In Samburu, Kenya, pastor Christopher Leduma, from Samburu Friends Mission, facilitated a one-day transformative dialogue called by Samburu community members who are tired of bandits from rival Samburu communities attacking familes and stealing their animals.
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Each year on Pentecost weekend Friends United Meeting hosts a retreat, Stoking the Fire, inspired by Acts 2:1–4: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Inspiration for this year’s Stoking the Fire came from The Four Pivots, a book by Shawn Ginwright. In the introduction Ginwright writes, “Our real power comes from the courage to deal with our fractured relationships, the vulnerability to acknowledge our hurt feelings, and the awareness to know when our ego shows up.” . . . This year at Stoking the Fire we looked directly at how each of us might be able to, as Isaac Penington wrote, “Give over thine own willing. Give over thine own running. Give over thine own desiring to know or be anything, and sink down to the seed which God chose in thy heart...”
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The Friends Church Kenya (FCK) inaugurated its formal constitution in an auspicious ceremony held in Poroko-Highland Yearly Meeting. The ratification took place after an intensive development process that involved representatives from all Yearly Meetings in Kenya. The Yearly Meeting representatives participated in a robust and dynamic discussion over several meetings, ultimately arriving at the completed document that was approved and launched in April during the FCK Triennial.
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About a year ago my wife, daughter, and I visited the Muir Woods National Monument in Marin County just north of San Francisco. It’s a beautiful experience walking among the majestic Redwood trees. Even more powerful, though, is the invitation to silence and quiet. In order to provide a hospitable space for the wildlife, no dumpsters or garbage cans are found along the trails. Maintenance vehicles powered by electricity glide silently by and emergency vehicles do not idle their engines while resolving whatever problems brought them to the park. At one point along the trail, there is a sign posted along the trail as you enter the section called Cathedral Grove inviting visitors to be silent. It truly is a place of “...peaceful habitation”.
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The word abide means ‘hanging in there’, ‘tarrying’, ‘dwelling’ or ‘continuing’. There are many benefits that we get in life as a result of abiding in Jesus. In this reflection I will share 3 benefits; Firstly, Fruitfulness: God’s desire is that our lives will be fruitful. Our fruitfulness depends on us remaining or continuing or dwelling in Christ Jesus. As a Christian I know and have experienced the fruitfulness of God in many areas of my life. When we are in Christ we are fruitful in relationships, business, ministry and even just in social life (V 5). abide in Him and in His word.
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Job 24:13 There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not abide in its paths. This scripture comes from Job as he complains about the violence on the earth. Most, if not all, of us complain about the violence on the earth, too. As we read Jesus’ words about being peacemakers, we Friends take them seriously. If we believe in the peace testimony, we seek ways to accomplish peace in all circumstances. To do that, we must abide with God to know how to handle situations where violence, in word or action, attacks the souls of its victims.
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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.
