TH Anniversary1940 TH Anniversary1940

Sat Tal Christian Ashram– Celebrating its 85th Anniversary

North America – Celebrating its 75th Anniversary

As an American missionary-evangelist in India, E. Stanley Jones felt the need for a spiritual base – a retreat for spiritual refreshment – where there could be in-depth study and reflection in the company of a close-knit group. He wanted to be accountable to others. And so in 1930, he and Ethel Turner, a British missionary, and Reverend Yunas Singh Sinha, an Indian presbyter, started the first Christian Ashram. In 2015, the Sat Tal Christian Ashram is celebrating its 85th anniversary with an English-speaking Ashram from May 15 through May 29 and a Hindu-speaking Ashram June 1 through June 15. Paul Gohil is its newest spiritual leader (Archarya).

Stranded in the United States during World War II, while his family was obliged to remain in India, Brother Stanley transplanted the Christian Ashram to the United States and Canada. In August of 1940, the first Christian Ashram in North America was held in Saugatuck, Michigan. From that early beginning, Christian Ashrams have become a strong spiritual growth ministry throughout the world. From that day to this, more than 75,000 people have found new life in Christ, new joy in their spiritual journey, and new depth to their relationships. In 2015, the United Christian Ashrams is hosting four regional celebrations in California, Texas, Minnesota, and in New Brunswick, Canada.

Set in the beautiful coastal Redwood forest just north of Santa Cruz California, you’ll be blessed to be among those majestic trees. This year Redwood Christian Ashram celebrates its 55th anniversary under those same magnificent trees!

The rich traditions of Redwood Ashram are sure to touch you and make you feel loved and included. An inspirational morning and evening program is offered for adults, youth, and children with free time in the afternoon for fellowship, fun in the pool, volleyball, and hiking. Each year high school youth take a trip to the Santa Cruz beach.

Texas Christian Ashram is celebrating its 70th anniversary! Nestled on 40 acres in the Piney Woods of East Texas, Scottsville Camp and Conference Center provides a quiet setting for our annual gathering.

Morning Watch opens each day, followed by large and small group worship, prayer, and study. Children and youth have age-appropriate programming throughout each day. The heartbeat of our gathering is the 24-hour prayer vigil. Afternoon free time activities including swimming, fishing, sports, hiking, and shopping in quaint, nearby Marshall.

E. Stanley Jones at Sat Tal Paul Gohil

E. Stanley Jones at Saugatuck Christian Ashram

Boulder Creek, CaliforniaJune 28 – July 3, 2015Evangelist: Tom Albin

Bible Teacher: R. Wade Paschal

Scottsville, TexasJuly 18 – July 23, 2015Evangelist: John Hobbs

Bible Teacher: Bob Utley

Redwood Christian Ashram Texas Christian Ashram

for more information: (318) 232-0004 www.christianashram.org

TRANSFORMINGLIVES

2015: A Yearof Anniversaries!

JUNE 2015

A Word from the Executive Director: It’s Launch Time!

United Christian Ashrams 904 Deville Lane Ruston, LA 71270

The United Christian Ashrams is excited to launch its new and much improved website. Our hope and prayer, as we worked these many months, is that God would be glorified in the growth and expansion of the Ashram movement through the use of this exciting tool. Please share this website with all of your Ashram friends, and especially with those who want to know more about the Ashram movement (www.ChristianAshram.org).

My sincere thanks to Alissa Canfield (Chair of the Communications Committee), Lisa Chandler (Office Manager), and Melanie Jones (UCA webmaster) for their work and dedication. All of us wish to give our special thanks to Katherine Krause, who has guided our team with wisdom, grace, patience and skill. Katherine is a member of the Minnesota Ashram, a spiritual director, content manager, and a longtime friend of Pastor Bill Berg. Her creative skill and spiritual guidance was given in memory of Brother Bill, who is undoubtedly smiling in heaven and cheering us on as we seek to reach new people, in new places, and in new ways (that you will hear more about in the months ahead).

With you, I commit my prayers, gifts and service to help the whole world come to know that Jesus Is Lord!

Tom Albin, Executive Director

UCA Board Meets in Nashville The Spirit was certainly at work at the annual Board meeting! It was thrilling to work together in planning and visioning for the future of the Christian Ashram movement. Among the many accomplishments were: New board members were commissioned: Gayle Kerr,

Matthew Henson, and Kate Flavell will serve through 2017; Phil Newman will serve through 2015.

Bishop Bill Hutchinson assumed the duty of President of the Board, following Roberto Escamilla (who will remain as a member of “The Four”).

Left: A group photo of the current Board of Directors and The Four

Below: Al Jansen being commissioned as the newest

member of “The Four”

United Christian Ashrams 904 Deville Lane Ruston, LA 71270

New Spiritual Leaders and Approved Speakers At the 2014 Board of Directors meeting in Nashville, seven new speakers were approved for leadership in the United Christian Ashram movement. These candidates completed an extensive application and had phone interviews with members of the Personnel committee.

After much prayer, they were added to the list of speakers who can fill the roles of Evangelist and/or Bible Teacher at local Ashrams. Be in prayer for each of these individuals as they follow God’s call. Directors can contact the Central Office for contact information for any of these new approved speakers. We will be featuring two new approved speakers in each upcoming newsletter!

REV. JOHN HOBBS Evangelist, Bible Teacher As a pastor and General Evangelist in the United Methodist Church since 1970, John has ministered to many people in many locations. He has been involved as a participant and leader at the local Ashram level since the 1990s. He currently serves at Liberty Christian Fellowship in North Carolina. John is married to Betty Jo and they have three children.

REV. JEREMY JONES Bible Teacher Jeremy serves as lead pastor at Douglas United Methodist Church. He received his theological training from Asbury Seminary, and is ordained in the Louisiana Conference. He has attended the Texas Ashram many times with his family, and recently began attending the Louisiana Ashram. He and his wife, Melanie, have one daughter and a son due in January.

Serving God in China Where do Ashram leaders go when their time in the local Ashram is completed? For Kevin Shorey and his spouse, Emma, the call was to Kunming, China, to work with expat students, most of whom are children of missionaries. Kevin teaches middle school Social Studies and serves as athletic director. Emma runs the Extension Services Program that helps expat students who can't go to a school in the areas where their parents serve. She also travels one week a month to lead a week of school for homeschooled children. Together they serve as the Member Care representatives at KIA, helping new staff to start well in a new place, and providing support to help them stay there long term. Kevin, former youth director at the Texas Christian Ashram for 10 years, is the father of Wesley who will graduate from high school in China later this year. Here, Kevin and Emma are pictured during their annual trip to the USA. In addition to family and friends, they make visiting their Texas Christian Ashram family a priority.

Minnesota Christian Ashram was started 30 years ago by Brother Bill Berg, one of “The Four” original leaders chosen by E. Stanley Jones.

Minnesota Ashram is friendly, welcoming, and very family-oriented. Programs are offered for children, teens, young adults, and adults up to age 102. Afternoons are open and can be spent on the beach, canoeing, swimming in the college pool, walking the beautiful campus, enjoying quiet time for personal reflection, or having engaging fellowship with others.

Georganne Leonard was consecrated as a member of The Four in a moving ceremony on April 10, 2015. Georganne is a practicing attorney in San Antonio Texas with a solo private practice focusing on estate planning, probate and guardianship law, particularly for those who would not otherwise have the financial means to

obtain these critical legal needs. Here is a little glimpse of her Ashram Journey in her own words: “I attended my first Texas Christian Ashram in 1963. I was four months old. My mother pushed me in a stroller around the screened-in auditorium so that she could hear Brother E. Stanley Jones. I attended every year thereafter and served as assistant youth leader when I was in college. In 1987, I brought my fiancé, JK Leonard, with me to be certain that he would understand how dear the Ashram family was to me and my family. Convinced that he truly did understand, we married in 1988 and just celebrated our 27th anniversary in May! Each of our three boys (ages 23, 21, and 18) has attended the Texas Christian Ashram every year of their lives. This year, at age 52, I will attend my 52nd Ashram!”

This summer United Christian Ashrams is fortunate to have the services of Tom Dearduff, who will travel to each of the Ashram celebrations and will help to film and document the events. He will blog about his impressions of the Christian Ashrams to young adults the world over. Tom has a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and the Arts with a

concentration in Music Business and Audio Technology. He hopes that his creative perspective will “advance the United Christian Ashrams’ efforts.” He characterizes himself as “a strong-willed, responsible, creative, and adaptable addition to the staff as an intern, willing to push myself further and further to grow more as a person of faith, wisdom, and integrity.” While he presents a solid addition to the United Christian Ashrams, it presents for him an opportunity to advance his interests in storytelling through the Spirit, observe his own spiritual formation alongside brothers and sisters in Christ, and deepen his faith in the Creator God in a working environment where his skills would be encouraged and honed. Tom is excited have this opportunity “to serve, to understand, and to grow” and is looking forward to the many great experiences that are in store.

New Brunswick Christian Ashram celebrates its 15th anniversary this year! It is held at Beulah Camp on the beautiful Long Reach of the St. John River.

Beginning Thursday evening and running through Sunday lunch, we follow the Christian Ashram pattern of morning and evening worship and talks, small groups and a Saturday evening healing service. We provide programming for children and youth. During afternoon free time, enjoy the beach and swimming, walking trails, or a visit to the community country market.

Minnesota Christian Ashram New Brunswick Christian Ashram

Welcome Our Newest Member of The Four and Our Newest Intern!

Georganne Leonard Tom Dearduff

Collegeville, MinnesotaJuly 30 – August 2, 2015Evangelist: Bruch Ough

Bible Teacher: Tom Albin

Browns Flat, New Brunswick, CanadaAugust 6 – 9, 2015

Evangelist: James SwansonBible Teacher: Matt Henson

for more information: (318) 232-0004 www.christianashram.org