July 2013


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Volume 30, Issue 12

The Friendly Persuader Pastor, Steve Pedigo Youth Pastor, Katy Palmer Editor, Candi McDonald www.westfieldfreindschurch.org

July 2013

IN THIS ISSUE: Page 2 VBS College Grants

4th of July The 4th of July is to celebrate the Independence of America from England. To make our own laws, to have freedom of religion. Not to be ruled by another country, to have a say in our government and how it is run. Our forefathers wrote the Declaration of Independence and set up our own government to run that way.

Lee’s 50th Anniv. How do you think it is going?

Page 3 Jefferson Ford Pgs 4-6 Kenya Team Journal and pictures

I have a few doubts that it’s going the way those who fought for our freedom and those who set the workings of our Government up, wanted it to go. I wonder how God feels about it? We have the right to write or email our Senators and Representatives. We need to let them know how we feel. We have the right to speak out on the things we feel are wrong. We can do something about some of these things, and voting is one way of doing it.

REMEMBER: Monthly Meeting Wednesday evening July 17th 7:00 pm

Friends have always had a hand in government, whether representing us in Washington or making sure they voted. Joseph Hewes (North Carolina) and George Clymer (Pennsylvania) were both Quakers who signed the Declaration of Independence. If you don’t vote when you can, you’re giving your rights away. Stop and think about these things. I’m proud of America and I’m proud to be an American. God Bless the U.S.A.

~by Linda Steele

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Psalm 108:5

Page 2

JULY BIRTHDAYS 1

Linda Thompson

2

Audrey Sheets

6

John Rodgers

7

Ruth Cox

8

Megan Warren

13

Michelle Shaffer

16

Carl Steele

18

Henry Hoard

20

Kelly Cowan

21

Diana Stuckey

23

Sally Coverdale

25

Scott Drlik

27

Karrie Hutson Riley Hutson

28

Linda Ogle

30

Morgan Drlik

The Friendly Persuade Pastor, Steve Pedigo  Youth Pastor, Katy Palmer Editor, Candi McDonald

ride d l i w or a f y d a e ur d? Are yo gh God’s wor throu

Join us at Westfield Friends Church Monday-Thursday July 8-11, 6-8:15 pm To register your child or to volunteer to help, please contact the church office 896-9233

COLLEGE GRANTS AVAILABLE

Chuck McGhehey If you are a college student and a member, or active attender of Westfield Friends Church, you are eligible to apply for a $100 grant each semester. Please send a letter or email to the church office requesting that you be considered for this grant and the request will be forwarded to the Financial Trustees. Include your name, address, and the college/university you are attending.

JULY ANNIVERSARIES

7

Dan & Barbara Cain

8

Mike & Cathy Harris

10 Paul & Debbie Coon 14 Steve & Colleen Allen 19 Howard & Frances Lee

Thanks to the Bales, Edwards-Furnas, and Stanley-Haskett families whose past giving made these grants possible.

Congratulations to If we have missed your special day please notify the church office at 896-9233

Howard & Frances Lee As they celebrate their

50th Anniversary July 19th They will be celebrating with family over the July 4th weekend

Volume 33, Issue 7 Page 3

JEFFERSON AND HELEN FORD By Marlene Pedigo “The Steps of a Good Man are Ordered by the Lord.” [Psalms 37:23] Recently Westfield Friends Church members have been walking in Lugulu, Kenya: Scott Drlik, Morgan Drlik, Jessica Barker, Casie Barker, Mikey Hiatt, Brent Rogers, Danny Wohlschlaeger, and Katy Palmer. Helen & Jefferson Ford, former pastors at Westfield Friends, were the first missionaries to gather the Lugulu Friends in Kenya. Did you realize this is the 100th Anniversary of Lugulu Friends? As our Westfield Friends reflect on their journey to Lugulu, I want to give you a glimpse into the lives of Jefferson and Helen Ford and their call to serve as missionaries to Kenya. On July 24, 1898, Jefferson Ford was nineteen years old and sitting in the Cedar Avenue Friends meeting where he was a member. Of course back then there was no air-conditioning and the meetinghouse windows were open on this sunny hot day. As Jefferson’s spirit communed with the Lord, he sensed his call to ministry: …he became conscious of a delicate fragrance and a soft breeze. He looked out the window. Not a leaf was stirring. He looked about him in wonder. Then, so distinct was the voice of the Holy Spirit within his heart, it seemed audible to him. ‘I have anointed thee to preach the Gospel.’ So wonderfully precious was that he rarely mentioned it. When he did, something of the awe and sacredness of that moment always crept into his voice. In his Bible after Psalm 28:8 he wrote, ‘Lord, Thou hast anointed me.’ (p. 23) The next year Jefferson left for Berea College to enter the Cleveland Bible Institute. Under the teaching of Walter Malone he learned to compare Scriptures for clarification and illustration. He continued to grow spiritually. To pay for his college expenses, Jefferson did janitor work at the college and traveled on a bike during the summer selling religious books. He wrote: Western Yearly Meeting at Plainfield, Indiana, was a time of unforgettable blessing. The crowds were large. Overflow meetings were held in a tent. Jefferson was called on to preach in some of these gatherings. There he experienced the incomparable joy of winning souls to his Savior and Lord---a delight that never dimmed. (p. 25) While at college he met Helen Farr, whose father was the first Friends’ missionary to Jamaica sponsored by Iowa Yearly Meeting. He also met Willis Hotchkiss who introduced him to Arthur Chilson, who became life-long friends with the Fords. These three men prayed and talked about their plans for opening a Friends’ work in Kenya. Arthur, Willis and Edgar Hole left to establish a Kenyan Friends mission work in 1902. After graduation from college, Helen returned to Jamaica as a missionary with her family and Jefferson pastored. After collecting $17.50 as his salary for his first year as a pastor, Jefferson went to Jamaica and married Helen. Jefferson continued to pastor and spent a brief time as a missionary in Nigeria. As they waited for the door to Kenya to open, they served in Westfield, Indiana. While at Westfield, the Fords received word they were accepted for work in Kenya, IF they were able to raise a stated amount for their support for five years, and secure pledges for travel to and from Kenya. Jefferson felt cast down in spirit by the conditions. He had never asked for a cent of money, and couldn’t feel free to do so. Somehow the condition for their going became known in (the) Westfield area. A stalwart farmer told about it in Quarterly Meeting, and said he would be one to pledge so much a month for five years toward the support of the Fords in Africa. Spontaneously pledges were made until, in a very short time, the whole amount was promised. Twelve men volunteered to see that the full amount was sent to the Mission Board monthly. It was a gracious seal of God’s approval upon their going out, especially it is remembered that there was a financial recession in America that year. This was the beginning of a series of miracles the whole journey through. Aft once they bought equipment, packed, and started out. (pp. 42-43) They set sail July, 1914 with their three children: Clara, Esther, and Arthur. Today the largest number of Friends Churches in the world are in Kenya and East Africa. Taken from The Steps of a Good Man, by Helen Ford and Esther Ford Anderson

Our Kenya team just got home Sunday evening and there wasn’t time to get pictures or updates from them, but the following pictures and journals were posted by John Muhanji as he traveled with the team. So enjoy John’s journals, written with a slight Kenyan accent.

June 17th Just welcomed a team from Westfield Friends Church, Indiana USA. Katy Palmer is leading a team of 7 young people who will be here to do mission work and build relationships with Kisumu Friends Church. They will visit Lugulu Hospital and Kaimosi. Their main mission will be in Poroko in Kilgoris among the Masai's together with Kisumu Friends Church. It was a great moment when the Friends arrived from Westfield they had a worship service at the Friends Church Kisumu on Monday evening. Choir members sang during the worship as they praised God for journey mercies. June 19 Westfield Friends team visits Lugulu Mission Hospital and identified themselves with their 100 years celebrations since the establishment of the hospital. The Lugulu mission was established by Jefferson Ford who came from their meeting. They presented gifts from Westfield Friends to the hospital. They also visited with Lugulu Yearly Meeting of Friends. They stand in a group photo next to the church Ford built in the 40's. They also crossed the Equator line as they came from Kisumu. In the evening they visited the nearby Webuye Falls after Lugulu and it was fun. It was as if they were on the apex of Mt. Kenya. The Waterfall represents the true wonders of God. As you sit and listen to its flow you realize that even if people may not spread the good news of Jesus Christ, the water would and God would speak through the waterfall.

With members of Lugulu Yearly Meeting next to the church Jefferson Ford built in the 1940’s

Today they were all taken by Kisumu Friends Church members as their host. They will stay in homes for three days and the fourth day they move to Poroko for another mission among the Masai's. June 22 Members of Kisumu Friends Church with members from Westfield Friends working on the water filter at the church. They made one filter together. June 22 Today was a great day when the members of Kisumu Friends and Westfield Friends visited SOS children home and had fun together with the kids. They played until everybody was tired. Even the staff at the SOS plus our members engaged in the game to have fun through playing soccer, volleyball and basket ball. Even the small children played and those who did not play worked with one member on art drawing. We saw Jesus in the ministry today with orphaned and abandoned children who have been offered a home. I have never seen how children can be excited and happy the way I saw these children feel when we were playing with them. We were the first ever team of people especially a church that has ever done this kind of a mission to these vulnerable children.

Making a water filter with Kisumu Friends

Sunday morning worship at Kisumu Friends

June 23rd, Sunday Sunday morning worship at Kisumu Friends Church was led by the visiting team from Westfield Friends Church. Katy Palmer gave the sermon from Mark 4:3-8 about the sower broadcasting seeds to different soil. The team played a skit on the same.

Outside the Mission school in Narok County at Kilgoris.

Sunday morning worship at Kisumu Friends

June 25th We entered The Quaker mission in Narok County at Kilgoris. This is a mission that was established by the Quaker missionaries in 1962. In 1965 American missionaries left and the EAYM headed at Kaimosi continued to support the mission but by 1968 EAYM withdrew from supporting the mission. Since then the mission remain dormant but schools remain going on. But their is need for reaching out to the community for Jesus. We visited a classroom at the primary and special school for the mentally challenged

Sharing with Kipupu students at Poroko mission

Poroko mission needs your support and mine in re-establishing it and ensuring that the surrounding community is reached for Jesus. The Primary school has produced prominent people in the community like Hon. Julius Sunkuli, Prof. Ole-Kiyapi (former presidential aspirant), Rodisha the world 800m record holder and many others. But the mission is down. Kisumu Friends and Westfield Friends churches are making entry in the community of Poroko for Jesus. Please stand with them in prayers and support. As we came to the conclusion of our mission in Poroko, we went to the hill called Kipupu adjacent. Here is a session of sharing with Kipupu students. They are potential members of the church. Thanks friends for prayers

The Hill of vision in Poroko. We climbed it accompanied by students and we cast the vision from the hill. It was amazing to be on top of that hill and realize that the work of reaching out for Jesus is not overwhelming. The hill of vision is called Kipupu Hills. Friends we need men and women with a calling and those also who have a calling to give to missions to support mission work of FUM Africa Ministries. Members of Westfield and Kisumu Friends.

Climbing the Hill of Vision in Poroko

July 2013 Volume 33, Issue 7 Page 6

Members of Poroko church, Kisumu Friends and Westfield Friends outside the Poroko Meetinghouse.

The lady is the owner of the grass thatched house who requested the team to go to her house for prayers. Her house is almost collapsing and she has no child. The husband married another wife to have children.

June 26 A team of Westfield Friends and Kisumu Friends Church members who represented their churches on a mission to Poroko as they concluded their mission in Poroko, Kilgoris, Narok County. There is more work on mission here especially leadership development, outreach to the community, working in helping girl children finish their education rather than going through FGM

“If we desire our faith to be strengthened, we should not shrink from opportunities where our faith may be tried, and therefore, through trial, be strengthened. “ John Muhanji

Front row L to R: John Muhanji, Jessica Barker, Morgan Drlik, Danny Wohlschlaeger Back row L to R Brent Rogers, Katy Palmer, Michael Hiatt, Scott Drlik, Casie Barker, and 4 members of Kisumu Friends Church.