Our Presidents' Message

Message from the President/Presiding Clerk:

Greetings to United Societies of Friends women around the world:

The United Society of Friends Women has celebrated its 125^th anniversary. The person who caught the vision for Friends women was Eliza Armstrong Cox. She acted on her conviction that Friends women needed to get involved in mission. Jesus said in His Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) "Go…and make disciples of all the nations….teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." It was Eliza Armstrong Cox's concern that while some women were called to go, others were called to make it possible for those to carry out the work they were called to do and to provide prayer support.

Through the faithfulness of those called, we have been given a window of opportunity and blessing. Of opportunity: To focus our attention only on ourselves leaves us feeling empty and unfulfilled. But when we are made aware of needs beyond ourselves, we have the opportunity to share in both spiritual and material ways. Our lives are enriched. The world becomes smaller as we keep informed of needs and progress of our friends around the world. We have the opportunity to offer words of encouragement, prayers of hope, to contribute toward dreams of others that will gather people into rich fellowship with God and to experience improved health, to open doors for education and to hear the Gospel of love and peace.

Of blessing: We have come to know friends in Cuba, Jamaica, Belize, Palestine, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the United States. We are blessed by the faith demonstrated by women around the world. They enrich our lives. We are inspired to trust God more fully and be more obedient to the leading of Christ as we see these women faithfully living out their faith and caring for others.

Friends women learn and grow from each other. I have come to appreciate more and more Paul's words in II Corinthians 8:14: "…that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack--that there may be equality."

We will have the opportunity to come together for the next USFWI/QMI Triennial which will be held in Mombasa, Kenya July 1-5, 2010. The theme is captivating: "See, I am Doing a New Thing" which is taken from Isaiah 43:19. This will be a wonderful opportunity to bless one another. And in that opportunity we must remember to "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!" (Psalm 103:1)

Now is a good time to plan to meet together in Kenya and see what new thing God is doing among us or wanting to do among us.

Mary Glenn Hadley

President/Presiding Clerk, USFWI