The Friends Evangel
With the Superintendent ~ Jonathan Edwards
Since it has been several months since I have communicated from the Superintendent’s desk, I will endeavor to briefly summarize some of the key highlights of CYM happenings since late last summer.
While Yearly Meeting is always a highlight of the summer, one event that transpired during our camp meeting last summer was a bittersweet moment when Imogene Hendrickson, long time member of Central Yearly Meeting, at the age of 102 and two months, was ushered into the Presence of the One she had lived for most of her life during our “Sixth Day morning business session,” at approximately 11:05 a.m. It was just two days previous on Fourth Day afternoon that I had been privileged to step into her room to visit with her for about an hour. Though weak, her mind was very clear as she conversed with me and even recounted her conversion at the age of 10, at the Randolph County Holiness Association Camp Meeting in Winchester, IN. It had occurred during one of the day services under the tutelage of Eva Addington. The happening was still very vivid in her mind. What an inspiration it was to visit with her that afternoon just two days before her homegoing. Imogene had served so willingly in MANY different capacities, including that of reading clerk for over 20 years. It seemed so fitting that God would call her home right during a time when she would have dutifully been active at her post to hear the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” It was just a few days later, August 3, that I had the honor of officiating at the service held as tribute to her exemplary life. As her mortal body was laid to rest, she was enjoying the beauties of the Celestial home she had so long anticipated, basking in the presence of those who had preceded her and worshipping in the Presence of the One she had joyfully served. “What a Day that will be when my Jesus I shall See!”
It was on the weekend of September 3rd that LuRhe and I made our way towards DeWitt, Arkansas anticipating the opportunity to worship with the congregation there currently under the leadership of Anthony and Jackie Johnson. We arrived sometime Saturday evening and stayed in a newly constructed and beautifully furnished hotel so thoughtfully provided for us by the congregation of DeWitt Friends Church. As we arrived at the church the next morning we were greeted by a nice group of people welcoming us into their midst. By the time we started the worship service there were approximately 30 people in attendance. We enjoyed a wonderful time of worship together followed by Sunday School. After the Sunday School hour we enjoyed a time of food and fellowship, enjoying a meal prepared by various members of the congregation and carried in. Later that afternoon we had a very enjoyable time sharing in conversation with Anthony and Jackie Johnson. All in all it was a very enjoyable and spiritually profitable weekend as we enjoyed our time spent in Arkansas.
Just a little over two weeks later, I headed several hours back south to Pell City, Alabama to represent CYM and attend the Future Pastors Conference held there on the Bible Methodist Campground. I enjoyed mingling with many of the young ministerial students from the various Bible Colleges as well as being with many “old timers” like myself. I enjoyed the music ministry of Stephen and Nicole Cassady along with their family and the preaching ministry of Brothers Chris Cravens and Adam Buckler.
On the last Sunday in October, LuRhe and I had the privilege to worship with Pastor Randy Thacker and the congregation of Nottingham. It is always nice to worship there and we enjoy our times of fellowship with the people after the service. We appreciated the help and Presence of the Lord during our time of worship.
The week of November 7 through 12 was a very busy week as Sparrow Creek Friends Church was in revival with our own Tyler and Caslyn Edwards. We, along with several of our people from Randolph, were able to attend many nights through the week and so enjoyed their singing and appreciated God’s moving upon Tyler as he shared with us through the Word of God. That Saturday morning and afternoon, Nov. 11, Randolph hosted our annual Sunday School Convention and we were privileged to have Bro. Andrew Stroud with us to minister. There was a good group in attendance and a wonderful atmosphere in both services as Bro. Andrew shared from his heart the burden and vision of what God wants to do through our efforts to reach out into the lives of the people of the communities in which we serve.
On the last Sunday morning in November, the 26th, LuRhe and I made our way south on US 27 towards Richmond, IN. We then headed a short distance east across the state line to New Westville, OH, where the Seeley family is ministering so effectively in our Home Extension work there. A good group of approximately 25 was in attendance and the Lord provided us with a wonderful atmosphere to minister in as we sang and preached. The people of the congregation were so warm and welcoming. Following the morning worship service, we enjoyed a scrumptious meal and fellowship in the Seeley’s home. We always enjoy our times together with them as we mutually share the joys and challenges of ministry.
During the first full week of March, 2024, we were able to make our way out to Eastern Pennsylvania to attend the annual Bus and Outreach Convention. Four different “tracks” were provided simultaneously on Wednesday and Thursday and were very inspiring to take part in. In the evening services, Bro. Marc Sankey ministered so effectively, speaking under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We so appreciated the time we were able to take in and be ministered to and, in effect, have our own spiritual “tanks” refueled and reignited as we received of that spiritual nourishment provided by the atmosphere we were able to partake of.
On Thursday evening, March 7, we nosed our black Yukon back in a Westerly direction and made our way back towards Ridgeville, IN, to prepare for ministry for the weekend back home. Saturday morning, March 9, Randolph Friends hosted our annual Mid-year Conference and we were blessed to have as our speaker for the day, Bro. Kenny Stetler. He had served as assistant Pastor at Union Friends Church a little while back and he testified that it was good to be back among “Friends.” The Lord certainly spoke through him in both the morning and afternoon services and we were once again able to be nourished in our inner spirits. We were also blessed to be ministered to musically in the morning service by Aaron and Melissa Thompson and in the afternoon service by a Young ladies trio from Sparrow Creek. We also enjoyed a time of fellowship and food at the Steps Youth Center in Ridgeville between the services.
As we look ahead we anticipate visiting with others of our church congregations and look forward to Youth Camp that will be held June 17-21. Our evangelist this year is Bro. John Manley. We also look forward to Yearly Meeting which will be held July 22-28 and our Song Evangelists will be Tim and Julia Cole and our evangelist will be Bro. Paul Stetler. We also need to plan a “Cleanup Day or Week” at the Campground in early June.
Guarding the First Love
Herald of Holiness
taken from the Friends Evangel April 1991
“Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:12).
This waning of love refers to the dying out of the fire of a holy passion for the Lord Himself and for those for whom He gave His life, the loss of holy enthusiasm in His service and devotion. It refers not to that fleshly enthusiasm in His service and devotion that shouts and rejoices when the crowd is coming, or works zealously when the brass band is playing and the grandstand is filled with admirers.
No! No! It is that enthusiasm that works with a quiet, untiring, unassuming, earnestness and steadiness when it must plod on alone unheard and unnoticed except by the Lord—that enthusiasm that is born not of outward encouragement, not the applause of men, nor by what men call success, nor by the unholy desire for praise, but that which is born of an inward urge implanted by the Holy Ghost, the overflow of the passion of Christ. The waning of this love, said Jesus, will be one of the earmarks of the end-time.
The other characteristics of the last days are easily noticeable, but this loss of love is for more subtle and not as easily detected. We may be thoroughly orthodox and have a contempt for heresy and heterodoxy and yet be guilty of a loveless heart. The other features have to do largely with the world and apostate Christendom, but this one has to do with the saints of God.
This is the blighting sin which our Lord so strongly condemned in the Ephesian Church in Revelation 2:4. This is that sin for which our Lord threatened to “remove the candlestick out of his place.” “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” was His condemnation. So important is the possession of this love Divine in its fervent glow that Paul by inspiration said, “If I have not love, I am nothing.”
The waning of this love, said our Lord, would characterize the end-time. And why? “Because iniquity shall abound.” So profuse will be the growth of evil, so completely will the spirit of evil pervade every realm of human activity and relationship, and so subtle will be the injection of evil into the realm of righteousness, that many of God’s saints will become infected with this spirit of evil. Subtle and gradual compromise will result in the “waxing cold” of the love of the heart for Christ.
This condition is self-evident today. There has been such a subtle satanic mixture of religion, secularism, worldliness, and sensualism in the realm of religion, business, and commerce, that many a dear Christian has become trapped and the strength of love is being sapped from the heart and life.
Even in the realm of orthodoxy too often a carnal contention for the faith has taken the place of a fervent personal passion for Christ and His truth. A cold orthodoxy can contend eloquently for the faith. But it is a heart passionately in love with Christ that loves souls into His kingdom. To “contend for the faith” is a God-given command not to be disobeyed. But to “hold forth the form of sound words in faith and love” is its counterpart and complement.
Look about you and analyze carefully the spiritual condition today and you stand face to face with this sad earmark of the end of this age. “The love of many shall wax cold” is sadly true too generally. How often have I had to bow my head in shame and confess that my love was waning! How often have I prayed that this subtle earmark of the end of this dispensation may not be true of my own heart!
Let us ask God for a keen spiritual discernment that will enable us to understand and detect the slightest waning of His love in our hearts. Let us wait upon Him repeatedly for a fresh infilling of the Holy Ghost until “the fruit of the Spirit…love” will burn and blaze in all its holy passion in our hearts.
“A Christian Home”
Walter E. Isenhour
If I could paint as artists do
I’d paint a lofty hill,
And o’er the hill I’d paint the clouds
So lovely, calm, and still:
And on the hill I’d paint the grass,
With daisies here and there,
And children saying, “Oh, how nice,
Let’s wear them in our hair!”
And then I’d paint a little house—
A peaceful cottage home—
From whence the children on the hill
Had gone to play and roam;
And near the house, with anxious gaze,
I’d paint a mother sweet,
With hands uplifted, saying, “Lord,
Please guide my darlings’ feet!”
Inside the little cottage home
I’d paint a picture rare—
The family kneeling in a room
In earnest, sincere prayer;
The Bible in the father’s hand
With smiles upon his face,
And lovely mottoes on the walls,
Bespeaking God’s sweet grace.
And then I’d skip across the years
And paint another scene,
When all the children, gone from home,
With records clear and clean,
Were filling places high in trust
Both in the church and state,
And then as artist I would say:
“It’s noble to be great.”
Teen View
“Reputation”
from “Don’t Stain Your Reputation” five-part Bible lesson on Webflow
Edited
REPUTATION defined: "What people think of you because of your attitude, actions or words."
Key Verse — Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right (Proverbs 20:11).
Your REPUTATION is what others think you are, but your CHARACTER is what God knows you are. It’s possible to fool people, but it is not possible to fool God.
Imagine a vase containing a fake flower and a real flower. Both flowers look pretty. Both are sitting in water and in a vase, but one is not real. I am sure you could figure out which flower is fake upon closer inspection.
Fake Christians are a lot like that fake flower. They may say they are Christians, go to church on Sunday, and look like Christians. However, their walk with the Lord is fake or artificial. They do not have a real spiritual life. Let me show you some other ways you can tell the difference between real and fake. Imagine you are asked to come forward, touch the fake flower, and describe how it feels. Then you touch the petals of the real flower and describe how it feels. Yes, the fake flower is stiff, but the real flower feels smooth, soft, and pleasing to touch.
Imagine that you are asked to smell the fake flower and describe what you smell. Then you smell the real flower and describe how it smells. Yes, the fake flower has no smell, or perhaps smells like plastic, but the real flower smells good. It has a pleasing aroma. Real Christians are like this real flower. Not only do they look like Christians by being at church on Sunday, but the rest of the week they are doing things that please God. They are a blessing to others.
Our reputations are a hint to others about whether we are REAL or FAKE. And if you think about it, the real problem about the fake flower is that it is DEAD!
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
(I John 5:12)
Church News
Union Friends Church
Westfield, IN
Mark Mowery, pastor
Greetings from Union Friends Church!
Building a picnic shelter behind the parsonage.
Randolph Friends
Randolph, IN
Jonathan Edwards, Pastor
July ‘23 started off with a big bang! And it wasn’t just the fireworks celebrating our country’s independence! Pastor J reached a milestone, celebrating his 60th birthday! After prayer meeting on July 5th, the church surprised him with a delicious cake and ice cream! May God grant him many more years! Sunday night, July 9th, we were honored to have the Luis Miranda family ministering to us! God surely anointed Bro. Luis as he spoke about the story of Elisha and the widow’s oil. Our hearts were so blessed as he passionately spoke about how she shut the door with her children. Then the oil came and came and came…and there is still oil for our children! The sweet presence of the Lord settled down amongst us encouraging and challenging our hearts to seek for the “oil” for our families! We had a beautiful time of prayer seeking the Lord around the altar. (This service was live-streamed and you can watch it on our youtube page; Randolph Friends Church. Type in the date; July 9, 2023 pm service.) Sunday evening, the 16th, we were privileged to have Hobe Sound Bible College mixed trio minister to us. We enjoyed their beautiful singing and worship. We also enjoyed their fellowship as they and some of the college aged of our congregation gathered at the Edwards Homestead for yummy food! On Saturday, the 22nd, the Teen Steps youth group participated in the Saratoga Community Day! It was a beautiful sunny day as the youth helped with activities there. The Steps set up a tent passing out information on our Steps programs, plus lots of popsicles! Our teens did a great job helping out wherever they could and enjoyed themselves as well. Sunday night, July 23rd was CYM Rally Night! This was a first! Yearly Meeting was changed to begin on a Monday night, July 24th running through the following Sunday night, July 30th. Our Superintendent thought it would be nice to have a Rally night where we could all gather for worship and prayer for Yearly Meeting. What a special night it was! A nice sized group was able to attend and we were led into the worship of scripture and music by Bro. Daniel and Sis. Angie Edwards. Interspersed between corporate singing, were special songs, scriptures, and testimonies shared by our various church families. At the close of the service, Superintendent Edwards invited all to join at the altar for focused prayer led by five different prayer leaders. We agreed together in prayer specifically for our evangelists, children, teens, adults, and especially inviting Jesus to come into our midst! A time of fellowship followed. Yearly Meeting began the next morning and God met with us once again. We are so thankful for these times of refreshing. During business meeting on July 27th, around 11:00 a.m., our clerk, Bro. Joe Cassidy, mentioned the fact that we were missing a sweet lady from among us, Sis. Imogene Hendrickson. Little did we know, but at that very moment, God was calling her name and sending angels to carry her to heaven! We kinda just wonder if they paused for a second above us there at CYM! What a saint! We will sure miss our Imogene! We were blessed by her wonderful life. A beautiful service was held at Randolph on August 3rd, to honor a life lived beautifully for Jesus.
Art Thornburg’s daughter, Brandy, passed away on August 9th, of cancer. We are so thankful for the godly life Art lived before her, and the faithfulness of our merciful God, that she gave her heart to the Lord! Please pray for Art and his family as they are still processing this grief. We are thankful for the progress Karri Custer, Rachel Peters, Lavina Smith, and Tammy Pegg have made physically. Please continue to pray for Jim Pegg as he is still having some serious physical issues. The month of August brought cleaning as we began preparing for opening of the Steps Youth and Children’s Ministry. The Teen Steps began Monday, August 14th, and the Children’s Steps began August 15th. We were able to secure the “inflatables” for the week and ALL the kids were so excited! We hit an all time record high of 81 children the first week!!! Please pray for all the staff as we try to reach this precious generation for Jesus! Some highlights from Randolph from September, ’23 until the present:
Sept. 6-10th, we enjoyed Randolph County Holiness Camp with Rev. Bryan Line as our evangelist. We appreciated the Biblical truths he shared with us nightly.
Nov. 5th - Pastor Appreciation Sunday. Randolph always lavishes their pastoral team with sweet appreciation and gifts.
Nov 8-12th, we were able to attend Sparrow Creek Friends Revival and enjoyed the ministry of “our” Tyler & Caslyn Edwards as Song Evangelists/Evangelist! Everyone enjoyed the “cuteness” of sweet little Sophia Edwards! The Revival ended on Sunday evening, the 12th, with God’s Bible School Choir ministering to us! Our hearts were encouraged by the beautiful songs of worship!
November 18th - Sunday School Convention was hosted by Randolph. Rev. Andy Stroud, from Burlington, KY, came and shared encouraging truth from God’s Word with us. We enjoyed good fellowship over our noon meal of yummy soup/sandwiches with our Union, and Sparrow Creek church families. We were saddened by the passing of our “wonderful” Jim Pegg on November 22, 2023. We sure miss Jim and his sweet testimonies.
December 2nd & 3rd was our 17th annual Steps Christmas Play! This year’s musical presented by the Steps kids was entitled, “Humphrey’s Long Journey.” This musical took a journey back into time as we heard the story of the wise men, searching for the child king Jesus, through the voice of scripture, and the exaggerated imaginations of Humphrey the camel! People commonly believe that Christmas begins with Jesus’ arrival as a baby born in a Bethlehem stable. However, the truth is that Christmas began as a long journey starting at the beginning of time! In the Steps kids presentation of Christmas, many questions are answered as the Magi, (as they were sometimes referred to) discover the truth about a bright shining star they were following. Were they kings? How many were there? How did they know to look for the star? Were they present for the nativity? And most importantly, what was so special about this baby? As the children presented “Humphrey’s Long Journey, we saw that Humphrey, like the wise men discovered the answers! The answer for truth is always found in the scriptures, God’s Holy Word! If you would like to watch this delightful play, you can find it on Randolph Friends youtube.com on Dec 2, 2023. As always, the kids sang and performed beautifully and we welcomed so many of our community to both performances! Approximately 265 in attendance each night!
December 24th, Sunday evening, we had a Christmas Eve Service in our beautifully decorated sanctuary, singing Christmas hymns, and enjoying a short play by our church children.
January 24th-27 the pastor and his wife enjoyed their Pastor Appreciation gift of a “get-away” to Nashville, TN, complete with lodging and tickets to the Inspiration Encounter! They so enjoyed the relaxing time, the music of the Collingsworth family plus others, and the privilege of being with many old friends and also enjoying new ones as well.
February 11th we were honored to have the “We Care” ministry from Frankfort, IN. Wow! We are so thankful for the transforming power of our wonderful Jesus! All of our hearts were touched as the director, Jenny Gardner, shared the passion and vision of the ministry and 6 of the clients shared their life transforming testimonies! The pastor and wife had the privilege of hosting these precious ladies in their home for dinner. We pray that their faith fail not!
March 1st-3rd was our annual Randolph Friends Youth Retreat. This years speaker was Rev. Matt Hallam, from Cincinnati, Ohio. The Lord anointed his preaching and teaching ministry and he connected so well with the youth! Around 100 youth, largely from our community, and a few other visiting youth groups gathered for worship at Randolph Friday night, with an afterglow at the Steps. Saturday was started with yummy donuts at the Steps and a fun-filled day full of worship, activities and yummy food. The retreat culminated with Sunday morning worship service at Randolph with 112 youth joining us for worship!
March 9th was Mid-Year Conference this year, hosted by Randolph. Our speaker was Kenny Stetler. We so enjoyed his encouraging ministry.
March 5th-7th, our pastor and wife were able to attend the Outreach and Bus Convention, held at Lebanon, Pennsylvania this year. The Outreach convention is always so inspiring! It is so exciting to hear new ideas, and “God stories!”
March 17th, we hosted Rev. Rodney Keister in the evening service. He has a unique street ministry - evangelizing people on college campuses and busy city streets by setting up “Prayer Stations,” preaching, and ministering one on one.
March 31st. He is Risen indeed! A beautiful morning dawned and we were reminded of the excitement of Easter! This year we changed our format some by not having Sunday school. We ran the bus one hour later and we all gathered together in the big church at 10:30. The advantage of all gathering at the same time produced a welcoming and exciting atmosphere! We welcomed several visitors with our total for the day at 149. Bro. Luke Brinkmann led us in joyful singing worship, then the children sang some inspiring choruses after which they got on the bus and went to the little church for “Kids Church.” Our pastor’s theme was “What Does Easter Mean to You? He shared about what Jesus came to do - transform lives! He had previously asked three new converts to share their testimonies. We were inspired as John Kieger, (Julie Covert’s brother) shared how God redeemed his life and ended with a beautiful song, “My King Is Known For His Love.” Jennifer Whitehead and Kurt Bowlin also shared their testimonies! We are so thankful for the way God is helping them both! Jesus’ transforming power is still alive! We are thankful for Easter! After the service, excited children gathered on the church lawn and gathered nearly 1200 filled easter eggs!!! Our “lawn care specialist,” Trenton Edwards, found a few missed ones the next week! Sadly, the chocolate had melted! ;)
April 5th was the Steps Teen Banquet for High School/College students. Attire for the event was formal. The handsome guys and beautiful girls enjoyed a formal evening complete with beautiful decor and a delectable meal prepared by Ari Edwards and Christen Covert. Including staff, there were 37 in attendance. We love our youth!
April 9-11th was the IH Convention held in Gatlinburg, TN. Several from our congregation were able to attend. Some back home were able to enjoy it online. Our Youth Pastor, Jesse Edwards, held down the fort at Randolph and did a wonderful job preaching in our absence from what I have heard! IHC was wonderful! The sweet Presence of our Lord was so evident as we enjoyed wonderful preaching, praying, praising, singing and sweet fellowship! Close encounters with several bears made for a little excitement!
Looking forward: Several of Randolph and Sparrow Creek youth are planning on an outreach trip to Honduras! They have been busy getting passports, planning and practicing! Our Youth Pastor, Bro. Jesse, is organizing this trip and he felt it would be good to have a Youth Choir minister to different churches to inform about the trip, and to have additional prayer and financial support as well. He strongly feels that the choirs main focus is to be a blessing to these churches. They have had many practices and Wednesday, April 17th was their first service at Community Bible Church at New Westville, OH. The Lord really helped them! They sang beautifully and the people were blessed! Pray for them over the next few weeks as they have several services in our community! The trip is scheduled for July 9-19th. We pray that God will protect and provide and use them to be a great blessing to the Honduran people! Youth Camp is coming up in June, and after that Yearly Meeting in July! And just like that, another year has flown by! We praise God for His own dear Presence to cheer and to guide!
~ LuRhe Edwards, Correspondent
Sparrow Creek Friends
Winchester, IN
Daniel Edwards, Pastor
Hummingbirds quickly drain the feeders around our country home, fueling themselves for their upcoming flight south. Looking back to the end of last summer, we recall the events of the last few months. Our good pastor and family shared delicious sweet corn from their garden with the mid-week congregation, while the same week brought temperatures and humidity for a heat index into the 100-degree range. It was also time for our kids to return to their school classrooms, prompting a prayerful “send-off” for our college-bound youth, including new freshman Abigail Peck. During our evening meeting of August 13, the church family once again joined together around the altar as Angie Edwards, Bessie Smith, and Angela Tinsman led us in prayers for our departing students. Joining Abigail were returning students Olivia Covert and Janae Myers, who will continue their studies at God’s Bible School. Trusting God’s hand of guidance and protection on them all.
After several years of change, the original church directory compiled by Tracie Peck had been in real need of revision. Thanks to our own JoDee Miller who took on the project and provided us with an updated and nicely bound version. The new edition contains not only names and addresses but also birthday and anniversary information. However, as we all know, change comes QUICKLY, and before the booklets were delivered a new name was “delivered” to us by Tim Jr. and Frances Tinsman with the birth of their son Milo Jacob Finnegan Tinsman. Congratulations, Tinsmans!
A long-held desire to serve the Lord on the mission field was fulfilled for our own Abigail Peck as she made her way to Jamaica during the latter part of July. Abigail was able to spend a week with nine other team members helping with VBS at three different churches as well as working in a health clinic providing eye testing and reading glasses. She expressed gratitude to God for allowing all the pieces to fall into place for the trip, and she was encouraged to see His hand at work there. We are all looking forward to what is in the future for Abigail’s loving and willing heart.
Blessed with many beautiful autumn days, several events moved us through the weeks of Fall. The Labor Day holiday allowed us time to worship with our sister churches during the annual Randolph County Holiness Association camp held at Randolph Friends. A second opportunity to join together came as Sparrow Creek hosted the Fifth Sunday Meeting on October 29 with an inspiring word from our own Daniel Edwards. The meetinghouse was full as we were reminded that, though the rulers standing with people at Calvary derided Jesus saying, “Let Him save Himself,” He did not come to save Himself - He came to save us! Praise the Lord for this wonderful truth!
Our good pastor also gifted us with a valuable lesson on “Ways to Overcome Temptation.” It was noted that we won’t resist temptation if we don’t recognize it as temptation. Strengthening our desire for God, and focusing on Him, re-directs our attention from the temptation at hand. We were prompted to consider the importance of Colossians 3:15 which admonishes us to let the peace of God rule in our hearts.
Soon after that service, Daniel and Angie Edwards joined several others, including our own John and Angela Tinsman and Scott and Carmelita Turner, for a memorable trip to the Holy Land. During their absence we were privileged to hear messages from Matt Hallan and his family, as well as John Myers and Rick Tallman. As always, we were grateful for these different speakers and their variety of thought and perspective. Several visitors joined us on the evening of October 22 as the travelers presented a slide show of the many interesting aspects of their journey. Unfortunately, we have been reminded by more recent tragic events in that region to be in continual prayer for the people there.
It would be difficult for this writer to begin a report following the recent solar eclipse without mentioning it as yet another display of the Creator whose precise hand over all things can be overwhelming to our human minds. What a great opportunity to renew our sense of awe and to recognize glimpses of His greatness while we are still on earth. It could then give us pause to consider how much more He has for us to discover after this life!
Now over a month later, recovery efforts continue for those who suffered physical, financial, and material loss from the tornado tragedy in Randolph County. We pray for the victims, as well as for those trying to help, while donations of supplies and monetary gifts are being accepted for the relief effort. Thankfully, God has stirred the hearts of many to extend His arm of love and generosity. Although the afternoon session of this year’s Community Good Friday Service had been scheduled for the Freedom Life Church in Winchester, it also was sadly destroyed by the storm. Regardless, a good number attended the service relocated to the Community Center on the Courthouse Square, where their pastor confirmed to the congregation that although their building was gone, their Church still stood! We all praise the Lord!
On Palm Sunday afternoon, boxes of fun items were again distributed for the third year to the area surrounding the Sparrow Creek meetinghouse. We remain hopeful that hearts may be touched and will seek out God because of these simple packages of cheer and invitation. A record Easter attendance of 112 people was encouraging to all, prompting Bro. Mike Peck to photograph the crowd from the perspective of the platform.
Our meeting continues to see excitement from our young people with new plans for outreach and ministry. A recent Sunday evening allowed our Olivia Covert to share her vision for Street Corner Interaction and Prayer, as she had experienced through events she had participated in at school. Sunday evening on April 7, our Jaimie Hancock announced his upcoming mission trip to China on April 16. Please help us to pray for God’s continued influence and direction on our much loved and appreciated young Christians.
~ Bryan Kendrick, Correspondent
