Wednesday, October 17

First I will tell you a bit about The Welcoming Place – behind Mennonite Central Committee offices – Akron, Pennsylvania, where the TFC Conference was held.

The Welcoming Place is a visitor’s village on the grounds of MCC’s offices at 21 South 12th Street, Akron, Pennsylvania. It includes guest houses and a conference and meeting center.

The building to the left is the dining room.

A bench outside the dining room.

We did not stay over night as we live only fifteen miles away.

A bit of beauty on the way to Africa House – one of four houses on the grounds.

Middle East/Europe House.

We did not use Asia House for this conference.

Meeting Place

Beauty – outside Americas House

Special thanks to these companies who donated food for our snacks.

There was fruit, salty snacks, nuts and candy…

…also a great variety of drinks.

Wednesday breakfast

I think we always went through the buffet line with Murray and Laurie. 🙂

I like this picture of Hank and Gloria Rader. I took it because of the way the morning sun was hitting her hair.

Preparing for the day: Carmen, Jacques, Bunny and Dan

Doug and Dan preparing for the morning

Richard Olver (Lead Chaplain), Denver, Colorado, was the morning MC.

Dan Kreider was our morning worship leader.

I talked to him at break, and discovered he works at Paul B. Zimmerman’s with our grandson Nate. He is in cooperate and Nate is in the office at PBZ (fabricating).

Jason (Lead Chaplain), Lodi, Ohio, making sure words of the songs are on the screen at the correct time.

Our morning “Time in the Word” challenge was again presented by Doug Winne.

I like his thought on the initials WWJD (What Would Jesus Do). He thought it might be better to think about WDJD (What Did Jesus Do).

We are good salt in modeling what Jesus did or we are good for nothing salt.

Dan closed the devotional part of the day with more worship songs.

During the next session Jeff Batzer (former TFC Vice President) returned to give us information on the updated Ministry Manuel – which he helped to compile.

We miss him, but it sounds like he is happy in his new job.

Ron looking over the manual.

He also talked a bit about the Banquet Guidelines book.

Ruth Martin (Executive Secretary to the Offices of President and Chaplains) gave us a few more ideas and help in finding this information online.

Jeff and Dan

Mike Hayden (Director of Business and Finance) gave us encouraging financial information and ideas on raising funds for TFC.

We were surprised and pleased to find that retired chaplain David Roberts and his wife, Mary Ann (Ephrata, Pennsylvania), came to have lunch with us. She is in the white coat, David is wearing a navy jacket. They are talking to George and Nancy Freeman (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts).

I am going through the buffet line with Murray Scott again. 🙂

The first part of our afternoon session was led by Dave Hyatt (Missions Pastor at Hershey Free Church). “Communicating the Gospel to Ethnic Drivers.”

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There was an afternoon break where many went to see the International Office.

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Jacques and Carmen opened the evening session with a French worship song.

They taught us the chorus so we all sang in French. 🙂

Dan shared a message on “Keeping in Step with the Holy Spirit.”

Bunny O’Hare led us in a communion service.

Ron Fraser (incoming TFC President) shared a closing challenge.

Dan visiting with Diana and Richard Olver (Denver, Colorado).

Dwayne Johnson (Vice President of Development), Jenison, Michigan, visiting with David Hoy (Lead Chaplain) Elkton, Maryland.

Cerwin and Michael DeBay (Ontario, California). They may be making plans for the next morning as Michael and Susan are coming to our place for two days when the conference is officially over – following breakfast on Thursday, October 18.