October 26, 2022

Featured Articles

Growing Young

Growing Young is a study that Fuller Seminary did a while back on what churches, who have a lot of young people, are doing to maintain that status. Katy Moran has been trained as a Growing Young trainer for church leaders. She will be doing a workshop at Maple Run Friends on November 5, 9-3 pm.

You and your church are invited to participate in the upcoming International Friends Church Multiplication Conference (IFCMC), November 9-11! The first IFCMC in 2020 stirred the hearts of many Friends worldwide, with participants from 26 different countries. They anticipate even more participants this year! The continued purpose of this online gathering is to inspire, encourage, and equip us to do our part as Friends to fulfill the Great Commission and to plant churches. We are praying that God will pour out His Spirit and give birth to a multiplication movement through us in the towns, communities, and regions wherever Friends live, and in many parts of the world where no Friends exist yet!

Information and registration can be found at friendsmultiply.org

The FUM Triennial 2023 will be held in Nakuru, Kenya, from July 2-8, 2023. The theme will be "Come, Abide, Go" from Matthew 28:19. Registration is now open at this link

IYM Church News

Hinkle Creek Friends will hold their Homecoming Sunday on October 30 at their 10:30 am service. All are welcome to celebrate 186 years of God’s faithfulness at Hinkle Creek.

Back Creek Friends celebrated Killian Clark earning the ‘That of God’ scouting award on October 23. Friends Committee on Scouting Clerk, LuAnn Hagee (Mooresville Friends – WYM), joined them for the service.

Sycamore Friends is providing boxes for operation Christmas Child. If you would like to give, you can either request one from the church, or visit this link for more information.

Fairmount Friends is holding a Christmas in November event! On November 19 from 1-3 pm. Come get some cookies, drink some cocoa, and make some crafts!

*If you want to see news and highlights for your church in the Communicator, send your information to iymcommunicator@gmail.com

Youth/Young Adults

A Level-Up Young Adult Retreat will be held at Quaker Haven on November 11-13. This event is geared for young people who have graduated from High School and through their 30’s. Click HERE for a link to register.

The annual Fall Impact Youth Retreat will be held at Quaker Haven on November 4-6. This is an event for Jr. and Sr. High students (7th -12th grades)

Youth Mission Trip

IYM is organizing a youth / young adult Missions Awareness trip to Kenya, East Africa, next July and August. The exact dates are currently being set. We hope to take 4-5 teens / young adults along with 4-5 adults. Contact IYM Director of Missions, Eric Dale (eredale@hotmail.com), with questions and for more information.

Gathering Information

The next Pastors Gathering will be held October 27 at Bethel Friends, from 10-11:30 am. We will be joined by some staff members from Josiah White’s to discuss options as we lead our churches in a Christ-like response to the overturn of Roe v. Wade. All pastors are welcome and encouraged to attend!

E&O will meet by Zoom, Monday, December 5, 6:30 pm. They will not meet with the rest of the committees on December 10.

Representative Council will be held at Hemlock Friends,

November 19, at 9:30 am.

The following Pastor Gathering will be held on Zoom on

November 15, 10-11:30 am. Click HERE for the link to that Zoom.

The next Committee Day will be December 10, at 9:30 am at Marion First Friends.

The annual Pastors and Spouses Christmas Dinner will be held at Bear Creek Friends on Saturday, December 3, at 5:30 pm. Janis Sizelove will, again, be catering the meal, and Sara Byers will be providing Christmas-themed activities and entertainment. All pastors and their spouses are welcomed for what will prove to be a fun way to usher in the Christmas season! Please call the IYM office to RSVP by November 30.

Change in Relationship

Proposal on a ‘change of relationship’ with Friends United Meeting - FUM Study Group:

An IYM Study Group has been working on studying our relationship with Friends United Meeting. At the links below, you will find a proposal of a ‘change in relationship' with FUM and a letter that describes the process that was taken to get to this point. These files have been sent to Monthly Meeting Clerks, M&O Clerks and Pastors already. Click on these files for further information. Please take special note of the three gatherings, starting in January 2023, for IYM Friends to discuss this proposal.

Letter to IYM Churches regarding a 'Change in relationship' with FUM

FUM Study Group Proposal for a 'Change in relationship' with FUM

Committee News

From the Advancement Committee:

Harvest! We are in the midst of it. We are preparing for it. We are

grateful for Jesus Christ as He brings in His harvest.

Keep praying for IYM and all our endeavors. Pray for Pat Byers as he serves our yearly meeting. Pray for our amazing folks who give and serve with joyful hearts.

We continue to work at raising funds for the 2024 budget. We have raised $22,320 in gifts and pledges. Consider making a gift - pledges are great as well. Remember, He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). What a gift!

From the Christian Service Committee:

During these days of harvest, let's remember to care for folks around us who need food, clothing, shelter, and hope. Pray for folks. Engage folks. Keep on serving well.

When you get the opportunity, check out what "The Shepherd's Hand Community Outreach Center" is up to in Fort Wayne - https://www.shepherdshandfw.org/

Another example of how we can invest and transform our communities. Peace of Jesus Christ to all of you.

The Friends Ministry Training Certificate Program at Barclay College is a quality educational experience for those within the Friends church who are called to ministry. Ten online courses are offered over a two-year time frame. Have questions or want to apply? Send an email to distancelearning@barclaycollege.edu or inquire at: https://www.barclaycollege.edu/online/request-information/.

Upcoming IYM Events

Thur, October 27

Pastor Gathering

Location: Bethel Friends

Start: 10:00 am

End: 11:30 am

Sat, November 5

Growing Young Workshop

Location: Maple Run Frds

Start: 9:00 am

End: 3:00 pm

Tues, November 15

Pastor Gathering

Location: Zoom

Start: 10:00 am

End: 11:30 am

Sat, November 19

Representative Council

Location: Hemlock Friends

Start: 9:30 am

End: 12:30 pm

Sat, December 3

Pastors Christmas Dinner

Location: Bear Creek

Start: 5:30 pm

End: 7:30 pm

Visit our Website

A Message from our Superintendent

Good Morning!

We have been working through the 'Questions for Spiritual Growth' out of the 2018 version of

Faith and Practice starting on page 40. The one we will look at today is under the section for the local Ministry and Oversight, but given the fact that October is 'Pastor Appreciation Month,' these are good questions for all of us to consider on behalf of our pastors:

Care for Pastors and Leaders

Are you seeing that pastors’ and leaders’ time is free for the ministries to which he or she is called and gifted? Are salaries adequate? Is there adequate time for rest, vacation, and renewal each year?

Consider, also, these words from 1 Peter 5:

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for

someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of

believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

May we all answer God’s call in shepherding his people by coming along-side our pastors in love, grace, and truth.

-Pat Byers