Updates & Announcements – February 2010
February 3, 2010- This newsletter can be sent as a PDF to your email address. If you would prefer to receive it via email, rather than a paper copy in your mailbox, please send your request to info @ nwfriends.org.
- Applications are now available for Youth Challenged through Local Service (YCLS). The three week summer service experience in Portland is for those who will be high school juniors, and seniors. Contact Mark Thomas, NWYM intern, if you would like to apply as a leader or team member. (503)538-9419. Or download the applications.
- The Youth Challenged to Expand their Worldview (YCEW) team was finalized just after publication of this month’s Connection
and will be announced in the next issue. They will be headed to Aguascalientes, an Evangelical Friends Mission in Mexico. - Planning and dreaming continues for investment in North Africa. An exploration meeting was held December 12, with another scheduled for February 20. New and creative ideas of how to be Christ-centered Friends living and working in North Africa are being explored. Work teams as well as a community living situation are on the table. If you are interested in being at the February meeting in Newberg, or setting up a meeting in your area, contact Shawn McConaughey, Associate Superintendent of Global Outreach (503)476-3383.
- Greenplow Coffeehouse, our church plant in Redmond, Oregon, is discussing the idea of a summer intern. They would be interested in talking with a young adult who has an interest in ministry through small business, community living, and maybe art. Room and board and a very small stipend would be available. Contact Pat Schmidt
- Youth ministry at 2nd Street Community Church, a ministry of Friends in Newberg, has undergone a transition in leadership. Jack Parkinson is interim student ministries director, replacing Hunter Daggett.
- Yearly Meeting Sessions are just around the corner! We will gather on the campus of George Fox University for worship, business, and visioning on July 25-29. The keynote address, by Superintendent Colin Saxton, will be on Sunday evening, July 25, with the Outreach Celebration occurring on Monday evening. These two events have switched nights of the week from last year’s schedule.
- Friends Men retreats are happening this month at Twin Rocks and Quaker Hill. More information and online registration are available. If you have further questions, for Quaker Hill you can contact Dennis Ankeny, (208)337-3961 and for Twin Rocks you can contact Ron Mulkey, (541)546-6109.
- Join us in welcoming our newest church plant: Iglesia Amigos El Altar en Boise (The Altar Friends Church). Jorge Sileoni, pastor of Iglesia Amigos in Caldwell, Idaho, has helped us plant another Spanish-speaking church. El Altar meets at Boise Friends, and was officially started in December 2009. We now have ten Spanish-speaking meetings, with over 300 people involved! See our Latino Ministries website.
- Anthem Friends, a church plant in the Hayden Lake area of North Idaho, was approved at Yearly Meeting 2009. Chris Lauri, one of the leaders, gives this report of their second public meeting: “Last night was amazing! I just felt God’s presence there. I had the opportunity to pray with one guy who gave his life to Jesus and I had numerous conversations with people afterward who said that God was moving in their hearts. It was such an encouraging night for me. It actually felt like we were THE CHURCH and not putting on an event. I sensed community…I saw people praying with one another…it was awesome. As far as numbers go I’m venturing to say there were over 100 people present.”
- A new ministry point in the Coeur d’Alene area exists to build bridges to those who have walked away from traditional “church.” Bruce and Leann Williams are building trust and proving to these wounded hearts that they care more about their lives than their attendance. They cook and share a meal with whoever comes, and have a young adult who creates a loving, creative play time for the children. Every meeting brings a different mix of people. One single father and his four children attend regularly. His sharing is deep and reveals an understanding of Christian community borne of his suffering. A single mom of four who grew up as a pastor’s kid through a painful divorce has been unable to connect with a faith community. As the Williams build this relationship, they are trusting that eventually she will experience the life-giving fellowship of these meetings.
- The Friends Youth Executive Committee, traditionally a group of Friends students at George Fox University, took a sabbatical last year and the Board of Youth and Young Adults explored future options. The board subcommittee, (consisting of Abbie McCracken, Newberg; Scott Cornwall, Silverton; Rachelle Staley, youth superintendent; Dan Cammack, Tigard; Noël Carey, West Hills; and Don Staples, Newberg), began by looking at all the ways young adult leadership development is already happening with various internships, planning groups and the new Friends Leadership Program at George Fox, recognizing the need to expand young adult leadership development beyond the Newberg area.
The new “YAF Leadership Team” will plan and facilitate the two “Youth Challenged” programs, the volleyball tournament, and the MidWinter high school retreat. Each event will have two young adult leaders matched with an advisor. This is a two year commitment, with the first year an apprenticeship and the following year co-directing with the advisor. The team will meet together three times a year allowing for participation from across all areas of the northwest. Applications will become available this spring. - Young adults from Hayden Lake Friends Church in North Idaho traveled to Portland on January 28-30, 2010, partnering with Bridgetown Ministries to demonstrate Christ’s love. During the weekend they had the opportunity to serve the Portland community by reaching out to the homeless, meeting. The trip created a sense of renewal and energized the young adults to serve in the Hayden area. To learn about Hayden Lake’s experience, contact Jeff May
