The Friends Evangel
With the Superintendent ~ Jonathan Edwards
In Psalm 100:1 we read, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” Notice he does not require a melodious or harmonious sound but only suggests that it be joyful. As he comes to the end of this psalm He gives us a basis for this praise. He says, “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.” Truly I must say with the psalmist, “The Lord is good.” As the little chorus that we sometimes sings puts it, “God is SO good.” Through all the difficulties of life that I have ever faced I have never found the Lord to fail me nor has there been a desire to walk away from Him because “[He] is SO good.” The part that I like the best of this whole psalm comes at the conclusion. The conclusive basis for the Lord deserving our “joyful” praise is not only that He is good, but that “His mercy is everlasting and His truth endureth to ALL generations.” I enjoy learning of the great things God has done for His people in the past. How inspiring it is to think back and read of all that He has done for Central Yearly Meeting of Friends in the last nearly 100 years. But as inspiring as the perusal of that history is, it is more inspiring to know that as He did great things for our forefathers in the past so He can continue to do great things for us now and into the future for “His mercy is everlasting and His truth endureth to ALL generations!” He certainly deserves my “joyful” praise.
Looking back over the last few weeks, we are grateful for the help and strength God has provided as we have responded to the opportunities God has given for interacting with and for our people of Central Yearly Meeting of Friends. From April 11-13, we were able to represent CYM with a booth in Gatlinburg, TN, as we attended the annual IHC. It was a blessing to attend, to interact with many of our brothers and sisters across many denominations of the United States, to enjoy the many inspirational services, and to experience ministry of both the Word and song. On Sunday morning, April 16 we were blessed to attend our Union Friends Meeting and join in worship with them. We were so happy to be a part of the service and fellowship with Pastor and Sis. Mowery along with the others of the congregation. A scrumptious meal was prepared and provided by Jamin and Heidi Edwards, and we thoroughly enjoyed fellowship with them and the Mowerys.
Of the many people we were grateful to interact with while in Gatlinburg, we were happy to pray with and visit briefly with Michelle Covert. We were quite shocked and saddened to receive the news just weeks later that Michelle had been called home to heaven at the young age of 43. She leaves behind her husband, Davy Covert, and four children ranging from fifteen to five years old. On May 29, we officiated a special memorial service of tribute to her, hosted by the Randolph Church.
On May 27, we were blessed to be able to attend the wedding ceremony of Daniel Brandon and Kendra Peck. It was a very sweet God-honoring service. We are grateful that Daniel and Kendra have responded to the call to the ministry and are currently serving as assistant pastors in Talledega, AL.
On June 10, several members of our churches arrived at our campgrounds at Muncie to focus on cleaning up and making ready for the camp meeting season. A very good group with a “mind to work” were present and most of the necessary cleaning was accomplished that day. A group from the Sparrow Creek Meeting came the next Wednesday, June 14, to finalize the cleaning that lacked. On Friday evening, June 16 we were grateful to be able to attend the wedding ceremony of Trenton Edwards and Emily Boardman. It was a beautiful ceremony blessed with the sweet Presence of the Lord. Bro. Daniel Edwards did a wonderful job officiating the ceremony as he spoke transparently and straightforwardly to the couple. The special music and singing was very inspirational and God-honoring.
The very next week on June 19, our Youth Camp began. The evangelist, Bro. Nathan Cline did a wonderful job relating to and ministering to the nearly 80 teenagers who were in attendance for the week. One young lady who comes from a less than ideal background commented on the fact that Bro. Cline related so well to them. She said he shared with them so openly in the morning services that it helped them to clearly see that he understood from where they were coming. Another young lady from a similar background said that so often the evangelist preaches and then disappears till the next service. But as she stated, “Bro. Cline would come out and play games with us during the afternoon recreation times and we felt like he really cared for us.” LuRhe and I were blessed to be able to attend three of the four evening services and were blessed with the singing ministry of the several college groups represented that week. We were greatly inspired with the preaching of Bro. Cline and thrilled to see the quick response of the teenagers to seek God around the altar throughout the week.
On Sunday morning, June 25, we were able to attend and worship with Pastor and Mrs. Robert Bishop along with the congregation at our Hagerstown Meeting. We also enjoyed a good time of sharing and fellowship after the service. The following Wednesday evening, June 28, we attended Eastern Quarterly Meeting held at the Nottingham Church. We enjoyed fellowship with all in attendance that night as each of the four churches making up Eastern Quarter were represented that night. Pastor Randy Thacker brought the message that night.
As we look ahead we are anticipating God’s Presence as we meet together for Yearly Meeting to be held July 24-30. Our schedule is a little different this year as we are beginning with a rally on Sunday night July 23. I am encouraging as many as are able to fast at least one meal per week between now and Yearly Meeting in seeking God’s help for a reviving in our midst.
Nicole Thomas at Women of Worth, 5/17/21
Four Marks of Faithful Teaching
by Scott Hubbard
desiringGod.com
In the church’s mission against the gates of hell, one of our main weapons is the familiar, often unremarkable, easily underestimated act of teaching.
Jesus taught (Matthew 4:23; 9:35), and He called his apostles to teach (Matthew 28:19–20). The apostles taught (Acts 5:28; 28:31), and they equipped local pastors to teach (1 Timothy 3:2; 4:13). Now, pastors teach (2 Timothy 4:2), and they raise up faithful men (2 Timothy 2:2), as well as all the saints (Colossians 3:16), to continue the teaching task. Through teaching, God lights up the darkness and lifts up His Christ, He frees Satan’s captives and makes them His sons, He hammers hell’s gates and wins back the world.
But not just through any teaching - thoroughly Christian teaching is a bigger, broader task than many assume, especially in an age of abundant online content. Throughout the New Testament, the teaching of Jesus and the apostles, and then the church, assumes a certain context, flows from a certain character, comes with a certain content, and aims toward a certain completion.
And perhaps nowhere do we see these features more clearly than in Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:18–35). How did Paul teach the Ephesians so as to “open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18)? And how might pastors, missionaries, and other teachers model him today?
Context: All of Life
The word teaching, for us, likely evokes images of academia: classrooms and desks, lectures and note-taking. Paul certainly had a category for formal public teaching, as when he taught in the Ephesian synagogue or reasoned in the hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:8–10). But for the apostle, teaching was also woven into all of life.
Paul “lived among” the Ephesians for three years; his “students” were those “among whom I have gone about” (Acts 20:18, 25). Paul knew the Ephesians deeply, and the Ephesians likewise knew Paul. He had taught not only in public but “from house to house” (Acts 20:20); they had seen not only his talk but his tears (Acts 20:31). In his teaching, Paul clothed abstract principles with his own lived example. He had not only told them the words of the Lord Jesus, that “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” but he had “shown” them (Acts 20:35).
Andrew Clarke, in a review of Claire Smith’s study Pauline Communities as ‘Scholastic Communities’, describes Paul’s teaching method this way: “Close, authoritative relationships invited the imitation of modeled lives, and not merely attendance at formal discourse.” Discipleship, Paul knew, is less like learning physics and more like learning carpentry, and disciples are less like students and more like apprentices. And so, Paul spoke to all of the church’s life with all of his life, joining doctrine and devotion, precept and pattern.
Understandably, then, Paul was not content with distant, disembodied teaching — at least, not as his primary mode of teaching. Even when Paul wrote letters, he longed to turn pen and ink into flesh and blood (Galatians 4:20; 1 Thessalonians 2:17–18; 2 Timothy 1:4), and he often sent his written teaching with those who could model “my ways in Christ” (1 Corinthians 4:17).
Today, we rightly leverage our digital technologies for teaching (as I am now). But as we turn away from the Internet and toward our real-life churches (ideally our primary teaching context), can we say with Paul, “You yourselves know how I lived among you” (Acts 20:25) — because, indeed, we have enfleshed our teaching in everyday life?
Character: All of Christ
Given this all-of-life context, Paul’s teaching required a certain character. If teaching included imitation and not just information, the teacher needed more than true ideas; he needed a holy life. So, as Paul reminds the Ephesian elders of his ministry among them, he says as much about his manner as he does about his message.
Paul had served with humility, taught with tears, suffered with patience (Acts 20:19). He preached Christ as altogether worthy and then showed his willingness to die for his name (Acts 20:24). He taught the whole counsel of God with courage (Acts 20:27). And he displayed a manifest freedom from greed and laziness as he commended the Servant Savior (Acts 20:33–35). As he taught in all of life, he modeled — as much as an imperfect saint can — all of Christ.
Words and works could not be separated in the apostle’s mind. Faithful teaching called for faithful living — not only because a faithful life would illustrate and embody the teaching, but also because it would guard the truth in a teacher’s heart. “Pay careful attention to yourselves,” Paul told the church’s elders. And why? Because “from your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:28, 30). Before a teacher speaks “twisted things,” the desire to draw others after himself captures his heart. Twisted teaching comes from a twisted soul, a twisted life.
The church father Gregory Nazianzen once said of his friend Basil that “his speech was like thunder because his life was like lightning” (Pia Desideria, 104). Likewise with Paul. So, when the apostle instructs Timothy to raise up more teachers, he tells him to look not merely for “able” men — men who can and want to teach — but for “faithful men” (2 Timothy 2:2), men whose words thunder because their lives blaze.
Content: All of Scripture
If the context of Paul’s teaching was all of life, and the character was all of Christ, then the content was all of Scripture, with a special focus on Jesus’s person and work. He taught the whole Christ from the whole counsel of God.
Twice, Paul mentions his refusal to pick and choose from God’s word:
“I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable” (Acts 20:20).
“I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
How tempting to “shrink” before some uncomfortable word from God rather than, like Paul, “declaring” it. How tempting to minimize, sidestep, muffle, ignore, or twist the toughest texts. Yet Paul knew that all God’s words were “profitable,” no matter how painful they landed at first, and that he as God’s steward would be judged by how faithfully he taught his Master’s message (Acts 20:26–27). And so, he didn’t shrink from proclaiming every promise, telling every story, witnessing to every warning, and declaring every command.
At the same time, he spoke especially “of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21), or what he calls “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24) — or most succinctly, “the word of his grace” (Acts 20:32). Of all that was profitable, the gospel was most profitable; among the whole counsel of God, Christ was the climax. Every promise pointed to His Person and work, and every command flowed from His cross.
Completion: All He Commanded
Finally, as Paul taught, he aimed toward the grand ambition of the Great Commission: “. . . teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). The end of Christian teaching is not understanding but obedience — what Paul elsewhere calls “the obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5).
Paul yearned to see the word of God’s grace “build . . . up” believers into Christ-loving, word-obeying, devil-shaming disciples (Acts 20:32). So, he not only explained and applied God’s word, but even “admonish[ed] everyone with tears” (Acts 20:31). Oh, how good it would be if our own teaching were washed in the tears of holy love. With Paul, such leaders live and weep and teach to kill anger and birth gentleness, to clothe the proud with humility and the sorrowful with praise, to take people curved toward themselves and open them up to a broad new world, to heal fractured relationships and create communities so satisfied in Christ they confound the devil’s kingdom.
Such a mission, of course, is impossible apart from God. Who can open the eyes of the blind, or break the iron chains wrapped around the will, or deliver those enslaved to the ancient lie? Only the Spirit of the living God. Paul knew it, and so we read, “When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all” (Acts 20:36).
Teaching may be the church’s sword, but it cuts only when wielded by the Spirit. Without him, our best words are a dull and broken blade. So, before we teach, and after we teach, and perhaps even as we teach, we pray, “Father, take these feeble words, this little teaching, and win back more of your world.”
“A Father’s Prayer”
Douglas MacArthur
In early 1942, when heading outnumbered United States forces in the Philippines, General Douglas MacArthur prayed this prayer many times at morning devotions, according to Major General Courtney Whitney, his long-time military aide. This prayer for his son, Arthur, is a spiritual legacy any son would cherish. ~Abeka editor’s note
Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.
Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee—and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.
Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.
Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.
And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the weakness of true strength.
Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.”
Gentleman resisting negative messages - stock photo
Teen View
“Gentlemen Never Apologize for Being Gentlemen”
Glenn T. Stanton
from Focus on the Family
He was on a flight to Denver for a work thing. As his plane reached the jet-way upon landing and everyone rose to prepare to exit, he noticed the youngish 30-something woman behind him struggling to get her luggage out of the overhead bin. He reached out to help her, commenting to ease any embarrassment she might have, “I have trouble with these myself sometimes.” She looked at him with a dismissive smile and answered, “I’m a woman, not an invalid!” and continued to tug on her wedged-in luggage. My friend felt bad for having offended her and apologized for his gesture of help.
Few would argue, men or women, that it’s getting harder today to be a good man. Masculinity has come under, not only great suspicion, but direct frontal assault by many. If masculinity is toxic, the obvious remedy is to be something other than masculine. This assumption is hurting men, women, boys and girls because it is telling all of us that one half of humanity must learn to become something other than what it is. This means our collective humanity – our society and how we interact with each other – will be walking with a major limp because half of it is missing. What took place on that flight to Denver is just a small example. But good men help others, especially women and children when they are in need. Society is better when they do. And they don’t apologize for it. Imagine a world where men stop offering their help in such situations.
Is it good for men to open doors for girls and women? Offer to carry a box or help get something off of a high shelf for a lady? Pull out and scoot in her chair for her? Give her his seat on the subway or bus? Stand when a woman walks in a room? What about protecting them bodily from some physical danger like a falling ceiling? Are such actions a statement that women are not as capable as men, that they are delicate creatures who can’t take care of themselves?
They are not. Just the opposite actually.
Behaviors like these from a man are what we call manners and doing them makes you a gentleman. They are acts of respect toward women, not statements of weakness. Most women deeply appreciate such gestures and boys and girls should learn by experience and observation that good men are quick to step up and act in such ways. If a woman doesn’t want a man’s help in such instances, that’s her call. No harm, no foul. He can happily leave her to it. But a gentleman never apologizes for being a gentleman. A man’s genuine kindness needs no justification. It’s something his manhood requires of himself and owes to those around him.
This is a truth every man should know and live by, every boy should be taught, and every girl and woman can take comfort in. It’s one of the ways civilization works.
Church News
Union Friends Church
Westfield, IN
Mark Mowery, pastor
Greetings from Union Friends Church!
We have had a exciting summer at church thus far. We started out with a community cookout to get the word out about our upcoming VBS we handed out over 40 burgers and hotdogs to passersby! We then had our VBS the following week. Our theme was “Zoomerang!” , an outback adventure from Answers in Genesis. We focused on God’s creation and being created for a purpose! Jamin and Heidi were program coordinators and lesson teachers. Lorna and Steve Enyart, Dan and Janine Young, and David and Leah Fulton were team leaders. Roy, Isaac, and Adam Baker, and Seth Thomas were in charge of games. Amber Fish and Becky Mowery were in charge of snacks. Nicole Thomas was in charge of the science activities and Pam Baker did the crafts. Together as a church we had a wonderful turn out and record attendance for VBS!
The next week we said goodbye (temporarily) to our teens. Six youth were able to attend Youth Camp this year, and Seth and Nicole Thomas went along to be team captains. Four of our youth came back and reported that they gave their hearts to Jesus while at camp. Praise the Lord!
While we praise the Lord for all the positive blessings, our meeting received some sad news as well this month. We had to say farewell to Eunice and James McBryant as they moved way out West to Wyoming. We are sorry to see such dedicated members of our church leave, but we are trusting God to keep and bless them in this new journey.
We also learned that one of our VBS kids tragically lost their father in a car accident. While we can’t fully understand why such a terrible thing happened, we as a church are taking this opportunity to reach out and give support to this family in need. The mother has told us that she wants her children to attend our church and get to know God. Even in tragedy, God can still use this as a way to reach the lost and we as a chuch want to be faithful in His leading in all things.
We covet your prayers in all that we do. We also keep you all in our prayers daily.
~Nicole Thomas, Correspondent
Randolph Friends
Randolph, IN
Jonathan Edwards, Pastor
March came in “church-wise” as a frisky lamb! On March 3-5, we held our annual Youth Retreat. Eric Going was our speaker and the Lord surely anointed his ministry as he ministered to a large group of youth that had gathered for the event. Along with several local youth from our community, plus Randolph and Sparrow Creek church youth, we also welcomed several youth from Union Friends Church. Five teens sought the Lord to be saved that weekend! On March 7-9, the Outreach and Bus Convention was held at Union Bible College. Several of our Sunday School team were able to attend and we all came away inspired and encouraged! Pastor Jonathan and LuRhe were finally able to cash in on the gift the church provided for them for Pastor Appreciation. They thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Pennsylvania, staying at a quaint Air-bnb, enjoying rest and relaxation, meeting up with old friends, antique shopping, and attending an outstanding performance of “Moses,” at “Sight and Sound.” Thank you, Randolph Church Family! On March 25, several of the Teen Staff, transformed the STEPS gym into a “Red Carpet Event” for the annual Teen Banquet. The teens enjoyed a formal dinner prepared by Arii Edwards, Joanna Brown, and Christen Strike, followed by fun activities. We love our youth and feel that they deserve to be loved and pampered!
On April 1, we hosted community outreach day as several from the church met at the STEPS, split up into teams, canvassed the town, and invited members of the community to our church especially for Easter Sunday. Randolph Friends enjoyed joining with several other churches in our community for a special and meaningful Good Friday service. Saturday morning, April 8, we gathered with CYM for Mid-Year Conference hosted by Union Friends. We enjoyed worship, fellowship and a delicious meal with our CYM family. Randolph Meeting was encouraged with a great attendance of 172 people for Easter Sunday! It was a beautiful day as the wonderful message of “Jesus Lives!” was heralded once again! Because He lives, life truly is worth the living! After the service, the children thoroughly enjoyed an Easter egg hunt organized by the Sunday School Staff. I think the “big” children enjoyed it as much as the little ones! Later that week several from the church were able to attend the annual IHC Convention in beautiful Gatlinburg, TN. Pastor J and Esther Coner even had a close encounter with a bear wanting to hang out with us at the condo! You’ll have to get the details from them, but they did live to tell about it!
On May 3, we were saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Dave and Julie Covert’s daughter-in-law, Michelle Covert! Our prayers have been with this precious family. A sweet memorial service was held at Randolph on May 29. Mother’s Day, May 14, was a special day as we honored our mothers with a gift from Bath & Body Works. We also honored Sascha Garn and Buffy Lavy as “Mothers of the Year,” with a sneaky surprise from the pastor as he also honored his wife LuRhe as one of the mothers. The three honored mothers received a beautiful hydrangea plant. We congratulate our very own, Dr. Luke! Luke Dotson graduated from Purdue University with a PharmD on May 14. We enjoyed celebrating with him and also Blake Smithson, as he graduated with a Masters in Business Administration from Ball State University. We are so thankful for these two godly young men and their accomplishments. On May 25, we wrapped up the last day of STEPS until fall. We had a very good year! The children enjoyed building an actual house as we focused on “Building For Eternity.” Many great truths were shared and grasped from God’s Word. We thank Him for this awesome opportunity! On May 27, we witnessed the beautiful and sweet God-honoring wedding of Kendra Peck (from Sparrow Creek Friends) and Daniel Brandon. Later that evening our dear, Marjorie Baldwin sustained a serious fall. She was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery because of excessive bleeding on the brain. Sadly for us, she never awakened here again, but she awoke in heaven’s courtyard on June 1, free from pain and face to face with Jesus whom she loved. What a sweet funeral visitation and funeral as hundreds came to pay their respects to this sweet lady!
On June 13, more sadness occurred, as Vickie Treutlein’s husband, Ernie, passed away. His health had been failing for several years, but he had been only recently diagnosed with cancer. Pastor J visited with him, and he gave a clear testimony of his relationship with Jesus. We are so thankful for the God of all comfort who carries us during our grief. On June 16, we attended the lovely and God-honoring wedding of Trenton Edwards (son of Daniel Edwards) and his beautiful bride, Emily Boardman. On Saturday, June 17, we held our monthly Ladies Prayer Meeting, followed later that evening by a joint piano recital for the students of LuRhe Edwards and Esther Coner. Five of the students were from Randolph and we are so happy for their accomplishments! Afterwards, LuRhe and Esther held a short reception for students and parents, then prepared for Randolph’s Father’s Day Celebration by packaging delicious “Mrs. Wick’s” pie slices into individual gift containers for our “dads.” Father’s Day, on June 18, began a little dark as the electricity was out for several hours at the church. However, the lights came back on right before the message! We honored, Jesse Edwards, Jim Pegg, and Marvin Baldwin, as “Fathers of the Year.” They were each presented with a whole Mrs. Wick’s fruit pie.
We are thanking God for bringing a healing touch to our dear Bro. Dave McClellen. He has been busy catching up on all his teasing tricks, so we know he is definitely feeling better! We ask for your continued prayers for our bereaved and several suffering physical needs among us; Karri Custer, Jim Pegg, Lavina Smith, Tammy Pegg. In all our busyness, may we not miss the Presence of the One we need the most! We invite Him to every service, we ask for His transforming power to change lives and to revive us!
~ LuRhe Edwards, Correspondent
Evangelist Slates
David Fulton, Sr.
June 16-25 Midwest Pilgrim Holiness Church Camp
Frankfort, IN
June 29 - July 9 New York Pilgrim Holiness Church Camp
Albany, NY
July 12-16 Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Youth Camp
Stoneborough, PA
July 24-30 Athens Indian Camp
Athens, MI
Aug 7-13 Lower Light Camp
Petersburg, MI
August 29- Sept 3 Emmanuel Holiness Church
Bumpass, VA
Stephen and Nicole Cassady family
June 17 – 25
Wesleyan Nazarene Camp
Fulton, MO
July 24 – 30
Central Yearly Meeting
Muncie, IN
September 26 – October 1
Pilgrim Holiness
Kokomo, IN