Urbana Conference is a gathering of students and adults who support students who are “invited into discerning how you can have a lifetime of engagement with God and His mission.” The conference, held in Indianapolis, will be December 28, 2022 to January 1, 2023. EFM and Kaleo Academy are organizing a gathering at the Western Yearly Meeting building in Plainfield, IN, around the event. Click HERE for a full press release of the event.
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Prayer for Peace: Jennifer Cochrane (Knightstown Friends) was contacted by a Christian organization, offering ways to band together in prayer for peace. From that contact, Jennifer challenged Knightstown Friends to set their phones/calendars to pray at 8 pm each day. There is power in prayer and that power can be multiplied when we do it together. Please consider joining Jennifer, Knightstown Friends, and others all around the world in this prayer movement.
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IYM Church News:
Wabash Friends is moving forward with a sanctuary renovation. There has not been clarity on the exact scope of the project yet, but it has been approved to "do something.” That space has not been updated since it was opened in 1992. It may be hard to believe that was 30 years ago! Also the Wabash Friends worshippers participate in a ministry that provides for the needs of children on the other side of the globe, "Emmanuel Ministry Children Sponsors." On March 27, Wabash Friends Youth will be partnering with leaders from Lynn Friends for youth group, providing a game, worship, and a message.
Center Friends has opened a search for a new pastor. Duane Cox (Pam) will conclude his ministry at Center this summer.
Farmland Friends has added James Davenport to their staff as of March 9. James serves as their "lead worshiper" and oversees the Worship Ministry Team.
Please pray for Jim and Sandy Jackson, Shirley Friends pastor and wife. Sandy is under hospice care.
State of Society Reports have been sent to Monthly Meeting clerks, M&O clerks, and pastors. Please fill these out and return them to the IYM office by May 16.
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Pastors: It has been a while since we have had one of our monthly Pastor Gatherings. We will meet again on Thursday, March 17 (tomorrow) at Jericho Friends from 10-11:30 am. The topic will be 'Becoming a Welcoming Church' part 1 (there will be a part 2, so stay tuned!). We hope you can join us!
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Evangelical Friends Mission’s 2022 Easter Offering is now available at https://friendsmission.com/easter/. Jesus’ Passion for the world takes center stage during Holy Week. In the week between Palm Sunday and Easter, Jesus guaranteed the fulfillment of his famous words, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” His passion was clear. This year we invite you to join us in celebrating and advancing Jesus’ passion! We encourage you to use the resource “Jesus’ Passion, Our Passion!” This is a guide to help God’s people to take a deep dive into the beauty of Holy Week. We also ask you to prayerfully consider propelling the Luke 10 Initiative forward through an Easter offering. These gifts will help us fuel the movement that was the essence of Jesus’ passion – that all would experience the transforming power of the Resurrection.
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Coaching Opportunity for Pastors: What is coaching? How can coaching help your pastor grow or be more effective? Did you know that IYM will pay for four Coaching Sessions with David Phillips (long- time pastor at Wabash Friends)? This involves one-hour sessions during which Dave listens and asks questions to develop clarity and add perspective that leads to a course of action that enhances the life of the meeting. If you have questions, contact Dave Philips at 260-563-5497 or dave@wabashfriends.org.
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From the IYM Advancement Committee: We are looking forward to IYM Sunday on April 24. And we are looking forward to continuing to spread the word about the ministries these fundraising efforts support. Hopefully you have received Pat Byer's recent letter regarding IYM. Let Pat know of any stories you have to share about how the ministries of IYM have impacted your life. So far, there is a total of $46,727.68 raised for the 2023 IYM budget. Thank you for your gifts and support as we move forward.
From the Christian Service Committee: Hopefully, you were able to join us for John Trimble's webinar, Showing the Love of Jesus Christ when . . . If you have ideas about any training and/or seminar topics you would like IYM to offer, please let Damon know: dseacott@gmail.com or call 517-204-5348
Let's keep living life to the hilt as we serve our communities for Christ.
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Francis Baldridge: Francis (or Frankie) Baldridge is a young man who is a member of Lynn Friends. Francis attended the Kaleo Academy Theology Camp this past summer and he is working on a release project as a part of the continued Kaleo Academy program for 2022. As a piece of this project, Francis is looking to raise funds for the IYM endowment in order to establish a scholarship fund for future Kaleo students from IYM. Click HERE for a letter written by Francis giving further information about his project.
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If you have an interest in serving at Quaker Haven Camp this summer as a counselor, please follow the link below to fill out their brand new counselor application. All counselors must fill out an application, whether this is your 1st year or 50th.
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This year's spring Youth Invasion will be an Explosion, Saturday, April 23, from 1 pm to 8 pm. Youth will join with local partners in the Wabash area to serve for several hours before returning to the church for food, games, and worship. Unlike past Invasions, this Explosion will be held on a Saturday so we can get more time for our youth to engage with other Friends from around IYM. Contact Ross Smedley for information.
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The IYM Evangelism and Outreach Committee is sponsoring a $200 rebate for any IYM congregant or pastor who successfully completes the Colson Fellows program. The Fellows program can be explored at: https://colsonfellows.org/course-of-study/
More information can be requested at:
Click HERE for a letter Mike sent to pastors in IYM.
Midwest Region of USFW will meet, April 12, for an in-perosn celebration of their new group. They will meet at Fairfield Meeting in Camby. The morning session will include an inspirational message by Jamie Lyon, pastor at Russiaville Meeting, a business meeting, a celebration of the new group, installation of officers, and time to visit. In the afternoon, there will be discussion on the Pad Project and work on making pads. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Lynn Mills, Co-Presiding Clerk
The deadline for Quaker Voluntary Service spplications has been extended to March 31. For more information, contact Hilary Burgin, Exective Director, at hilary@quakervoluntaryservice.org or www.quakervoluntaryservice.org.
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Upcoming Events:
March 19, Coffee and VBS Webinar, 10:00 am
April 23, Representative Council at Walnut Ridge Friends; 9:30 am
April 23, Youth Explosion at Wabash Friends 1-8 pm
April 24, IYM Sunday
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Good Morning!
During the Apostle Paul’s last missionary journey, he was determined to get to Rome to have an audience with Caesar. Consider all the obstacles he had to work through to get there. First, he is tried, jailed, and put on a boat set for Rome as a prisoner. Then, as often is the case in the New Testament, the boat he is on sails into bad weather.
Even though Paul warned the crew of the ship that there was a treacherous journey ahead of them, the crew decided to sail on. As the storm worsened, the crew began to panic and threw their provisions overboard. Then, they began to throw their tackle overboard. Think about that…they were not only throwing the food that would keep them alive in the short term, they were also throwing the equipment overboard that would keep them alive into the future. They were essentially throwing their future overboard.
Then, in Acts 27:21-23 we read these words; “After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.”
Do you think this was reassuring at all? Yes, folks, all the people will make it…everyone will survive…but the ship we are currently all riding aboard will be destroyed. The vehicle that is getting us to where we want to go…the ship that is currently keeping us safe…it will not go forward.
And, as we go further in this story about Paul, we find out he did make it to Rome. He got where he set out to go…even though the ship that was supposed to get him there was destroyed.
We, in IYM, are on mission. Our Mission Statement reads: Creating environments that empower individuals and churches to be disciples of Jesus Christ and to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Although the vehicle we have been aboard up until this point…our way of doing things…the way it has always been done…may cease, the mission WILL be realized! Just like God found a way to get Paul to Rome, He will also find a way to get us where He wants us to go, too!
-Pat Byers
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