Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends (Quakers)

Kara (left) attends Newberg Friends and is a sophomore at George Fox University.

As I sit here contemplating my faith, I grow a bit discouraged by my lack of answers. Then I am reminded that faith is a journey, which is great because that means I don’t have to have any answers; I just have to be seeking the truth.

For the past two years, the closest person in my life was a steadfast atheist. On top of that, he was a smart atheist. This meant he asked hard questions for which I never had good enough answers, and he came up with steady arguments that made me feel like I knew nothing. It was easy to start losing faith in, well, “faith.” One day he told me that if I wanted to have a chance of making my beliefs credible, I needed to think for myself and not just use the answers that I’d been taught all of my life. Thus began one of the hardest endeavors I have ever taken on. I had no idea how to go about finding answers.

Why do I believe in God? The first reason I came up with was something like: “Because I know it’s true! It just makes sense!” Needless to say, I was not happy with this response. How do I know it’s true? How do I even begin to find evidence of its truth? I don’t necessarily see God acting on a day-to-day basis, but there have been times I’ve noticed his handiwork. It’s hard not to believe in something when you can find no explanation for the results it creates.

So here’s what I’ve got so far: I believe in God because I don’t know how else the intricacy of creation would be able to exist, how existence would be able to exist, without him. I have also had experiences in my life in which I’ve either felt God’s presence or seen the product of his involvement. And through that presence I have grown to know a God who is loving beyond all belief. I always feel as though he is sitting right next to me, even when there is nothing evident to make me feel that way, and I see his love in the goodness that exists in those around me. It’s not much, but it’s something I can claim as my own. I still have a lot of “churchy” answers, but I am working to develop and broaden them into something genuine to me and not just recited; I am trying to make my religion into a relationship.

Despite my limited understanding of an infinitely big God, I have a wonderful experience to share: continuous undeserved love. Rather than sharing my beliefs through the Sunday school answers ingrained in me from the time I was born, I can share God by spreading the love he shows me. It worked for Jesus, didn’t it? My system of beliefs center entirely on this God guy who just so happens to BE love, so it is only logical that SHOWING love would display the God I’ve grown to trust. It’s not easy, and people don’t necessarily notice every time I give them grace, but I feel like it truly affects my interactions with others on some level. We’ve all been called to love our neighbor, and God has made one pretty big neighborhood for us to run around in. Even when we don’t have a specific calling placed on our hearts by the Spirit, we are always called to love in humility. It is a simple display of faith that requires constant work, and I’ve discovered it is worth the effort.

Questions to continue the conversation:

• How are you exploring and journeying in your faith?
• What concrete “answers” do you have to share with other about the reality you experience?

Ken Redford, pictured here with his family, is pastor at Meridian Friends Church, in Idaho. He came to NWYM, and Christ, when friends invited him to participate in our annual volleyball tournament.



God is an expert at global positioning. Let me illustrate: In 1985, our family lived on Main Street in Talent, Oregon. We lived in a humble rental home that, to me, didn’t seem so strategically placed. It was literally yards away from a railroad track, and it was directly across the street from the howling alarm for the volunteer fire department. As a high school student, I didn’t like living there. Looking back, however, I can’t give God enough thanks for his wisdom in positioning our family at that exact location.

At age 16, my focus was far from Christ. I was learning to drive, I had just found a dishwashing job (a dream come true at $3.35 per hour!), John Elway was a rising star on my favorite team, and I had finally become an upper classman. Christ wasn’t an everyday part of my focus, and though Christ wasn’t on my mind, I was on his.

In God’s providence, our home was located four blocks from the largest building in Talent—the meetinghouse for Talent Friends Church. More important, as it turns out, God had located me directly in the path of people who would have a part in shining his light into my life. I want to give God thanks for all of NWYM, but especially for a classmate Rich Swingle; youth sponsors Steve and Lesta Johnson, Ron and Deb Mulkey, and Jeff and Mary Dumke; and for pastors Mark and Patsy Burton, Randall and Norma Emry, and Paul and Patsy Miller. Thanks to God’s “strategery,” I was surrounded by “a thousand points of light.”

As I reflect on my own experiences of being drawn to Christ through NWYM people, I want to offer a few “points of light” to ponder.

1. Evangelism is more about our presence than our pressure. It’s easy to find people who promote Christ out of an unhealthy sense of obligation or fear. I am glad to say that I was never made to feel this pressure. Rather, I found people who lived George Fox’s words: “Walk joyfully on the earth and respond to that of God in every human being.” I encountered people who were genuine and willing to be present to me through their gentle acceptance, thoughtfulness, and quiet confidence.




2. Evangelism can be slow and hard for us to measure. As a youth, I did not faithfully attend Sunday morning church services. I did not come to church, but instead, it came to me. Christ’s light shined through NWYM while I encountered Rich Swingle at school, while I delivered newspapers to the Emrys and Millers; and while having fun with the Mulkeys, Dumkes, and Burtons during off-site youth activities, including waterskiing and playing volleyball.

3. The primary work of evangelism is prayer. Trying to change someone is exhausting and hopeless. Praying for someone is life-giving and fruitful. Penetrating a hard or distracted heart is the work of the Holy Spirit. Only God could have put me where he did when he did. Be encouraged to know that God has a perfect plan for us to discover.

Queries for consideration:

• Who has God strategically positioned in your path?
• Do you intentionally and prayerfully invite Christ to shine his light through your life?

Colin Saxton, general superintendent for NWYM, attends North Valley, and just graduated one daughter from college and one from high school. His son is a junior.





One of the encouraging signs of growth I have witnessed in the church over the past several decades has been a shift in the way many local churches and even denominations relate to one another. Rather than being so focused on competition there is a much greater spirit of cooperation, as we work together in Kingdom ministry.

In many communities, different local churches partner together in prayer and action that demonstrates and proclaims the gospel to the people around them. More and more, different denominations are finding common ground concerns that demonstrate we really can function together as the body of Christ! To me, this is a sign that God is truly active among us.

When the spirit of competition arises, it shows the ugly side of denominationalism. We get petty, self-focused, judgmental, and defensive.

But when the spirit of cooperation flourishes, the unique perspectives of various denominations add to the breadth and depth of the church’s impact in the world. It is what Ephesians 4 suggests the church can become when, “Under his leadership all the rest of the body is coordinated and neatly fitted together with the necessary parts, each functioning in its own way so as to give a lovely symmetry to the whole body.” Different parts work together to accomplish a greater good.

United in Christ and in our common commitment to the core gospel, the different tribes within Christianity are also finding something good and powerful about having their own unique expression of faith. People are looking for a spiritual family that has a clear identity lived out with integrity. In their own pursuit of God, people want to find a home that fits their longing for something real—something authentic.

Few people care about what we believe on paper. They want to see faith in action—demonstrated in the worship, ministry, and shared life of the people who are the church. They want to see how faith connects to life—how the values and ethics of a spiritual tradition reshape the life of its people and in the way we attempt to make a difference in the world.

Among Friends, I often hear (and have said myself) that God has given us an important life and message to share with a watching world. Some of us have gone so far as to say the current cultural context is uniquely readied for Friends to impact—if only we will have the integrity, courage, and creativity to rise to the challenge.

One of the compelling questions is, “What does it mean to be the Friends of Jesus in the 21st century?” That is, how do we live out our unique self-understanding of what it means to know and follow Christ in this day and age? The world we live in now is very different than the one Fox, Fell, Fry and F….uh…Woolman were in, so how will the same dynamic life and power that energized and directed them get fleshed out through us in our time? We’ll wrestle with this a bit in the next several issues of Connection.

Friends are often hesitant to talk about a communal spirituality. Historically, we’re nervous about too much emphasis on what we believe together and how we are to live together. When we’re concrete at all about our faith life, we tend to be much more comfortable focusing on what individuals believe and how I/you are being called to act.

There is, of course, great value and truth in this approach. At some point, when it comes to genuine matters of faith, it is not enough to recite a creed or summarize your favorite theologian, or even quote a Bible verse. The ultimate question is “what can you say?” in the sense of what you know to be true in your own experience with Christ the Word. This does not mean you or I decide what is ultimately true…but rather it signals whether the truth is really abiding in us.

I offer, however, that this emphasis on individual experience never precludes our work to be the people of God, as well. As well as being individual disciples of Jesus Christ, we are joined in a common bond and fellowship. We are to be a new community that reflects the glory of God together. We are one in Christ, a formerly alienated people who have found a unity that transcends (rather than eradicates) our diversity. Notice there is no illusion of (or even desire for) uniformity here. Rather, we are a gathered people, drawn together in Christ and working to express the gospel in ways that remain appropriate to our context and call.

It has been fun, over the past year or two, to see a renewed interest in the question of who we are called to be as Friends. I am excited that it gets asked in a variety of ways in many of our local churches. It is built into camps and retreats hosted in our area. Many of our boards and sub-committees wrestle with this on a regular basis, as they dream and pray and plan and implement their ministry plans. It is a good question, one I believe is important to our future.

My prayer is that we will be some of the first people to join hands with other Christians in the common work of sharing the good news and seeking the Kingdom. I also hope we will continue to work at being a people of integrity, committed to faithfully living out the particular call God has given us as Friends. Blessings!

Queries:

• How do you respond to this call to be 21st Century Friends?
• How do you think that might look?
• What examples do you see of Friends already living this out?





Quaker Religious Thought is a twice-yearly publication that tackles different theological issues of importance to Friends. QRT 114 is an issue that relates to Colin’s discussion above, and is available here as a PDF.

You can also order a printed copy, or subscribe to regular home delivery for $16/year, by contacting Phil Smith.

Ken, pictured here with his wife, Jo, has traveled the world doing medical relief work. They attend Klamath Falls Friends Church, and assist with their community garden.




Trying to be a Christ follower has led to many challenges, numerous adventures, and multiple “God sightings.” I can’t recommend a better life for anyone. Typically, these challenges and adventures have included other people. Let me tell you of one man I met following the 9.3 earthquake and devastating tsunami of 2004 that killed thousands.

Our busy day at the clinic in Lamno seemed almost over when a thin man with a grapefruit-size bulge on his face appeared. His tiny wife stood with him. He looked dispirited; she, almost desperate.

Through my interpreter I learned his name is Abdulla. She continued, “With the pulling of a tooth three years ago, he noticed the start of swelling. It has grown much since then. All his lower teeth on that side have fallen out. Today he went to the little pukesmas (hospital) in Lamno and in previous months he has visited many other clinics in Northern Sumatra. No one has given him any hope. It has become difficult for him to eat. Often people are afraid of him. Even his three children sometimes avoid him. He no longer has the strength to farm.”

After examining him, along with the input of our dentist, we began prayerfully searching for a solution. Abdulla would soon not be able to eat. It is possible either his airway would obstruct, or the tumor would erode into an artery. Another large medical group nearby had no one able to undertake this complicated surgery. Phone calls continued. Doctors on an offshore hospital ship wanted a group of physicians far to the north in Banda Aceh to see him and to make a recommendation.

When told of this possibility, Abdulla gave a lopsided grin and his wife practically danced. Our planning coordinator, Kirk, asked to journey by helicopter with the patient. He later wrote, “I didn’t give much thought to things not working out. I was a little naïve. His wife and five-year-old daughter had come overland. The little girl is as cute as a button. She reminds me of my daughter at home. I bought her a dress and stuffed animal.”

The physicians in northern Sumatra, working in the aftermath of the terrible tsunami, were from many countries. They decided the tumor was not cancerous but also not able to be cut away. Only one physician, Dr. Bill from Australia, did not agree. He joined with Kirk in trying to find a solution. Our prayers continued. They eventually found a small temporary tent hospital manned by a Hungarian surgeon, which the International Red Cross out of Switzerland had set up. This surgeon felt surgery might be possible and admitted Abdulla to the tiny facility.

Two weeks later, the doctor wrote, “I have only good news. The right jaw removal went well. He learned to eat using his left jaw and has been discharged to his happy family. There were many hugs.” And he continued, “Only a few hours after his discharge, a hurricane wind struck northern Sumatra and totally destroyed the hospital he just left.”

Impossibilities, prayers, actions: God sightings? What do you think and why?

Questions to continue the conversation:

• Ken lists several “circumstances” in this article…do they all seem like God-sightings? Which ones do or don’t…and he’d like to hear why you think so!
• In what ways are you seeing God active in your life?
• How are you expressing your faith outwardly?

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.

Shawn, pictured here in Turkey with his wife, Katrina, and two kids, Elsie and Jered, is the associate superintendent of Global Outreach and Pastoral Care.



I get asked a lot: “How can I pray for our Friends Serving Abroad?” I appreciate this concern because it comes from people who are convinced it matters. I’m not sure I know anything new about prayer, but I am convinced that it makes a difference. So why, as our focusing query suggests, should we pray “for those who are engaged in spreading the gospel?” Here are a few reasons.

1. Prayer is an act of service: I pray with two gentlemen regularly. We pray for our Friends Serving Abroad (FSA) and for our local churches and pastors. For these guys it is an important, concrete act that is one way they serve those in faraway places. Their sincerity has energized my own desire to pray.

Many of us have heard the great stories about people across the sea praying for a missionary just at the point they were spared from death. I believe those stories, but I believe even more that the constant prayers of the faithful are crucial acts of service by the pray-er. Like the four friends who lowered their crippled friend down in front of Jesus, those in ministry need those who will serve them in prayer.

2. Prayer is an act of partnership: These two men keep up-to-date on what each FSA is doing, the struggles they face, the people they work with, and even how old their kids are. I am often surprised by how well they know the situation of the people for whom they are praying.

I had the privilege the other day to visit the home church of one of our future English teachers. It was not a Friends church, so I got to introduce the program and invite the congregation to join in the work and ministry of this young teacher. They took that seriously. Several folks joined me on the platform during the service and prayed for me, for this teacher, and for the ministry.

3. Prayer is an act of transformation: God’s mission is to restore all creation to right relationships, which were undone by our desire to take the place of God. Prayer is an act that signals our submission and willingness to be changed. It is risky to pray because we simply won’t stay the same.

Our prayer, be it humble listening, intercession, lament, praise, or petition, is transformative. Our hearts are changed, attitudes are formed and reformed, futures are shaped in new directions. God moves in us and through us. From a posture of prayer comes the calling to join God in God’s mission. Inevitably our inward faith turns outward, sometimes all the way to another culture.

Queries: We’d love to hear your response below.

• What has been your growing edge with prayer?
• What examples of “prayer-as-partnership” have you experienced?

Gar Mickelson, here with his wife, Vicki, serves NWYM as associate superintendent of Local Outreach and Pastoral Care. They came to faith through the ministry of Hayden Lake Friends Church and have two children and three grandchildren.

As I was growing up (spiritually speaking) my pastor would often use the phrase “We are working our way up to servanthood.” This saying had a tremendous impact on my life because it invited me to live life with a radically different perspective. Instead of a self-referenced perspective, this shifted my focus to those around me and challenged me to see myself as their servant. I didn’t know it at the time, but this lifestyle choice—living as a servant to others—would completely transform who I was. Along the way I’ve learned: True service is focused first and foremost on God; servanthood cannot be about gratifying self; and servanthood draws us into community with others.
Living as a servant flows out of our ministry to the triune God. In and of ourselves, our attempts at being true servants are anemic at best. Our humanness often distorts our attempts at “service” into self-centered activities. In my journey as a minister I have experienced times of great disillusionment. During these times the Spirit showed me that the focus of my service to others was actually me. I realized I had come to depend on the good reputation and status of my ministry for my sense of well being. When we focus on serving only God, the natural outflow will be authentic service to others. Serving from this perspective changes the very essence of how we serve and where we serve because our whole focus is not on ourselves but on God.
Servanthood cannot be “me” based, and should not be motivated by bringing attention and kudos to “self.” Many well-intentioned people end up becoming dour and disillusioned in their servant-ministry because their service is rooted in a desire to extract something for themselves. If our service to others is dependent on the good feelings or rewards we receive, we will quickly become disheartened because people will constantly let us down. By training ourselves to be rooted in God, our service is an offering of worship to God—not to other people. Serving from this perspective enables us to serve with delight even when people do not notice or appreciate our efforts.
Living as a servant leads us into community with others. The sum total of who we are includes our community identity, that is, who we are in both our faith community and the local community in which we live. Without community we are alone; there is no one to serve but ourselves, and we become the primary focus. Living in community with others teaches us how to be God-rooted servants. When we engage and interact with the community around us, we begin to discover just how magnificent and diverse God is in his love and grace. We need community to truly discover the uniqueness of who we are as human beings. Only when we are rooted in God can we find comfort in letting go of “self ”and trusting him to affirm our uniqueness, which helps us to maintain healthy self-identity.
Working our way up to servanthood is a magnificent journey in which we’re all invited to participate. Along the way we discover our identity and our purpose in this life. More importantly, though, we discover who the Triune God is and how worthy he is of our love, worship, and service.

Gar shares these insights from his own experience, but also has the opportunity to see service-in-action around Northwest Yearly Meeting. Stories about how local churches are reaching out into their communities are being gathered and constantly updated at Local Voices.

To share:

• How is your meeting reaching out and expressing service to your community?
• What is most difficult or challenging for you personally about living with a service-orientation?

“Empty Bowls” event draws 800 and sells more than 1,000 bowls through volunteer efforts of students, employees and guest professional artists

A George Fox University fundraising event, “Empty Bowls: A Night for Haiti,” raised more than $15,000 for victims still recovering from the January earthquake that devastated the island country.

An additional $3,000 was raised at the university’s Mr. Bruin Pageant, a charity talent show that same evening, bringing the total raised for Haiti relief to more than $18,000.

At the April 16 “Empty Bowls” event, more than 800 turned out to the university’s Klages Dining Hall to purchase ceramic bowls created by the university’s students, faculty members, and guest professional artists. Some 1,600 bowls were thrown during a 12-hour span in early February. They were filled with soup and sold for $12 each at the April dinner, with all proceeds going toward the Mennonite Central Committee, a worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches that works to provide disaster relief, build stronger communities, and encourage peace.

The event also included a silent auction of art pieces and eBay auctions featuring the ceramic bowls. The auctions accounted for about 15 percent of the fundraising total, according to Joey Bianco, president of the Associated Student Community, the school’s student-run activities organization that helped host the event.

Also partnering in the effort was university food service provider Bon Appetit, which donated food for the fundraiser.

“It was richly gratifying to watch our community come out in force around this event to demonstrate that even though they’re far away, we haven’t forgotten the needs of our brothers and sisters in Haiti,” said Mark Terry, an associate professor of art in the university’s Department of Performing Arts. “Resources gathered here on Friday night will go a long way in helping to rebuild broken lives.”
Dozens of volunteers turned out to create bowls or massage sore muscles at the February bowl-making event. Among the artists participating were professional potters Don Sprague, Nils and Diane Lou, and Don and Cindy Hoskisson. “Creating these bowls combined our love of art with the gift of life-saving aid,” Terry said. “There are people out there who need help, and this was our way of helping them.”

This marked the university’s third major Empty Bowls fundraiser. In 2005, nearly $20,000 was raised to assist the “untouchable” caste on the coast of India after the tsunami. Before that, $8,000 was raised in 2001 at “Empty Bowls for Aubrey,” an event to benefit a local child stricken with leukemia.

• Don Lamm, pictured here with his wife, Nancy, retired from active ministry with his last Sunday at Marion Friends, June 27. After 55 years in ministry, which included pastoring a church in California, serving as district superintendent in two of our Areas, and pastoring seven of our churches (Newberg, Rosedale, Portland First, Quincy, Eugene, Greenleaf, and Marion), Don and Nancy have settled into a quieter life at Friendsview Retirement Community. Their many years of service to the health and growth of Northwest Yearly Meeting are deeply appreciated.
• College Camp 2010 is a retreat for young adults (aged 18-24) at Quaker Hill Camp in McCall, Idaho, on July 9-11. The camp is open to non-students and students, but, due to facility limitations, we are not able to accommodate married couples. The camp will begin at 1p.m. on Friday and will end at 10 a.m. on Sunday. The theme of the camp is “Being Good vs. Being Good” and will focus on the difference between acting good and having a heart that God is making good. A simple registration process can be completed here. The cost of the camp is $45.



• The newsletter from Evangelical Friends International, called The Voice, will only be available to NWYM as an electronic file from this time forward. Budget constraints limit us to helping with the editorial work, but not printing and postage. If you would like to continue receiving The Voice, please send us an email and you will be put on the distribution list.
• Want to be kept up-to-date with announcements, job openings, and tidbits from around NWYM? Click here to join the NWYM News e-group.
• The educational retreat for pastors, called Focus Conference, will be held September 13-15. Todd Hunter, former national director at Alpha USA, will present. Hunter has launched a ministry focused on helping pastors and lay leaders reach a generation that has become disenfranchised from the church, focusing on conversational evangelism within the 21st century church. He has a passion for evangelism and is convinced that Christianity in America has an image problem that stymies most attempts at evangelism. Todd will challenge our pastoral leadership with the basic premise that Christianity needs to be “re-practiced” in order to help make followers of Jesus in this generation.
• Several of our churches are planting community gardens this summer, providing opportunity to build relationships with their neighbors while meeting very real needs for nutritious food. Those we are aware of include: Reedwood, Klamath Falls, George Fox University, Metolius, Sprague River, Netarts, CrossRhythm Friendsand Sherwood. Check out our community gardens page to keep updated, and interact with others who are involved.
• Over Memorial Day weekend,30 youth representing 15 different churches came together at Camp Yamhill in Oregon. The occasion was Samuel School II, a leadership camp for high school juniors and seniors. The weekend was full of classes and activities designed to challenge the youth spiritually and stretch them outside of their comfort zones. Topics of discussion included confronting culture, spiritual gifts, dialoguing with Christ, vocation vs. occupation, and transitioning into their next phase of life. The weekend was highlighted by a high ropes challenge course and a three-hour solo time in the woods. A close community formed among the youth as they journeyed together, asking hard questions and encouraging one another.
• Pastoral transitions include:
  • Jon Maroni, GFU graduate and GFES student, has joined the staff at 2nd Street as their youth pastor.
  • Tyler Hale, youth pastor at Reedwood Friends, will be leaving to pursue a degree in seminary. Watch our website for a position description at Reedwood.
  • Bill and Faye Pruitt, are taking over pastoral duties at Marion Friends, upon the retirement of Don Lamm.
• Evangelical Friends Mission has a new website. Check out our partner ministry’s work!
• Yearly Meeting Details:
  • • Registration for Yearly Meeting Sessions is online at nwfriends.org/registration.
    • Check here for information about the program activities for different ages.
    • The Outreach Celebration will be held Monday evening, 7 p.m. at Bauman Auditorium, followed by a reception featuring different outreach ministries of NWYM.
    • All past, present, and future missionaries, Friends Serving Abroad, Global Outreach/Mission board members, YCEW team members, and Teaching Abroad teachers are invited to congregate for the annual missions picnic. It will be Saturday, July 24, at noon at North Valley Friends Church, in Newberg.
    • A Young Adult Gathering will be held July 26th, 5-6:30 p.m. at Joel and Cherice Bock’s home, 2020 Carol Ave, Newberg. Join in for updates on YAF happenings and discussion about what YAF ministry will look like over the next year.
    • Tickets for the Friends Women Banquet (July 25, 5 p.m.) are required, and can be obtained for $11 if paid by July 13($15 after that, and only as space is available). Send a check payable to Friends Women, mailed to: Terri Bowen, 200 N. Meridian, Newberg, OR 97132.
      The Friends Men Banquet will be held at Friendsview Retirement Community, 5 p.m., July 25. $11 (pay at door only), $2.50 for off-campus Friendsview members, free for those living on campus.
    • All educators, Sunday school teachers, CE directors, superintendents, and their guests, are invited to a free CE Appreciation Dinner on July 27, 5 p.m. in the Cap and Gown Room of the GFU dining hall. Sandy Wild, ministry coordinator of Hayden Lake Friends Church, will be speaking. Please RSVP to Laurie Conant.
    • Join us for a closing Celebration Banquet to recap the week’s events, honor newly recorded ministers, and receive a closing challenge from Colin Saxton, NWYM superintendent. You can register for just the banquet.
    • Day counselors are needed for Tilikum. You must be at least 17 years old. Contact Erin Johnson.

Harold and Marilyn Antrim, (Sherwood Friends) married for nearly 60 years, and Pat and Patti Paz, (Meridian Friends) married for 20, share some reflections on their relationships.


“I, Harold, take thee, Marilyn, to be my wife, promising with Divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband as long as we both shall live.”
“I, Marilyn, take thee, Harold, to be my husband, promising with Divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful wife as long as we both shall live.”
These wedding vows we made to each other nearly 60 years ago have been the basis for our marriage conduct through the times of dramatic vocational changes, unexpected moves, and serious illnesses, along with everyday normal and stressful living raising four wonderful children. Continue reading …