Reflections on Friendship
and the 20th Anniversary Banquet
by Monty Sholund

From the Feb 2007 Philogian

As we prepare for our 25th Anniversary Banquet in April, here’s a look back at Monty’s comments after the 20th Anniversary Banquet in 2002.

What a great evening of fellowship it was, enjoyed by the more than 150 people who came along to the Village Schools Twentieth Anniversary a couple of weeks ago.  It was such a joy to see members of that first brave class which launched the Schools in September, 1982.  It was a huge blessing to see previous Council Members, who guided us over those many years.     It was a good to be together with present Council members who are being challenged by opening doors for extending the ministry of the Village Schools around the world, as well as new opportunities of ministry here in the home-land.  It was memorable to welcome Pastor Solomon Philip, our Village Schools director in India who had come from there especially for this memorable evening.
 
We reveled in the beauty of the evening, the tables lovingly decorated with bouquets of beautiful flowers.  We were spoiled by the delicious meal prepared by that wonderful team of skilled helpers.  I was deeply moved to look into the faces of graduates and present students of Village Schools from many places, all giving evidence of what the Lord did during those studies and continues to do in increasing measure, as each student seeks to disciple others also. I saw some who had been Village Friends from the very beginning and many others who had become Friends during these twenty years.  You have been God’s special gift to us as Partners in this work of the Lord.  We are forever thankful!

And I couldn’t help but think of that powerful passage in Ecclesiastes 6:14-18:
A faithful Friend is a secure shelter, whoever finds one, finds a treasure.
A faithful Friend is beyond price;  there is no measure of his worth.
A faithful Friend is an elixir of life, found only by those who fear the Lord.
Whoever fears the Lord directs his Friendships aright, for he treats a neighbor as himself.  My son, seek wisdom’s instruction while you are young, and you will find her when your hair turns white.

The Scriptures speak frequently about this treasure of true Friendship.  Isn’t it stirring to read in Exodus 33:11, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face as a man speaks with his Friend.”  This is repeated in Isaiah 41:8, “But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham, my Friend..”  And one is gripped by that familiar verse in James 2:23, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s Friend.’”

We think of these ancient great men as having done great exploits for God.  God said to Abraham, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3).  What an incredible promise, that all the earth’s inhabitants would be blessed through this obedient man.  And we think of Moses, considered by some to be the greatest man who ever lived, through whom God’s revelation of redemptive blessing would come.   And yet I think the greatest thing that could be said about them and about us, is “He/She was God’s Friend.”  A friend is devoted, sharing both joys and sorrows.  A friend encourages and exhorts, to the blessing of both.  A friend is a steadfast refuge in times of storm.  And we love that great verse in John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you Friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.”  That’s what life is all about!! 

I praise God unceasingly for you, dear Village Friends, because we are knit in this great fellowship of those whom Jesus calls His Friends.  What more could anyone ever want!!!