Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends (Quakers)

Jamie Johnson serves George Fox University and NWYM as the director for the Friends Leadership Program. After graduate school, Jamie returned to Newberg with his wife, Erin, and three children. They attend Newberg Friends.





Year 1…Done!
I began my position at George Fox University as director of the Friends Leadership Program on July 1, 2009—one year ago! As I reflect on this past year and look forward to the next, I want to share with you some of the highlights:

• Nine students completed the first year of the leadership program, which included regular meetings together, monthly meetings with a mentor, and preparation for their second-year internship. Each FLP student receives a $2,500/year scholarship.
• Students will be serving in self-selected internships over the summer and throughout the next school year. These internships include: summer staff at Twin Rocks, summer staff at Tilikum, working with a local church Bible quizzing team, and serving as a resident assistant in a residence hall on campus.
• In April we hosted a group of Quaker students from Haverford College in Pennsylvania who were interested in learning more about our expression of Quaker education.
• This summer we will host the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage—a group of young adults from the US and the UK—on a visit to George Fox University. While with us, they are eager to learn how we express our Christ-centered Quaker faith.

This first year was also one of many great connections, visiting 16 NWYM churches.

Year 2…What’s in Store?

As I reflect on times spent in various churches and at different camps, conferences, and retreats, I am excited about this upcoming year, which includes the following:

• We have 22 new Quaker students who have indicated they will attend George Fox this fall—an increase over last fall—and there is still the potential for that number to rise. This brings the current total of Friends students on campus to around 80.
• I will be attending summer camps at Quaker Hill and Twin Rocks throughout the summer.
• We have received a grant to send a group of students to Haverford College to reciprocate their previous visit and learn more about the Quaker community there.
• Quaker students accepted to George Fox this year received on average nearly $20,000 in non-loan financial aid—about 6% more aid than other accepted students.

You can be excited along with us that George Fox received some great press this year, being twice ranked as the top Christian college in the country. This has translated into increased interest in attending George Fox. People are being drawn, in large numbers, to a Christian education that is distinctively Quaker.

I hope you will continue to talk with your youth about the great opportunities available to them at George Fox. And make sure they apply early in order to receive maximum financial aid. I’ll be at yearly meeting sessions. Please feel free to approach me and ask questions or share your own heart for Friends leadership at George Fox University and its impact on Northwest Yearly Meeting.

Click here to learn more about the Friends Leadership Program or email Jamie Johnson.