Updates & Announcements – Jan 2010
January 1, 2010- Nintey-six women attended the Friends Women combined retreat at Twin Rocks, October 1-4. Do you receive their newsletter, Quaker Waggin’s? If not, request a subscription from Reta Stuart.
- Angel Diaz, NWYM Latino Ministries Coordinator, joined about 58 Latino Friends church representatives and pastors from Canada, Mexico and the United States in New York, October 7-11, 2009. This was the 13th annual meeting of the Latino Friends Conference of North America. This conference was held in Newberg in 2002 and many families from Newberg Friends Church helped by opening their homes for more than 100 delegates from different regions. This past conference had workshops about leadership among Latino Friends, counseling, education, history, music and evangelism. Different evening speakers challenged the participants about building the Kingdom of God. Almost 150 people were present for worship gatherings.
In July 2009, Angel attended the Annual Conference of Latino Friends Churches in Mexico City. On the last day more than 300 people attended the worship service. There is a growing number of Friends churches in Mexico. Some are in great need of repair or construction of new rooms, especially the central church, but they don’t have enough financial support. While several NWYM churches work with non-Friends groups over Spring Break, Angel would like to challenge a church with a project at a Mexican Friends church. Please contact him if you are interested - Ministry transitions include Amy Watson as youth pastor at Sherwood Friends. And Eric Muhr will be moving from Southern Idaho, where he has been worshipping with Melba Friends, to become the youth pastor at Newberg Friends. Josh Reid, formerly at Newberg, is now teaching Bible at Westside Christian High School in Tigard, Oregon.
- Recent reporting shows attendance at the yearly meeting’s Latino ministry points to be: Newberg, 80; Casa del Alfarero (Greenleaf), 30; Tierra de Regocijo (Caldwell), 50; Gresham, 30; Vancouver, 30; Reedwood, 40; McMinnville, 25; Mision de Cristo (Salem), 10; Clackamas Park, 5. Approximately 300 people are involved in our Latino ministry points!
- Living Water Ministries, a ministry point in Plummer, Idaho, recently held a “Spirit Jam” dance and music outreach. Videos are available.
- Our Thanksgiving offering, to begin three clean-water microbusinesses in Burundi, had a goal of $9,000. Preliminary reports from churches put our combined gifts at over $26,000! What a blessing you have provided for the people of Burundi. Check out our description and photos of the project.
- At the back of the Green Plow ministry point coffeehouse in Redmond, Oregon, there is an extra space being transformed into a meeting room. The downtown merchants group, a women’s Bible study, and a cross–denominational youth pastors’ gathering have already used it. A book club, craft group and Spanish/English conversation group have also expressed interest. One exciting possibility in the works is an interactive conversational worship group hosted by several churches. Pray for this fledgling idea: that denominational pride and logistics will be non–issues, and that they will gather those who desire to know God but have felt alienated. Read more.
- Midyear Boards, the gathering for all board members and representatives, will be January 29-30.
- Jr. High Jamboree, our winter retreat for middle schoolers, will take place February 12-15, at Twin Rocks Friends Camp. For more information, contact Joseph Thouvenel.
- Joseph Thouvenal, graduating from George Fox Evangelical Seminary in December, began his course of study eight years ago with no idea he would begin working in full-time ministry. His work as Program Director at Twin Rocks Friends Camp fits together with his Master of Arts in Theological Studies with an emphasis in Christian History and Thought. He plans to continue at Twin Rocks while also pursuing opportunities to teach. Joseph is considering more graduate work in the future, with the hope of one day teaching at the university level full-time.
- Youth Challenged to Expand their Worldview (YCEW) is traveling to Aguascalientes, Mexico, June 30-July 19. Information and application packets are available.
- NWYM is on Facebook, and is daily featuring articles from our local church newsletters and websites. Check it out to stay in touch with the wider community of NWYM.
- Friends Men’s retreats will be held February 19-21 at Quaker Hill and February 26-28 at Twin Rocks. Registration, speakers, themes and prices can be found online.
- The Immigration Advocacy ministry team, under the board of Local Outreach, has been hard at work this fall. Their vision statement says: “We envision the ability of our citizen congregations, in partnership with our growing number of Latino congregations, to be able to provide the necessary and current information and trustworthy counsel about existing immigration laws and processes to pastors, church leaders, and those in the congregations, including their wider social networks, who are affected by US immigration policy.” Sign-up if you are interested in being part of the discussion.
On October 28, four members of the ministry team (John Munson, Reedwood; Hal Thomas and Jim Fisher, North Valley; and Jennifer Perez, Newberg) met with Brian Plinski, Congressman David Wu’s staff person in charge of immigration issues. The purpose of the meeting was to encourage Congressman Wu to make immigration reform a high priority. They presented him with a letter that highlighted the resolution on immigration reform recently adopted by the National Association of Evangelicals (of which the NWYM was a founding member).
Brian seemed encouraged to hear from constituents who are supportive of the Congressman’s position on immigration.
- The Peace Education subcommittee, under the board of Christian Education and Discipleship has named January as NWYM’s first annual Peace Month. The theme, “What is Peace?” provides a starting point for discussion about peace in its multifaceted forms. Peace can be a way to live out the two greatest commandments: loving God, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Resources for all ages help churches explore what this means,including a daily devotional.
- The Friends Center at George Fox Evangelical Seminary is hosting Rich Swingle (a former Medford Friends member) on January 29-30, 2010. He will be presenting a one-credit course on using drama in ministry. Contact Carole Spencer.
