spoke to participants through speakers, coaches and from the Holy Spirit directly. Powerful!

What’s ahead? There are some new career missionaries, some short-termers and many in school for more training! Most plan to go out with Friends! This is good news for our future as a movement.