Young Adult Friends Section Meeting Retreat Report

Young Adult Friends (YAFs, ages 18-35) serve a vital role in the health of the Quaker community. They carry the weighty responsibility of the future of Quakerism. They provide a bridge for Junior Friends to step into the larger Meeting. They bring energy and vibrance to gatherings. They steward what it means to be a Quaker.

Hosting opportunities for YAFs to be with one another builds a collective identity of Quakerism for this generation and becomes a foundation for what Quakerism will become. It also offers YAFs opportunities to engage with people going through similar experiences and learn to navigate those challenges from a place of inner light.

YAFs from across the Section of the Americas (SOA) were blessed with a unique and historic opportunity which was made possible by the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC). In March, 18 YAFs from Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Peru, and Bolivia gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona for three days leading up to the SOA Annual Section Meeting. This gathering was the first of its kind, and was inspired by the spirit of connection sparked at the YAF Gathering prior to the World Plenary last August. It marked a powerful moment of cross-cultural fellowship and spiritual deepening among young Friends.

YAFs were grounded in their shared belief of honoring the light within each of us while celebrating the unique facets of our local, regional, and national expressions of our faith. The first activity together was to establish the following intentions to aid the navigation of this diversity.

  • To learn and respect the differences between our cultures and worship / Para aprender y respetar las diferencias entre nuestras culturas y adoración
  • Speak on behalf of yourself – use ‘I’ statements / Habla en nombre de ti mismo – usa declaraciones ‘Yo’
  • Seek unity in our diversity / Buscar unidad en nuestra diversidad
  • We’re learning from God through each other / Estamos aprendiendo de Dios el uno a través del otro
  • Every experience is unique and valued / Cada experiencia es única y valorada
  • Enjoy being in each other’s presence / Disfruta de estar en presencia del otro
  • In building trust with one another, we learn how to share our light / Al construir confianza entre nosotros, aprendemos a compartir nuestra luz

YAFs deepened their spiritual bonds through a rich tapestry of shared experiences. Throughout the gathering, YAFs stepped into roles of leadership by guiding workshops, facilitating worship, and greeting the day together on peaceful sunrise hikes. A memorable excursion to the Desert Botanical Garden, led by two gracious friends from Phoenix Monthly Meeting, offered a space for reflection and connection with the natural world. With open hearts and willing hands, YAFs also gave back to the Phoenix Meeting community, providing much-needed yard care for its smaller, aging congregation. YAFs led the entire community in worship on the final day of the Section Meeting—an experience many described as spiritually moving and left a lasting impression on all who were present.

What young Friends do now shapes the future of Quakerism. Opportunities for YAFs to connect amongst themselves are crucial for the discernment of their identity and emboldens the brilliance of Quakerism for generations to come. This event is just one instance of the commitment that FWCC has in supporting YAFs around the world to honor their presence, engagement, and visibility.

Inspired by the depth of connection and shared spirit they experienced, YAFs left the gathering with a renewed commitment to strengthening their bonds and expanding their presence within the wider Quaker community across the Section of the Americas. While this may have been the first event of its kind, it is clear it will not be the last. The seeds planted in Scottsdale are already taking root, and are nurturing a growing movement of young Friends ready to walk together in faith, friendship, and service.

Meg Cody

Strengthening our Community of Friends: Visit to the Yearly Meetings of Bolivia

Pastor Gualberto Torrez and his congregation in one of their churches in the Andes region.

By Karen Gregorio de Calderon, Coordinator of Latin American Programs

 

In the month of January, God allowed us the privilege of making a visit to the affiliated yearly meetings of Bolivia, with the objective of strengthening our community and sharing the love of God that unites us. It was a wonderful experience to be able to greet the brothers of the different congregations to share with them, in the worship services and multiple scheduled activities, in which we were able to live together in harmony, worship our Lord Jesus Christ, share our cultures and our common heritage. We thank God for this privilege and for what it will allow us to continue doing in the near future with each of the Meetings. We are sure that God will direct the plans for the growth and expansion of his work.


I traveled with Raúl Pérez, member of the Executive Committee of FWCC-Section of the Americas and member of El Salvador Yearly Meeting and Robin Mohr, Executive Secretary for the Section of the Americas. We had the opportunity to visit the yearly meeting annual sessions of INELA Bolivia, the Bolivian Union Friends and the Central Friends yearly meetings.


We particularly want to thank Pr. Gualberto Torrez, of the Iglesia Evangelica Union Boliviana Amigos for his support and taking us to visit some of the rural churches of their yearly meeting.
We also had the opportunity to visit with Friends of Central Yearly Meeting. It was a blessing to share the message of God’s word and participate in the worship services. We thank its president Armando Mamani and the Congregation for the organization of the activities and their development.

Raúl Pérez, member of El Salvador Yearly Meeting and member of the Executive Committee of FWCC Americas, shared the experience of Central American yearly meetings with missionary work in Nicaragua and Cambodia.
In the Aymara culture, “Apthapi” is the name of the Aymara celebration in which food and knowledge are shared. It is derived from the verb apthapiña, which means to bring. The celebration attendees bring food to share with the group. We thank the sisters of Unión Boliviana and their churches in the Andes region for this wonderful experience.
Attendees at the INELA Bolivia Yearly Meeting.
Sharing experiences with Northwest YM Friends: Daniel Cammack, David Thomas, Roy Lujan, Ken Comfort.
Sharing with the leaders of the Amigos Central Yearly Meeting, at the Villa Victoria church.
Sharing with the leaders of the Amigos Central Yearly Meeting, at the Villa Victoria church.
Sharing with: Edwin and María Girón. They were also part of a panel presentation about modern approaches to missionary work.
Visit to Escobar-Uria Friends Church
Pleasant moments with the sisters of UFINELA. (INELA Women’s Union) during lunch, during the activities of the yearly meeting.
With the South American members of the Traveling Ministry Corps In the first row: Jhoana Ramos (INELA Peru), Robin Mohr (Executive Secretary of CMCA) Karen Gregorio de Calderón (Coordinator for Latin America of CMCA-COAL) Carmen Rosa Paye (Bolivian Friends Union) In the back row: Jhimmy Roque (INELA Bolivia) and Juan Daniel Mamani (INELA Bolivia). Thank you for your service to our community of Friends!
Youth Leadership of Bolivian Friends: One of the main objectives of the visit to Bolivia was to share with the young leaders of the affiliated meetings. We were able to meet and share with around 25 young people from Amigos Central, Unión Boliviana Amigos and INELA Bolivia. We had the opportunity to share the vision and mission of FWCC, future plans and projects, and share ideas of plans that we can work on together.
The FWCC-COAL deeply thanks the local arrangements committee, who did an excellent job coordinating travel to the different Annual Meeting. They include: Jhoana Ramos, member of the Section’s Nominating Committee, (INELA Peru), Milena Villca, FWCC Executive Committee (Union Boliviana Amigos), Carmen Rosa Paye, (Bolivian Friends Union), Timoteo Choque and family (INELA-Bolivia), Agustina Callejas and family, (INELA Bolivia) Ruben Maydana (INELA Bolivia), and Florentino Ramos and family (INELA Peru). We appreciate and value their support.

Young Adult Development fund applications due January 15

Applications to the Young Adult Development fund are due January 15 2020!

This Fund was created from Quaker Youth Pilgrimage monies, and the hope is that it will generate similarly powerful experiences of deep spiritual connection and encouragement for Young Adult Friends.

Please consider applying for events and projects that benefit and strengthen the network of Young Adult Friends around the world according to the objectives and requirements. This could include anything from running a Quaker leadership training course to planning a World Gathering of Young Friends (maybe connected to the next World Plenary Meeting in South Africa in 2023!). We have a preference for engaging in partnerships and for working across theological and cultural differences and across Sections.

In order for the application to be successful, it must meet the following objectives of the program:

  1. Deepening the religious experience of participants by challenging them to engage outside their known Quaker environments and appreciating different Quaker cultures.
  2. Training in Quaker processes and practice of taking on Quaker leadership roles – pastoral care, eldership, clerkship, etc.
  3. Sustaining and building community, fostering authentic friendships among participants. Encouraging Young Adult Friends to organise events that give them time to bond.
  4. Exploring theological differences that make up Quaker diversity. Encouraging engagement in formulating and articulating the evolving expression of Quaker faith for a new generation of Friends.
  5. Encouraging participation in the leadership of the home meeting/church and strengthening the impact of Young Adult Friends’ voices in their communities.

You can find the more information and the application online at: https://fwcc.world/areas-of-work/supporting-young-friends/young-adult-development-fund/

Introducing the 2018 Traveling Ministry Corps – Spanish speakers!

The Traveling Ministry Corps has named five new members from Central and South America, and they are preparing to serve your meeting or church. In January, the new cohort will meet in the City of Coroico, Bolivia for training.

Get to know each of them, and invite them to share with your Yearly or Monthly meeting. Remember that it does not have to be a large event but a time to share fellowship and the word of God.

Betriz

My name is Beatriz Apaza. I am a member of INELA Bolivia Yearly Meeting. I have had opportunities to serve in missions, first within the Unión Jeventud Evangèlica Los Amigos in Bolivia. Currently, I am volunteering at the Friends International Bilingual Center, a new project that aims to promote teaching based on Quaker principles in service of church and society as a whole. The search for the will and purposes of God led me to meditate on Faith, Hope and Love (1 Corinthians 13) as eternal principles that allow us to transform our way of seeing and understanding things, being guided by the Spirit Holy to be convinced of the Love of God as the greatest gift that man can have without deserving it.

“Let your dreams be bigger than your fears and let your actions be stronger than your words”

Oscar

My name is Oscar Eduardo Rodriguez Merino. I am 22 years old and I am a member of El Salvador Yearly Meeting. Since I was born, my parents instilled in me values ​​of brotherhood and holiness that helped me to grow as a Christian and as a person in society. I am the son of a pastor. I love working with young people. My passion is to give my whole life to the one who loved me on the cross of Calvary, to surrender in adoration. I am Vice President of the Youth Society Friendly Ambassadors in my country, and member of the district board; Serve, the blessed Jesus said! I am very excited to visit and meet more Friends.

Elvis

My name is Elvis Ivan Calderon Morales. I am 21 years old and I am from the Yearly Meeting Embajadores Amigos of Chiquimula, Guatemala. I am an industrial engineering student, and currently serving as the secretary of the council and president of the youth society of my church. I like to play soccer, to play the guitar; I like to serve, to help people. I am very happy to be part of the FWCC Traveling Ministry Corps and I hope to share with many Friends of the Americas.

Yulieed

My name is Yulieed, I am 20 years old and I belong to the Friends Church of Ciudad Victoria, where I attend regularly with all my family. I am a third year Civil Engineering student and what I most enjoy doing is taking care of my large collection of cacti and succulents, and attending the university where I study. I love to run in the afternoon and be in contact with nature. I am very happy to participate in the Traveling Ministry Corps and in to share my testimony with various Friends around the Americas.

Jonatan

My name is Jonatan Mamani, I am from La Paz,  Bolivia, and a member of the INELA Bolivia Yearly Meeting. Since I was a child I have been blessed to be part of the Friends Church and to participate in all of its activities. In the last four years I have been integrating the youth board of UJELAB (Union of Evangelical Youth Friends of Bolivia), visiting rural and some urban churches, and sharing with young people the teachings of the Word of God. All this has been a great experience that the Lord has allowed me to live. Now, as part of the leaders traveling in the CMCA ministry, I have much more to thank God for.

Virginia

My name is Maria Virginia Jalire Pisque. I am 24 years old. I am a member of the Evangelical Friends Church of La Paz, Bolivia. Since I was little I was raised in the Christian life by my parents and grandfather, and I received the call of God at age 15. God has shown me great wonders along the way, showing me my talent in praise, in the solidarity of being able to raise many people internally. I work with people in rural areas, giving help and offering support with the profession of nurse and pharmacist by profession that God proposed. I am now about to finish the career of physiotherapy kinesiology. I believe God showed me these careers so I can help people with limited resources and I feel satisfied because I can talk about the word of God in hospitals.