FUM's two Belizean pastors-in-training—Clifton Major and Christopher Luben—joined us about four years ago. I was introduced to Clifton by his wife, Athina Major, who taught at Belize Friends School. I had asked Athina for help with organizing a basketball tournament, as part of the Belize Friends Center’s campaign against human trafficking. When Clifton heard about it, he offered to help. I later learned that he was a community organizer who worked with youth groups in the community.
Read MoreFriends United Press received word last week that Renovaré—an international organization dedicated to Christian spiritual formation—will be using The Journal and Major Essays of John Woolman for an upcoming Book Club study. With Richard Foster’s input, Renovaré selected the Phillips Moulton edited version, which Friends United Press publishes. This book club will lead approximately 1,800 people through the study, and it will be facilitated by Dr. Jon Kershner.
Read MoreThe story reminds us that we can be the drivers of the bus, or passengers in the bus: drivers because we have leadership positions to help steer the congregations or meetings; passengers because we could be part of those being directed by the leadership...
Read MoreEmily Provance writes about how Quaker communities might begin to think about caring for parents and families, based on the second year of the Quaker parent mutual support groups co-sponsored by Friends United Meeting, New York Yearly Meeting, and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Chief among her findings: Quaker parents feel profoundly isolated. "Some parents are literally alone...Other parents feel isolated despite not being literally alone. Parents in the group talked about the isolation of being the only Quaker in their geographic area or the only Quaker family in their meeting. They talked about the difficulty of developing deep friendships in modern society. They talked about their hunger for connections with parents in similar circumstances: other disabled parents, other single parents, other foster parents, other parents with shared custody arrangements. Facilitators heard it repeated again and again: 'I feel so alone.'"
Read MoreThroughout our history, the people known as Friends (or Quakers) keep rediscovering an essential and enduring truth: There is one who speaks to our most basic needs and most significant hopes—Christ Jesus the Lord. Both individually and communally, we are learning to know and follow the Voice that guides us in the way we should go. Together, we seek to understand and obey that truth which sets us free. As a people, we share in the experience of that powerful life which makes all things new. Maybe you are searching for an authentic and transforming faith and community to call home—if so, come in and join us as we seek to know and follow Christ.
Friends United Meeting commits itself to energize and equip Friends through the power of the Holy Spirit to gather people into fellowships where Jesus Christ is known, loved, and obeyed as Teacher and Lord.