ONWARD Page 2 October 2006

A MORAVIAN FAMILY

The Barnes family (at Home Moravian Church) might be considered a model Moravian family. “The dad,” Jonathan (son of Moravian minister Rev. Alan and Sister Betty Barnes), is a soloist in the church choir. “The mom,” Kathy, is the church’s Treasurer and Administrator. “The son,” Jon, spent much of the summer in Kenya through the Amani Scholars Program and the Amani Foundation, visiting AIDS orphanages in Nairobi, Nakaru and Kisumu. “The daughter,” Sarah, spent part of her summer in Kathmandu, Nepal, helping to conduct a workshop at the School of Music and Worship, and ministering in the Upasana Moravian Church.

But the Barnes’s are “model Moravians” for another reason: they are a model or image of what the greater Moravian Family looks like. There is “the dad” of our heritage (music, traditions, symbols and practices); there is “the mom” of our ministry in the real world (stewardship, finances, accountability for the gifts that God has given the members of the family); there is “the son” of service (being a witness in all that we do, whether it be in the church or through a “secular” agency); and there is “the daughter” of discipleship (evangelism, outreach, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in the world).

And, just as members of a family are joined together not because of the sameness or similarity of their roles and gifts, but rather because of the unconditional bonds of love, so our Moravian Family, if it is to be faithful to its purpose and calling, must not only focus on but continue to function as a family – the family of God!

ALAS DE SOCORRO UPDATE

On August 4, Richard Redding (member of Ardmore Moravian who has been working hard to help deliver the newly acquired and much-needed Cessna aircraft to Alas de Socorro (Wings of Mercy) in Honduras) wrote:

“Praise God! I just got an email that the new airplane arrived safely at the clinic in Ahuas yesterday. It has been over 61/2 years since we met in Colorado Springs to strategize how to get a new airplane, and 18 months since that dream was realized.

Once again, thank you all for your generosity, your patience, your support, and your prayers over the many long months that it took to see this gift put into service. Countless lives (and souls) will be saved as a result of what you all have had a role in bringing to fruition, beginning today. Please continue to keep George Goff (the pilot), the doctors and staff at the clinic, and all those who will be served by this vital ministry in your prayers.

CRAZY ABOUT MISSIONS

Tuesday Sep 5^th:

In keeping with the Moravian heritage of being strongly engaged in mission, sixteen young people from the U.S., England, and Jamaica and 6 BWM staff persons met at Laurel Ridge for the Youth and Mission Summit Labor Day week-end. The purpose was to inspire the young people and to enlist their creativity and energy in helping the BWM to begin shaping its Youth in Mission program for young adults for the coming years.

As a result, we now have a Moravian Youth Website: <http://www.moravianyouthmissions.org/> which shares information about purpose, opportunities, and pictures and reports from recent mission trips. This is part of the initiative to support our recent Synod resolution which states, "all congregations in the Southern Province are strongly encouraged to engage youth in the life and ministry of the church by utilizing their talents, abilities, energy, and enthusiasm.

Please check out this latest site and be inspired to support our youth in missions and to continue serving our Savior by Proclaiming the Good News of salvation through our service and witness.