Christmas is a special celebration in various parts of Kenya and the entire world. It is the moment we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and is more of a thanksgiving affair in Kenya, and Africa at large. People travel from the cities to the villages to reunite with family. These are the times when children get new clothes, decorate mud houses by drawing flowers on the walls, and families get to share special meals together. It is not any different on Mt. Elgon, in Western Kenya. The orphan and vulnerable children Christmas party has become a norm since its inception six years ago, and once again, on 23 December 2024, all roads led to the Chebyuk Peace Centre for the Children’s Celebration. During the celebration there were over 900 children who had not just come to share a meal with other children but also to catch up with their agemates. FUM Programme Coordinator Getry Agiza joined with the children in this celebration.
Read MoreOn the 15th of December Belize Friends Church held a Christmas party, with 47 participants. The toddlers were running around laughing and playing. The children and teenagers occupied the largest table with their heated discussions and loud laughter. Mothers were helping and engaging in conversations, disciplining their toddlers and enjoying. The young adults came in with big smiles on their faces. Carrols were playing in the background. There was Christmas at Belize Friends Church. When everyone had finally gathered (hours after we started to pick the first group) there was sharing of the meaning of Advent, and Jesus Christ, born as hope into our darkness. And for a few seconds everything turned completely silent, with the message in our hearts, that Jesus Christ came as a light of hope to the darkness of the south side of Belize City. With a full church hall, and hearts overflowing with thankfulness to God, we could glimpse the impact that Belize Friends Church has on this community.
Read MoreAs One Who Seeks First The Kingdom Of God We need not beg to enter into the presence of God. Whether we recognize it or not, we are always and forever loved and watched over by the Divine Spirit. Instead of seeking and knocking to get into the presence of God, we have to knock on the door to get out of the prison of worldliness we have built for ourselves out of the things that we thought we desired but which do not satisfy us.
Read MoreAs One Who Listens Like many older people, my Dad spent his later years wearing a hearing device to amplify the voices around him. I’m sure he had a legitimate degree of hearing loss, but our family was often amused and sometimes irked by how Dad could miss something that was said clearly in front of him, yet pick up on a conversation going on in another room. Mom’s diagnosis was that Dad was just “hard of listening.”I wonder if that is how God might view me! How many times has God spoken clearly to me and I’ve completely missed it?
Read MoreThroughout our history, the people known as Friends (or Quakers) keep rediscovering an essential and enduring truth: There is one who speaks to our most basic needs and most significant hopes—Christ Jesus the Lord. Both individually and communally, we are learning to know and follow the Voice that guides us in the way we should go. Together, we seek to understand and obey that truth which sets us free. As a people, we share in the experience of that powerful life which makes all things new. Maybe you are searching for an authentic and transforming faith and community to call home—if so, come in and join us as we seek to know and follow Christ.
Friends United Meeting commits itself to energize and equip Friends through the power of the Holy Spirit to gather people into fellowships where Jesus Christ is known, loved, and obeyed as Teacher and Lord.