Since 1902, the Kenyan Friends Church has been a recipient of missions from Western Friends. Many years have passed, and the same story repeats itself—even after Quaker missionaries left the country in 1964 and left the Church under Kenyans’ management. The church has remained a recipient of missions, and this has led to the understanding among Kenyan Quakers that missions are a preserve of the West—especially funding the mission work as a local church. Many Kenyan Quakers are willing and ready to go to the mission field, but expect the Western churches, under Friends United Meeting, to fund them. This has affected the ability of the Quaker Church in Kenya to carry out missions work.
Read MoreThis September, the Africa Section of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC–AS), in collaboration with the Africa Ministries Office of Friends United Meeting, has been conducting communications training among Yearly Meetings leaders in Kenya, with the aim of improving online communication through the use of internet services.
Read MoreThe lessons for this Sunday describe signs of God that appear in the midst of everyday life. Joseph was an example of faithfulness, even when the signs he perceived were unclear, even mysterious. When we have been “fed with the bread of tears,” scorned and ridiculed, we long to be restored by God.
Read MoreSeveral years ago, I was inspired by the one of ten in the Gospel account, so I started the spiritual practice of “returning.” On a sheet of paper, I counted my many blessings, identifying places that were transformative in my life and people who have influenced and encouraged me along the way. My list became quite long. Then, when possible, I returned to those places and people to simply say, “Thank you.” I have had opportunities to return to my childhood church in Burundi, teachers, family members, pastors, colleagues, high school, friends, the youth camp where I answered the call to ministry, and other places of blessings.
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.