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In the fall of 2005, Waylen & Darlene Brown, stopped by John & Karen Hess’ on their way home from the Navajo reservation after the Summer Ministry program closed. They spent the night and worshiped with the folk at Lone Star Friends Church. The Lone Star Church FWF have been a supportive group of ladies, helping with craft ideas for VBS; the church has also sent some of their families to help in short term Missions experiences. It was here we first met Alfred & Mabel and family. While the Browns founded Ministry Among Native Americans some 20 years ago, their ministry was primarily to Native Americans, it not exclusively so. The Lugalias made contact with the Browns later that fall.
They communicated and visited on several occasions. Mother’s Day weekend 2005, Lugalias came to spend the weekend. Waylen, wanting to treat them to special weekend, called Pastor Verge; pastor of the Ash St, Nazarene Church for the hours of their services. We all attended, it was a wonderful service. Darlene noted tears in Mabel’s eyes and inquired as to the cause. Mabel and Alfred both said it was like being in their home church in Kenya. What a blessed Day it was.
This started Waylen & Darlene thinking about the fact that we have no ethnic Friends Churches in KS. Having for years answered on the pastoral reports, what are your plans to serve in pastoral position? As God should so lead. Darlene’s suffering a stroke in 2004 has limited her ministry on the reservations because of the terrain. We begin to seek God’s direction for our lives at this point in time.
In the spring of 2006, Alfred & Mabel came to see us and shared their feelings that God was calling them to establish a multicultural church in Wichita. We spent several weeks praying for God’s leadership. In August we begin to have house church in our home from 2:00-4:00 pm on Sunday afternoons. We shared with people and invited all who desired to join us. As is the usual in beginning a new work, we had a number of different people attend, Mike Brincefield and Grace, when she wasn’t working; Rod & Laura Routon, were most consistent. We begin to find there are many Africans who were Friends there. It continued to the point we needed more room than our house could handle. In October 2008, Rod and Mike asked Waylen and Alfred to look for facilities that were affordable and appealing to attendees. Most facilities were too expensive for us. We prayed much regarding the matter. As they were driving down Geo. Washington Blvd., Waylen felt impressed to stop at Harry Reese’s Dance Studio. Harry was an acquaintance, a friend of our son, Anthony and had been a supporter of MANA. He was in the office so the fellows shared with him our need. He seemed almost excited about the opportunity. They discussed hours needed and possible renting. They agreed on what Waylen & Alfred thought was to be $100.00 a Sunday from 10:30-12:30. We began meeting there on first Sunday of November 2008. Rent was to be paid on the last Sunday of the month. At the end of Nov,. Darlene gave Harry a check $400.00. Harry questioned Waylen about it and Waylen said this is what we agreed on. Harry then said,” I said $50.00 a Sunday and I’m the landlord so that settles it.” We said, thank you and praise the Lord!
It has been word of mouth advertising with plans for knocking on doors and handing out flyers in our neighborhood and at FU and WSU. Our attendance averages near 25 per Sun. The low being 12, the week of the big snow, to 48, an all time high. We believe God has a purpose for Southeast Community Friends Church. Mabel oversees S. S. for the youngsters. One thing we are blessed with is that the most of our people are tithers, praise God!
We began paying Alfred $50. a week in March. In July, we raised it to $400.00 per mo plus $50, for church related gas expense. Waylen, as associate pastor draws no pay.
We have a Sat. night Bible study in various homes on rotation. Darlene has one-on-one Bible Study with those who so desire. (Woman: Designed by God.) On Weds. The ladies have a 24 hour Prayer time; focusing on the Sun. services, the needs as we know them for church folk, seeking to know where God wants us to go and areas He wants us to reach out. |