YEARLY MEETING
HIGHLIGHTS
Evangelical Friends Church-Easter Region (EFC-ER) 2007
Epistle
Yearly Meeting, July 21-24, 2007 The 2007 Yearly Meeting
kick-off banquet, hosted at Malone College�s Brehme Centennial Center, was held
again in two sessions, with attendance totaling over 600 with a large Hispanic
delegation and representatives of both native and statewide Haitians.
Featured speakers were Dr. Ed and Linda Zinn (China) and Drs. Dan
and Rhonda Mitchell (Africa). Holistic mission was a theme from both
couples, emphasizing that mission activity occurs in even the small things in
life. Dr. Zinn shared a story about eating regularly at a noodle
shop in China, which opened the door to the proprietor "asking questions".
Dr. Zinn quoted Leisle Newbegin, a missionary to India for over 30 years,
saying "Holistic Mission results when the church does its work in such a way
that it provokes the kind of questions to which the Gospel is the only possible
answer. Music was presented by Renewal, a musical group well-known to
Friends. Concurrent programming was provided for infant/pre-school,
elementary, and teens throughout the sessions.
Sunday morning,
delegates worshipped in local Friends churches. Sunday evening�s opening
service, which moved yearly meeting sessions back to the Malone Campus for the
first time in many years, was held in Malone�s newly acquired Johnson Center for
Worship and the Fine Arts.
This joyous celebration of our annual reunion
featured our General Superintendent (since 1989), Dr. John Williams.
Dr. Williams, affectionately known as "Dr. John", set the tone for
the upcoming meetings by sharing on our theme for the 2007 sessions, "Extreme
Makeover: Christ�s Call To Transformation. Speakers for the early morning
Monday and Tuesday Prayers breakfasts were Frank and Betsy Carter and Sam and
Rose Nuako, representing Jamaica, and Dave and Tricia Howell, representing
Ireland. On Monday morning, the foundation for harmonious and productive
sessions was set by participation in a concert of Prayer and Praise prior to the
General Superintendent�s Annual Address to the delegation. Dr.
Williams stressed the need to make evangelism that will transform the world our
number one priority, emphasizing "If evangelism isn�t your first priority, it
isn�t likely to be your second. Monday and Tuesday business sessions
included the following highlights: the Faith and Practice revision is completed
and is now available; the Friends Action Board is offering grants to finance or
provide start up money for ministries primarily in the areas of prison ministry,
abstinence education, or to address needs of the persecuted church; Friends
Disaster Service reports extensive post Katrina assistance in LaFitte,
Louisiana, which continues, plans to rebuild a home destroyed by fire in Winona,
Ohio, and plans to rebuild a home of a Haviland Friends Church family in tornado
ravaged Greensburg, Kansas; reports from all mission fields, giving witness to
the work of the Holy Spirit in saving people and raising up leaders around the
world; reports indicating that via our camping programs at Camp Gideon and Camp
Wakefield, that "God is raising up an army of young Christians who are trained
and ready to serve Jesus in whatever He calls them to do"; the last Malone
report from retiring Malone President, Ronald Johnson, and the introduction of
new President and wife, Gary and Marla Streit; EFM was presented with the
$1,000.00 collected so far towards the $7,500.00 Vacation Bible School
offerings, designated for ministry to the "Gate Keepers of Heaven in
northern India; EFC-ER also presented a check for almost $20,000.00, which, when
added to the contributions of 5 other yearly meetings across America, assisted
in surpassing the $75,000.00 goal for the Easter offerings, designated for work
in Nepal; 70 Christian Education workers attended a seminar at Camp Gideon last
fall; continued attendance in EFC-ER is reported with most recent figures
indicating 17,834; a memorial service for pastors, missionaries, and/or board
chairmen who have gone home to heaven included memorials for Kenneth Bess, Ralph
Blackburn, Myron Harris, Earnest Moore, Claude Roberts, and Edith Salter
Wendt.
On Monday, a pastors "think tank entitled,
"Reaching The Present Generation", was held with Reggie Dabbs, one of the most
requested youth speakers in the nation. Mr. Dabbs was also the guest
speaker for Monday and Tuesday evening services. Mr. Dabbs brings a
message of accountability and hope to today�s youth and is a "must hear
speaker for those with a heart to reach our next generation for Christ.
Following the evening service an ice cream social was held in the Johnson Center
Fellowhsip Hall.
The capstone of our annual sessions is the recording
service on Tuesday evening, during which retiring pastors and new
recordees are recognized. Retiring this year is David Householder.
The recording ceremony presented Jason Harsh, Jerry Hart (who was unable to
participate last year), and Sam and Rose Nuako, who were commissioned for
service in Jamaica. A reception honored these retirees and recordees and
provided a final opportunity for those present to enjoy a time of fellowship
prior to our departure. We look forward to our next sessions of Yearly
Meeting on July 19 - 22, 2008.
We receive many epistles each year and we
appreciate learning about the diversity of Friends worldwide. We would
like to particularly solicit receipt of epistles from our sister yearly meetings
of Northwest YM, EFC-Southwest, EFC Mid-America YM, Rocky Mountain YM, and
Alaska YM.
We also would like to commend those Friends around the world who
diligently continue to emphasize Biblical mandates for Holy living, in spite of
increasing social and political pressure to compromise God�s Word.
We
lovingly send this epistle to all and, just as we pray for our own, we pray for
your continued growth in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sincerely,
Wayne Ickes, Presiding Clerk Evangelical Friends Church-Easter Region
5350
Broadmoor Circle Canton, Ohio 44718