Church Vitality Conference:
Are you a clerk or member of a committee at your church? Have you ever asked, "What am I supposed to do in this role?" The IYM Executive Committee is holding a Church Vitality Conference on November 20 at South Marion Friends attempting to answer these questions and more. Mark your calendars now! Registration information will be available soon.
Center Friends will hold their annual garage sale/bake sale on September 30-October 2, 9-5 on Thursday and Friday and 9 to noon on Saturday. The proceeds will go for missions. On October 3 at 6 pm, their annual Michael Wayne Smith Concert will be held. Michael is an award-winning Southern Gospel singer/song writer. A love offering will be taken.
Charlottesville Friends will host a Gospel Quartet on Sunday evening, October 24, 6 pm.
Farmland Friends praises the Lord for a successful Fall Festival which included games, a petting zoo, food, gospel presentation, scripture scavenger hunt, and live music. There were 306 registered attendees, 157 of whom were children!"
Sycamore Friends will have a Fall Break Retreat/Mission trip to Quaker Haven, Octobr 18-20.
Wabash Friends will begin a seven-week "Mama Bear Apologetics" course, October 4, 6:00-7:30 pm. The "Mama Bear Apologetics" book, by Hillary Ferrer, helps to equip moms, grandparents, or anyone involved with youth to navigate the current culture from a Biblical Worldview. Knowing what is true is imperative for being able to argue against what is false, and we must prepare our kids to stand for Truth.
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Sunday, September 19, Knightstown Friends participated in the National Back to Church Sunday. Ministry and Oversight sent out over 75 hand-written invitations to people who have attended the church in the past and many personally invited family and friends as well. There were 15 individuals who attended that had not been attending of recent and a group photo was taken to commemorate the day. Robin Richey and Marilyn Whicker played special music and Larry White sang. There was a wonderful pitch-in with great fellowship after rise of worship.
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You are invited to White's Residential and Family Services 13th Annual Spiritual Life Benefit Dinner on Saturday, October 2! Join them for an evening of food, fellowship, inspiring entertainment by Lamar Campbell, and moving testimonies by those who have been impacted by the spiritual life ministry at White's. Tours of the newly built Compass Rose Academy will be available from 4 pm to 5 pm. Click here to RSVP and please contact Tonia Ray at tonia.ray@whitesrfs.org or 260-563-1158, ext. 1346 if you have any special dietary needs or to sign up for a tour.
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We are invading another youth group! Join us as we launch our new camp theme "More Than You Know" with a Youth Invasion at First Friends Kokomo (1801 Zartman Rd, Kokomo, IN 46902) from 5-8 pm on October 10 for food, games, and worship with Matt Windham and Drew & Nikki Drage. If you are coming out, please let Andrew Heald (andrew.heald13@gmail.com) know to make sure we have enough food.
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Fall Impact Teen Retreat at Quaker Haven is quickly approaching! This is a weekend of camp with an opportunity to give back through service as well. November 5-7, $100, 7th-12th graders at Quaker Haven. Register: www.qhcyouthprogramming.com
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From the Advancement Committee:
THANK YOU for your gifts and pledges toward the 2023 IYM budget. So far, we have received $10,806, along with $13,100 in pledges, for a total of $23,906. Your support of our yearly meeting encourages and strengthens our ministry efforts. If you have questions and/or need anything from the Advancement Committee, please let damon know at dseacott@gmail.com or call 517-204-5348.
From the Christian Service Committee:
We are privileged to have Tom Cochran, National Director of Church Engagement at Destiny Rescue, join us for a webinar focusing on human trafficking around the world and how we (IYM) can make a positive impact.
We will have a zoom meeting on Wednesday, October 13, 7 pm. Here is the Zoom information to join us:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://indwes.zoom.us/j/98656370990?pwd=cm1aMUNVdTl0Q0tRNmUyZC9vNGJHQT09
Meeting ID: 986 5637 0990
Passcode: 851312
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,98656370990# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,98656370990# US (New York)
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A thought on Multiplication:
Who or what your eyes are focused on is what influences your attitude. When the Hebrews started to leave Egypt their eyes were on leaving. When the Egyptian army was coming after them they focused on the army, and their attitude was fear and blaming. The Lord went before them in a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud. It was the Lord’s provision and protection that led them forward.
There are many ways God calls us to move forward and I believe multiplication and discipleship are two. I also believe He will provide the way. Exodus 13:17-22 -Sid Martin
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Pastor Gatherings for the 2021-2022 year will meet on the second Thursday of the month from 10-11:30 am. We will have studies inspired by Thom Rainer's books; Scrappy Church and Becoming a Welcoming Church. There is no need for pastors to purchase the books, but if you would like to pick them up, they are a quick read with a lot of practical information. The next gathering will be on Thursday, October 14 from 10-11:30 am at Fairmount Friends.
Barclay College is grateful to announce that they are offering LOGOS Bible Software to all their graduate students. Also Barclay announces that they now have on Online Criminal Justice, 4-year, accredited Bachelor of Arts Program.
Bible College Online has named Barclay College Online one of the Best Online Christian Colleges. Many of these top Christian colleges boast affordable tuition rates and reputable academic programs, with both traditional and online degrees available for those who prefer distanced learning. These top Christian colleges have been ranked on several factors, including but not limited to return on tuition investment, quality of academics, affordability, and editorial review to help students determine which of these top online Christian colleges is the best fit for their academic goals.
A dedication celebration of the new Midwest Region USFW will meet on October 26 at Sycamore Friends. Registration will begin at 9 am., followed by a program, and a catered lunch ($13). The Midwest Region is comprised of women from all around Indiana, Eastern Ohio, and Western Illinois. They will have a get-aquainted time and hear an update on the Pad Project, and see the video of Katrina McConaughey handing out the completed pads to girls in Africa. The business will include approving the creation of this new group and of the officers put forth by the nominating committee. This will be followed by an installation of the officers. Even if you haven’t been active in the “old” USFW, please plan to attend and help us make the new one a vital ministry. Please RSVP to midwestregionusfw@gmail.com by October 21.
The husband, Dick Talbot, of White River Friends former pastor, Ardith Talbot, recently passed away. Please keep that family in your thoughts and prayers.
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Upcoming Events:
October 14, Pastor Gathering - Fairmount Friends; 10-11:30 am
November 13, Representative Council - Bethel Friends; 9:30 am
November 20, Church Vitality Conference - South Marion Friends; 9:30am-3pm
December 11, Committee Day - Marion First Friends; 9:30 am
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Good Morning!
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
I have had some tough days, lately, while praying and thinking about the condition of the Church of today. Anywhere you look for statistics and trends when it comes to the Church of Jesus Christ in America…Barna, Fuller…or other sources, the news just does not seem to be good.
Then, I come across this passage in Mathew 28, yet again. ‘Go…make disciples…teaching them…and I am with you…always…to the very end!’ These short verses can do a lot to build an effective foundation in following and sharing Jesus in ways that leads to new disciples.
In George Barna’s work from 2001, Growing True Disciples, Barna entitles the first chapter with this question, “Do you want to make a difference?” Maybe we would assume this to be a given in all of us who choose to follow Jesus. But, Barna asks the question for a reason.
Discipleship is a centerpiece of the mission of Indiana Yearly Meeting. What if we were to approach any sort of discipleship program or action by, first, asking this question. Do you want to make a difference?
May we all endeavor to truly make a difference in the world. May we make a difference in the ways we follow Jesus. May we make a difference in the ways we make disciples.
-Pat Byers
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