GOOD NEWS ASSOCIATES WAS BORN as Mark Oppenlander, John Braun, Maxine Stansell and I gathered around the round oak table in my condo in Seattle, Washington. We were meeting to find a way to support folks in ministries that didn’t fit the usual church positions. We knew God was calling folks to rearrange their lives to be faithful to all kinds of endeavors—religious art, music, dance, writing, spiritual direction, prayer and service and things we hadn’t even dreamed of yet. But we also were keenly aware that folks trying to be faithful were in a bind. Being faithful to these calls meant that they needed freedom of time and energy; yet rarely would there be enough income from these calls to live on. Folks needed a channel for donated income. They needed a community to understand and accompany them in the small print of their work. They needed an anchoring identity for credibility.

It would have been lovely if we were a group of rich people who could create capital to simply hire persons in non-traditional ministries with salaries that comfortably undergirded their lives. But we weren’t rich and we didn’t have any capability of guaranteeing a monthly income. So under the guidance of the Spirit, we were given a unique way forward. We didn’t know if it would work, but we felt impelled to try. And the adventure began with our Incorporation as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation on August 27, 1998.

The role of Executive Director has been part of my ministry work as a Good News associate from the beginning. And it has been one of the privileges of my life to get to be supported by and give leadership to this holy adventure called Good News Associates. 26 years later, it is joy for me to pass on the baton. In this next stage, I get to release the administrative role of director, but I also get to remain part of the organization as one of the Associates. What a blessing.

The board is excited to announce that on October 1, 2024 the next Executive Director will be Christine Hall! In the same way that the administrative role was part of the wholeness of my ministry, Chris will continue her work with Way of the Spirit, spiritual direction, speaking and writing. But now she will be enlarging her ministry to lead the whole organization.

Chris was raised in Alaska and she loves the rugged outdoors. She and her husband, Jim, now live in wooded acres on Whidbey Island in Washington state. For years she had carried a vision and passion for spiritual formation. But as a member of Alaska Friends Conference and then North Pacific Yearly Meeting, it was hard for her to know how to live out her pastoral giftedness. There were no apparent vehicles in her Yearly Meetings to actualize her call. However she stepped forward in faith for preparation. She trusted her leadings and got her Masters of Arts in Transformational Spirituality and a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Seattle University.

In 2011 Chris became a Good News Associate. Her faithfulness was exactly what we created the organization for. It was with joy that we all worked together to actualize Chris’ vision—Way of the Spirit. It made transformational experiences accessible for both programmed and unprogrammed Friends. It made bridges among Friends where there were gulfs of separation.

It mended many of the wounds of folks’ religious experiences. It provided the spacious acceptance in which people could experiment and grow. It has changed lives. Meetings. Yearly Meetings.

Chris’ teaching and pastoral giftedness has been evident in the scores of participants who bear witness to the liberating growth in their lives. As the Director of the program, her organizational acumen has been effective and grace filled. She understands and treasures the spirit and textures of Good News Associates.

So, there was much grinning and laughing at the last Board Meeting when it was clear that God was leading us to extend the call for leadership to Chris. She is the right fit at the right time.

We look forward with happy anticipation to the next chapter in our corporate faithfulness.

Postscript

As of October 1st, the Good News Associates office address will be
Good News Associates, 7351 Barred Owl Way, Clinton, WA 98236 | (360) 341-1994
christine@goodnewsassociates.org
If you have recurring donations through bill pay, do indicate the change of address.