During the week, Kelly Kellum and Michael Sherman met with Antoliana Budna, Principal of Belize Friends School, and Stephen Whyte, head of the Belize Friends School board, to review transition plans, confirm school board nominations, and shape a path forward for the ministry. Michael, Antoliana, and Stephen will serve together as the new interim leadership team for FUM in Belize until a director is appointed. The staff also gathered one evening to express appreciation for Oscar’s ministry. One staff member reflected, “Oscar became the father that many of our young people never knew.” That testimony captures the impact of his ministry in Belize.
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It is with heavy hearts that we share the decision to suspend plans for the in-person Joint Triennial gathering originally scheduled for July 6–11, 2026.This difficult decision was reached after much prayerful discernment. Several factors contributed to the decision, the most significant being that U.S. immigration officials have denied visas to the majority of our international members who had applied to attend. Without the full participation of Friends from across our global fellowship, the essence of our Triennial—an event grounded in fellowship, worship, and discernment across cultures—would be diminished.
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Despite the challenges, Esther never gave up on her dream of studying theology. In 2021, she enrolled at Friends Theological College (FTC), Lugulu campus, where she completed a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry. Her commitment, outstanding performance, and desire to uplift her family caught the attention of her lecturers. In 2023, she joined the main campus in Kaimosi for her Bachelor of Theology (modular session), and was awarded the McDonald Widow’s Scholarship to support her studies.Esther describes the modular program as a blessing—it allows her to spend time with her family while also focusing on her education. Speaking through tears of joy, she shared how the scholarship has transformed her life and given her a glimpse of hope for the future. . .
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Our visits to the farm each year, on our “Living Letters” trips or to volunteer during the olive harvest, are inspirational and demonstrate what real Christian faith and patience look like. It probably won’t keep me from planting too early in North Carolina, but in the larger scheme of things, it helps me lean into “long hope” when I despair about the situation in the world.
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Mama, I no reach Roly Poly. You help me? In Aristotelian ethics, a virtue sits at the golden mean between two vices. Take courage, for example. We tend to think of courage as the end goal, evaluating ourselves on how more or less courageous we are. Aristotle, on the other hand, sees a spectrum from cowardice to recklessness with courage balanced in the middle. The goal is not to max out the virtue but rather to have the proper amount of forward drive: not shying away from hard and scary things, and also not taking unnecessary risks. The same is true of mercy. Too much and too little are both bad. Too little is hard-heartedness, which I find hard to imagine. I hope my heart is always a soft place for Gardenia to land.
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Earlham School of Religion student Francoise Dutil writes about finding Quakerism, and then seminary, through the leading of the Spirit. Part 2.
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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.
