Journal

What Quaker Parents Say They Need

Emily Provance writes about how Quaker communities might begin to think about caring for parents and families, based on the second year of the Quaker parent mutual support groups co-sponsored by Friends United Meeting, New York Yearly Meeting, and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Chief among her findings: Quaker parents feel profoundly isolated. "Some parents are literally alone...Other parents feel isolated despite not being literally alone. Parents in the group talked about the isolation of being the only Quaker in their geographic area or the only Quaker family in their meeting. They talked about the difficulty of developing deep friendships in modern society. They talked about their hunger for connections with parents in similar circumstances: other disabled parents, other single parents, other foster parents, other parents with shared custody arrangements. Facilitators heard it repeated again and again: 'I feel so alone.'"

Creating Multiple Sacred Spaces

One of the conversations we have had this year at Belize Friends Church is about creating multiple sacred spaces for people with various needs within the church. I find that the Spirit is in this conversation. . . . Creating multiple sacred spaces can be an alternative to, or can supplement, the more traditional mobilizing of people to know and experience God by focusing on a sermon.

Samburu Mission Takes Entrepreneurial Training

Africa Programme Officer Shawn McConaughey writes about the multiple benefits of an entrepreneurial ministry training with pastors from the Samburu mission and some leadership from members of the Turkana mission who went through the same training several years ago.

A Sending Church

Shawn McConaughey interviews three Kenyan Friends on their philosophies of giving to missions work among Africans and around the world.

Adopt-a-Bed Program Restores Evangelist's Health

Friends Lugulu Mission Hospital's Adopt-a-Bed program saves an evangelist's life on Mt. Elgon. Missionary Jeremiah Akoto writes: "On Friday the 7th of August, in the morning, the first thing I did was to call FUM Africa Ministries Director John Muhanji. I explained to him the situation on the ground and requested for his advice as well as his assistance. I thank God that Brother John asked me to take Stanley to Friends Lugulu Mission Hospital (FLMH) as fast as I could, and he directed me to see the hospital administrator when I arrived."

Reflections on the Fruits of COVID-19 Collaboration in Africa

In East Africa, the three large Quaker “umbrella” organizations—Friends Church Kenya,, Friends World Committee for Consultation (Africa Section), and Friends United Meeting—came together at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic to make a united response. They served together to alleviate suffering, and along the way discovered the enormous spiritual blessings of unity. Richard Sitati, FUM's Vice Presiding Clerk, reflects on the experience.