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The Final Word May, 2006

John H. Giesler

We are so glad to put the message from our president on the cover of this May issue. As of next month we will have elected a new Board of Directors for the Mission Society, South and they will be electing a new slate of officers. We are grateful that we had Br. Jack for the past seven years as president, as these have been ones of great change in the work of the Society and in the worldwide Moravian Church. His report on the Mission Summit is perhaps the beginning of whole new emphasis on missions. Br. Sam Gray gives us several very exciting reports. His report on the mission work going on in Alaska and the British Province are remarkable when we consider the relatively small numbers doing the work! He also gives us a sketch of what is happening in our Georgia congregation. Wow! Then he gives us a look at “mission” in our Southern Province. He then offers to each of us a challenge to get involved in “mission” where we are. As I prepared my suggestions to pray, I was amazed at how many aspects of our church are involved in doing real “mission work” everyday.

We are again planning for another Trail of Tears Tour, September 14-24, and invite you to join us. We will visit the site of the Cherokee Moravian Mission sites, both in NW Georgia and NE Oklahoma, and many places on the actual Trail itself. Call me or e-mail me (address above) if you are interested, for all the details. You will meet several hundred of the thousands who still consider themselves Moravians. The Cherokee Moravian Historical Association now has over 250 members and is entering the publishing field. Call Betty Hobbs 722-2776 for information about joining. The meetings are free and open to the public. The first big project is publication of the Springplace Mission Diaries 1801-1837 in English, with helpful documents. There is tremendous interest in this among the Cherokees. Many scholars are waiting to do research, as they were only available in German script.

I have read with interest of a Good Friday concert to be held in NY 1^st Moravian Church with an Icelandic Choir using Moravian music. The Choir is from Faroe Island, near Iceland in the North Atlantic. I hope lots of Moravians in the area will attend. The choir will be on Good Morning America that morning. We hope to have a review of their trip next month.

If you collect stamps, an extensive series of Moravian stamps from Antigua, BWI, has come out for their 250^th anniversary. I will try to get more info in June. 

THE FINAL WORD  - John H. Giesler

ONWARD is published 10 times a year, with two double issues, by the Moravian Mission Society, South, Inc. You can subscribe for     $10 per year. Changes of address and/or checks should be made out to the Mission Society, and mailed to PO Drawer Y Salem Station, Winston-Salem  NC  27108 – Attention Sheila Beaman.  Editor is Rev. John H. Giesler, 1116 Tommy’s Lake RD, Winston-Salem  NC 27105. E-mail John Giesler
 ONWARD is on the world wide web at  www.bethabara.org/ONWARD.htm