The Friends Church Tanzania (FCT) Annual Conference officially began on October 23 under the theme “Rebuilding the Broken Walls,” inspired by Isaiah 58:12, “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Over 300 delegates attended, many of whom were participating in a Quaker conference in southern Tanzania for the very first time. The excitement was contagious as delegates arrived from across Tanzania—from Mwanza, Kahama, Manyara, Iringa, Morogoro, Tabora, Sumbawanga, Kyela, Dar es Salaam, and even from neighboring Malawi and Zambia. The joy of these new connections and friendships filled the air.
Read MoreThe newly formed Iglesia de Los Amigos Cuaqueros of Richmond, Indiana, officially opened on Friday evening, November 8, with a service of worship and praise held at West Richmond Friends Meeting. The church will continue to meet on Friday evenings at West Richmond Friends. The volunteer staff includes Odalys Hernandez Cruz, pastor; Dinora Uvalle Vasquez, director of community services; Jasson Arevalo and Luisa Samayoa, music directors; and Myron Guachalla, secretary. The new church decorated the meetingroom with flags of all the South American and Central American countries and territories.
Read MoreWhen he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. – John 13:12-17
Read MoreLeonita Mugofwa will be presenting the evening service, entitled “Joyfully Believing,” at the USFWI/QMI 45th Triennial Conference this July. In anticipation, Minga Claggett-Borne sent us this story about Leonita’s work that she wrote several years ago. She interviewed Leonita in 2012.—ed.
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.