Retirement Ends 188-Year Dynasty of Mission Work RCA missionaries Lew and Nancy Scudder, the fifth consecutive generation of Scudders to serve in RCA mission, are retiring at the end of September. Since 1966, Lew and Nancy have served in the Middle East pastoring, teaching, consulting, writing, and coordinating communication for mission partners. They have worked in Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey, and Cyprus. They wrote this letter in June to announce their retirement to supporters. Dear Colleagues in Ministry and Mission, Friends and Faithful Supporters, While on home assignment last fall we kept hearing that we were retiring. It felt a bit like attending our own funeral. It was news to us. And the matter was eventually cleared up. But we have achieved the age when, by convention, people do retire. And as of the end of September 2007 we shall have done that, this time without aid of rumor. And it has struck me that, with our retirement, the last Scudders in unbroken line to have served RCA world mission in a career mode shall, hand-in-hand, toddle off into the sunset. It has been 188 years since John and Harriet Scudder set sail from Boston on the brig Indus bound for Calcutta; this may be something of a landmark. With great thanksgiving (and just a touch of pride) we have served in the RCA's mission program for 41 years (knock off a few for leaves of absence and other interruptions). It has given us a marvelous opportunity to live and learn and love and grow, and through it all we've felt the guiding hand of God as we've ministered, borne our witness, and been witnessed to in this most beautiful of beautiful lands. Since we have chosen Cyprus for our retirement home, we will remain here for as long as God gives us life and breath and health. But we are also being asked by Global Mission to continue to aid and abet its work in the Middle East. We will do that with good heart. I will "beaver on" writing my occasional essays--"Morning Land Meditations"--that the Middle East office of Global Mission will continue to distribute. So "retirement" we anticipate will become something of a euphemism we use for bookkeeping purposes. The work will not change all that much.
So we greet you from these lands where the ancient blessing and curse are still lifted up for people to choose between (Deuteronomy 11:26). With grateful hearts we thank you all for the years, and the memories, and the bonds of love, and we pray. God bless! Lewis R. Scudder Jr. (with Nancy) Posted 09/11/07
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