.jpg)
As Way opened, Lawrence Meeting became further connected with Friends in Turkana. With additional assistance from Muchuma Niva, of The Evangelical Friends Church of Nashua NH (NEYM), we began to learn about the water needs of Kalongolomoe Friends Church, the "Church-under-the-tree" formed in 2021 in Turkana. We visited here in Massachusetts with Getry Agizah, FUM Africa Program Coordinator, and learned more about what Friends in the Turkana Mission were doing to help others there. We met with Peter Loten'gan, the current Director of the Turkana Friends Mission, and with members of the Kalongolomoe Friends Church over zoom. Last month, Muchuma visited the area on our behalf, learning more about water needs and borehole drilling there. We eventually discerned that the best way to proceed with this project was to partner with FUM - their extensive and long term knowledge of the region, relationship with the Turkana Friends Mission, careful consideration of infrastructure in Turkana, and long term goals of equipping Friends in the region to be able to follow their own discernment of needs aligned very well with our leading. (photo: one of the many ZOOM calls with Kalongolomoe and Lawrence Friends and others!)Lawrence Monthly Meeting is a tiny meeting in cold, snowy Massachusetts on the New Hampshire border.
Read More.jpg)
Sir Michael Barber KB has been re-appointed the UK’s Envoy for Palestinian Authority Governance, in addition to his role as the adviser on Effective Delivery. Sir Michael is supporting the Palestinian Authority as it implements its vital reform agenda to strengthen its delivery capacity and improve service provision.Sir Michael has long standing experience in the education sector and attended a quaker school himself in the UK. Because of that, he had a personal interest in visiting the Friends School during his visit, and was very keen to meet with members of the school’s leadership. He was joined on this visit by Acting Consul General, Ms. Alison McEwen, the Development Director, Billy Stewart, along with other members of the team (including Dima Abdellatif, who is herself an alumnus of the school!).
Read More.jpg)
On November 22, 2024, the eighty-second graduation ceremony at Friends Theological College was a resounding success. During the 2023–2024 academic year, a total of 139 students graduated across various programs: Certificate in Pastoral Ministry, Diploma in Theology, Advanced Certificate in Chaplaincy, and Bachelor of Theology. This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students and the entire FTC community, who worked tirelessly to make this event a memorable one. The ceremony was well attended by distinguished guests from diverse sectors, including churches, Yearly Meetings, the corporate world, other academic institutions, and representatives from the national government. Our guest speaker, Hon. Meshack Onzere Mulongo, the Vihiga County County Executive Committee Member for Environment, Water, Energy, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, graced the occasion by delivering an inspiring address. He encouraged the graduates to take up the mantle of leadership and become problem-solvers within their churches and communities.
Read More
As One Who Lays Down Their Life For Others Friends derive our name from the Scripture passage John 15:15: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” When reading verse fifteen in isolation, there are no stipulations or directives—we are Jesus’ friends simply because he says so.
Read More
GATHERED IN CHRIST - As One Who Abides Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5 NRSV)
Read More
The triennial theme is so relevant and captivating, “Come, Abide, Go”. These are words of Jesus Christ in the spirit of Gathering a special Community from ordinary people, Building and establishing them in the faith, and Releasing them in the world for Ministry work. Looking at Quakermen theme text, it paints a picture on how God is so committed and ready to partner with men in his ministry. The scriptures are so explicit that immediately Jesus begun his ministry he invited men to follow him “Come, follow me,” and “I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt. 4:19).
Read More
Throughout 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.