May 2008

Last fall Reedwood Friends (Portland) held a class on “How can Friends recover successful outreach?” I led a session based on this Scripture text:

“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps’.” (John 4:35-37 NKJV)

Let’s consider together four kinds of “white unto harvest” situations in which both Gospel sowing and reaping occur: Continue reading …

Out of my mind…

A couple of weeks ago, the NWYM Administrative Council met with clerks from our various Yearly Meeting boards to discuss Ministry Plans for the coming year. For me, it was an exciting weekend—getting to hear some of the prayerful hopes and inspired dreams of our people—as they seek to be a resource to our local churches and a witness to the world we inhabit. Seeing it on paper and hearing the clerks talk about it was pretty exciting. However, what really gets me excited is knowing that these plans will actually be put into action in the year to come. Continue reading …

We are Publishers of Truth

Five Northwest Yearly Meeting truth publishers share their stories

Also in this issue:

• Roberts’ Reflections - Arthur Roberts
• One More Thought - Dan McCracken

  Download the May 2008 Connection here in the PDF format.

  The Connection is also available in Spanish! Get it here.

Download or read the May 200 GO! Newsletter here (in PDF format).

Articles in this newsletter are:

• Liz Interviews Irada
• Saying “Hello” in 11 Languages

Quincy is a growing community in North Central Washington, not too far from Wenatchee. As we drove around the community we got the feeling that the place is really growing and bustling. Now if you’re from Seattle or Portland or Rufus, you might not use the word “bustling”, but “growing” would be a very appropriate description!

Read more of Gar’s travelogue from around the Northwest in his pdf Newsletter Tid Bits.

This issue includes articles on:

• Quincy Friends
• Ed Marston
• Rufus New Works Retreat
• Hayden Lake’s Send-Off Party
• Pastor’s Conference

Download or read the April Keeping Current.

        It is also available in Spanish.

Articles in this issue:

• Honoring Authority of God and Caesar ~ Betty Kelley
• Prayer and Praise notes
• Greetings from Shawn McConaughey

April 2008
Some nights I worry. Not often, but occasionally. Maybe I’m hyper from too much activity, food, or ego stroking. I should drift off to sleep, but I don’t. Did I lock the car? Do I hear a faucet dripping or is it rain pattering the windowpane? Will the war ever stop? Why don’t they return my call? This pain in my back, is it angina, arthritis, or acid reflux?
So I flip- flop side-to-side seeking to get more comfortable. I fluff pillows and untangle blankets. Then I opt for practical strategies, like staring at the sky until I get drowsy. Like munching a cracker, which often works (whether physical or psychological, who knows)! Continue reading …

Out of my mind…

NWYM Superintendent

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Jesus

As I write on this day after Easter, I am mindful of the costly nature of God’s love and the lengths God went to in order to redeem a lost world and broken humans like you and me. What an amazing grace!

I suspect the cost to Jesus was even greater than we sometimes imagine. Beyond the agony of death, I wonder if the sheer grief of seeing human suffering—especially suffering caused by human evil—was overwhelming, disappointing and deeply frustrating. Continue reading …

Additional articles in this are:

• Well Project in Kenya ~ Retha McCutchen
• How to Pray for Kenya ~ Jeff & Christine Stanfield
• Roberts Reflections: Some Nights I worry ~ Arthur Roberts

Continue to read or download the April 2008 Connection here in the PDF format.

The Connection is also available in Spanish! Get it here

Read or download the entire issue here.

In this issue:

• Training for Russia Ministry ~ Judy Maurer
• Children in Africa ~ Raelene Fendall
• Earthquake Relief
• MK Teachers Needed in Africa
• Presidents’ Letters
• SW Missionary Accident
• 2007-08 Projects
• YM Banquet Plans ~ Rachel Vanden Hoek

Read or download the entire issue here.