The purposes are to provide peer connection for this group of people, to help them get acquainted with the MEG Board and answer questions they may have, and to provide practical ministry training.  Supt. Matt Whitehead, Dr. John Thoburn (Director of Clinical Services at SPU Counseling Center, and Rev. David Lindner (Longview) presented information.  Approximately 60 people attended the dinner. 

Everett FMC did an outstanding job of hosting the MEG dinner.  Each uniquely decorated table was a labor of love. 
A chef from their congregation prepared a sumptuous salmon dinner and many volunteers helped clean, decorate, cook and serve.  God used this time together in some powerful ways.  Following is one MEG Board member's enthusiastic account.

Thank you for the opportunity to meet with the people who are on the ordination track or considering the call to full time ministry.  It was a powerful time for my husband and me in several ways. 

We were seated at the table with two young couples.  One of the couples was exploring what God might be saying in their life and listened with interest to what "wisdom" we were able to share.  The other couple is already on the ordination track--God has called both of them to full time ministry!   We knew of these young people through our relationship with their parents.  The young man is the son of a pastor in our conference, and his wife's parents attend our church in Yakima.  We had such fun talking with them and listening to the very questions that we had asked years ago.  What a great evening!

As an aftermath to that, God granted us new examples of how serving Him touches many lives.  Our own teen-age children asked about the event and about how God calls people into ministry.  We were able to share how God might call them into full time ministry and how exciting that would be.  At church on Sunday, we were greeted by the parents of the young lady that had shared our table. They were exceedingly grateful for the encouragement provided by the MEG dinner and our conversation.  It was amazing to us how enjoying a wonderful dinner, talking with new friends and listening to some great speakers could be used to encourage and touch many lives--and only God knows the result for eternity.