THAYNE A. THOMPSON, DMin | EFC-MAYM Lead Superintendent
For our wedding gift, 43 years ago, Kristin’s parents sent us to Glen Eyrie (CO) for our wedding present. The gift was to attend one of the annual “Navigator” conferences held at this beautiful location just outside of Colorado Springs.
Two things happened during that event which changed my life. The first was being introduced to the “Navigators”, a para-church organization that helps people learn to make disciples in their local context and vocation. As a result, I began a journey of learning what it means to follow Jesus and help fulfill the Great Commission as a part of daily life. (By the way, the Navigators are the organization where we get D4D from, which we use extensively in global missions through EFM.)
The second life-changing experience which happened that week was getting better acquainted with George and Wanda Tittsworth, an older couple from Northridge Friends Church whom we knew only by appearance up until then. We came to find out George and Wanda had been married 33 years longer than us, to the day! George was nearing the end of his career as a State Farm Agent and I was beginning my career as an IBM Marketing Representative.
During that week in Colorado our relationship “clicked”. That was just the beginning. Upon arriving back in Wichita, we found that George and Wanda lived in a very nice neighborhood walking distance from where we lived. So, we began getting together as couples to hang out on Sunday evenings and play card games together. George invited me to begin having breakfast together once a week at McDonalds where we memorized verses of scripture as well as established a deep lasting friendship.
For the next 3-5 years we met weekly until Kristin and I moved to Chicago for me to attend TEDS (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School). Those years spending time weekly with George and Wanda were transformational. Having people in our lives, in this case who had already experienced much of life, was a huge benefit when we struggled individually or relationally. There is no way I could place a dollar value on that relationship. It was truly life-changing.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
I experienced the truth of that verse first-hand during those years. We are “better together”. It is how God wired us. We are not made to live in isolation, but in relationship with others who can help us, encourage us, counsel us, and support us.
This past week our EFC-MAYM Leadership Team met for our weekly meeting and the theme of being “better together” began to arise from the devotional Jesse shared with us to the discussion which ensued afterwards. As individuals, families, local churches, yearly meetings, or like-minded organizations working towards a common cause, we ARE “better together”. That thought so captivated the minds of our Leadership Team we decided to make that our theme for Ministry Conference this summer, ”Better Together”. From the pastoral gathering in advance of Ministry Conference, to the fellowship, worship, teaching and even business session throughout the weekend, we want to orient the whole event around this theme of how we are “better together”.
As we prepare for Ministry Conference (July 9-12, 2026) this summer, we are asking you to reserve those dates on your calendar and plan to join us. A number of very exciting things are beginning to come together, including another special pre-conference event for Pastors and families, a special event sponsored by our global sending agency (EFM), and a very special keynote speaker for the weekend, Dr. James Bryan Smith.
From those early days of marriage, living in west Wichita and working for IBM to my role as Lead Superintendent today, I am not only convinced by the truth of scripture, but also by personal experience, we are “better together”. I hope to see you this summer on the campus of Friends University for our 2026 Ministry Conference.
Thayne Thompson, DMin
Lead Superintendent
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