The Friend from the Traveling Ministries Program "encouraged us to speak of our experiences of the Divine and to listen to others with tenderness. As a group which does not customarily share at this depth, we were challenged, but found the experience one which helped us see ourselves and others in a new light."

 

Spiritual gifts are given to the individual for the meeting and both should take responsibility to nurture them.

 

There is a common thread that binds us all together--that of God in ourselves, in each other, in our meetings, and in the wider world. When we provide opportunities for Friends to travel and share their experiences of the Divine, we strengthen that common thread and are brought closer to each other in God.

FGC's Traveling Ministries Program

Reweaving Our Spiritual Connections

Traveling ministry was an intrinsic part of the Religious Society of Friends from early times until recent history. It was Friends traveling under the leading of the Spirit who brought the revelation of the Inner Light of Christ to the colonies. Later it was Friends traveling with concerns that took the message of equality for all people to the meetings and settlements across North America. Seasoned Friends carried concerns of their meetings, as well as news of family and F/friends across this continent and to meetings all over the world. Local meetings nurtured the spiritual gifts of their members, helped discern clearness, and provided oversight for Friends when they felt called to travel in this way. Friends grew in the Spirit and stayed connected with each other across the miles. The goal of the Traveling Ministries Program is to reweave that web of spiritual connection.

More Information:

For information concerning the Traveling Ministries Committee, see the following:

• Arranging for Visits from Seasoned Friends
• Letters of Travel
• Endorsements from Meetings
• Nurturing Calls to Ministry in Friends Meetings

• Selected Bibliography on Ministry and Eldering
• 2002 Report on the Traveling Ministries Program
• Couple Enrichment for Friends

• Seasoned Friend, as understood by the Traveling Ministries Program, 10/2003.
• Clearness and Anchoring Committees, as understood by the Traveling Ministries Program, 3/2005.

For stories and articles on traveling in the ministry

• Trip to Minnesota by David & Virginia Wood
• Visit to Kalamazoo Friends Meeting, report by Deborah Haines (Nov. 2002)
• FGC Resources & Articles on Ministry

Contact the Traveling Ministries Program:

• To learn more about the Traveling Ministries Program . . .
• to request a visit from a seasoned Friend . . .
• or to volunteer to travel as a seasoned Friend . . .

Traveling Ministries Program Coordinator
Deborah Fisch
3400 Kingman Blvd
Des Moines, Iowa 50311
WORK PHONE 515-277-2189
E-MAIL deborahf@fgcquaker.org