During the past 18 months as Mission Coordinators in the Dominican Republic, we have learned to praise God with a new rhythm. We've gone from four-part harmony and reverent organ preludes to hand-clapping unison singing with rhythm instruments and microphones that raise the roof. We've gone from meetings that start right on at the appointed time to meetings that might begin two or even three hours later than the announced time. We've learned the new rhythm of going to worship nightly instead of once a week! The rhythm of life is different for Dominicans who may not know where their next meal is coming from or how long it will take do most any task.

We are here tonight as witnesses to the powerful new rhythm of God's Spirit alive and moving among the Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic. We praise God for this opportunity to walk with the young Dominican church as this formative time and are thankful to God for this opportunity to learn to praise God with a new rhythm.

Each table has mango colored handouts that share a bit of our story. The map shows the latest developments in the church including the four newest preaching points just started in the past year. The Dominican church, just 20 years old, is focused on the call to go and make disciples as they work diligently to plant new churches and bring new believers into a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Two years ago at the Orlando Annual Conference, Jerry and I were approached by two Hispanic Brethren who knew of our background and Jerry's Spanish language fluency and asked if we'd consider going to work as Mission Coordinators in the Dominican Republic. We had hardly heard of the DR and didn't know there was a position being offered by the General Board. Having both been overseas as Brethren Volunteers, we hoped to someday share a broader cultural experience with our children but hadn't imagined we would all be able to live overseas as a family. After three months of wrestling with questions like, "How will this impact our children?" "How can we leave a loving church family where we're enjoying our pastorate?" And most importantly, "How do we sense God leading us at this stage of our faith journey?" we answered the call to apply and accepted the call to serve in the Dominican Republic as Mission Coordinators.

This position was called for by the Dominican Church of the Brethren who longed for a more consistent relationship with the US church through someone living in the DR. We arrived in the DR Jan. 31, 1999. Since that time we have been involved in a variety of mission work including visits to all the churches and times of listening to the needs, dreams and goals of the Dominican church, opportunities to preach and teach, and hosting numerous US mission teams and church leaders. For the children and me, this has been a time to learn Spanish and adjust to a new country, climate and culture. We have been welcomed with open arms and genuine Christian friendship by all the Dominican people.

As we seek to up build the Dominican church, we realize that we are now in a global world where we are all one family. Globalization means that through technology, we know in an instant about the tornado in Canada or the girl dying in Africa. Being a Christian in a global world means that we care. We want to be the salt that provides hope to those who have suffered a tragedy. We want to be the light that brings help in the form of food and clothing to the poor.

Certainly, we have sought to be salt and light in the Dominican context as we have helped with hurricane relief and food for the hungry. Our economic gifts bring hope and help to those in need through aid from the Emergency Response/Service Ministries and the Global Food Crisis Fund. Our economic gifts in the form of grants through the General Board assist with much of the budget of the Conference of churches including a monthly stipend for the pastors. Church building projects funded by US Brethren have brought new meetinghouses to churches within the Conference.

But besides the economic gifts, what other gifts do we US Brethren bring to share with the Dominican people as we walk the road of faith together?

We bring the gift of religious heritage. In this young church, many of the people have not had a background in the church and don't understand what it means to be Brethren, we have been blessed to have opportunities to share about the church's beliefs through teaching and preaching. Recently as Jerry was leading a Love Feast service in a new church project, he allowed a time for questions prior to the feet washing. One member asked if we should wash one foot or both feet as we shared in this service together. A simple question that brought clarity to this new ordinance within the church. Other leaders from the US church and Bethany Seminary have been brought in to teach students in theological education on issues of preaching, peacemaking and Brethren history.

We bring the gift of education. The support of the General Board ministry includes theological training for the pastors. The first five-year cycle of the program concluded this past Feb. with the graduation of 17 students. One of the pastors who graduated in February was Tomas Rubio. Tomas is the father of 16 children and has paltered a small mountain church for 30 years. He probably only had an elementary education prior to beginning this program. But, he could read and he was able to get to the classes and he worked hard. What joy to see this man of 70 plus years receive his certificate of completing the theological training program. Currently, 40 students are enrolled in this program designed to build up the leadership of the Dominican church.

We bring the gift of faithful stewardship practices. The pastors give a tithe automatically to the conference out of their stipend as an example for members of the church. Through our relationships with conference and youth officers, we have been able to encourage sound financial practices. Jerry led a workshop on stewardship with the pastors that was well received and several of the congregations asked him to come and share this information with the members.

We bring the gift of Christian friendship. Through the many persons who have visited the Dominican Church in the past several years, relationships have begun which build up and bring joy to Brethren on both sides of the Carribean. This has been a source of joy in our mission work. Recently, I hosted a group and there was a US family who came with their two elementary age daughters. They told me that even up to a week before the trip, they didn't know if they were bringing the girls because of their fears that they would get sick. But God gave them the strength to overcome their fears and they came and new Christian friendships started because of their willingness to go and support these Brethren in their efforts to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The gifts we bring: economic, religious heritage, education, stewardship and friendship all up build the Dominican Church. May we continue to share our gifts of faith in mission wherever God has placed us on this earth. Dios le bendiga! Amen.