November 2001

Dominican Mission Report
Gerald and Rebecca Baile Crouse
Mission Coordinators in the Dominican Republic
Church of the Brethren
BM #7000
6911 North West 87 Avenue
Miami, FL 33178
(Please note our change of address)

Completion of Term:

We have announced to the Church our decision to complete our term of service as Mission Coordinators in the Dominican Republic in August 2002. We anticipate leaving the Dominican Republic around the 15th of June, doing some mission interpretation in the U.S. for several weeks, and finishing our service as Mission Coordinators in August. Our decision has been a difficult one to make. We believe that service in the Dominican Republic has been the calling that the Lord has willed for us to follow during what we anticipate to be a term of a little over 3½ years. God has blessed our family and the Church through this relationship in so many ways. We believe that the summer of 2002 is the time for our family to move back to the United States to begin a new chapter in our life and Christian service. Over the next several months, we will be involved in a time of discerning God's leading as to where we should relocate our family and how and with whom we will continue our service to Christ and to His church.

We hope to be available to help provide orientation for the new Mission Coordinator(s) once they have arrived in the Dominican Republic to begin serving late next spring. We are grateful for your faithful prayer support and ask that you continue to pray for us, for the Church in the DR and in the US, and for the one(s) whom God will call to serve as the next Mission Coordinator(s) in the Dominican Republic.

Mission Coordinator(s) Sought

The General Board's Global Mission Partnerships office is seeking a Mission Coordinator(s) for the Dominican Republic. For position description and application form contact: Church of the Brethren General Board, Office of Human Resources, 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120-1694; or call 800-323-8039 ext. 259; or email eholderread_gb@brethren.org or mgarrison_gb@brethren.org. A full position description can be found online at www.brethren.org/genbd/GeneralSecretary/HR.htm.

Annual Congregational Health Visits Initiated

An Evaluation Commission composed of the Conference Moderator, Moderator-elect, Ministry Commission President, and one of the Mission Coordinators have been engaged in visits with 11 congregations and fellowships over the past two months. These visits include an initial two hour meeting with the congregation's administrative board which includes dialogue over a self-evaluation survey which the board has completed prior to the visit. After supper, the visiting commission joins with the entire congregation in celebrating their evening worship. One member of the visiting commission shares a brief overview of the spiritual health evaluation and another member preaches the message. The Evaluation Commission has six remaining visits to make during the month of November in order to complete their mission for the year. The decision to create an Evaluation Commission and to engage in these annual visits was made by the Annual Assembly (DR equivalent of US Annual Conference) meeting this past February in San Juan de la Maguana.

Bosharts Explore Community/Economic Development Visions

Jeff and Peggy Boshart, Lebanon, PA arrived in the DR September 22 for a three month period of visiting local Brethren congregations and facilitating conversations regarding congregational visions for community/economic development. The Bosharts will present their findings to the National Board of the Dominican church on December 14 and 15. The possibility exists that they may be called to a longer term of service with the Dominican Brethren. Please remember them in your prayers as they continue their language learning and congregational visits.

San Luis Church Building Begun

Ground was broken in early November for the new building being constructed for the San Luis Principe de Paz congregation pastored by Isaias Santos Tena. The funds for the building were raised by Southern Ohio, Middle Pennsylvania and Atlantic Northeast Districts under the direction of stateside workcamp coordinator Earl Ziegler. Two workcamps, December 1-8 and January 12-19, consisting of about 20 U.S. volunteers each, will work alongside Dominican construction coordinator Luis Cespedes (Pastor of the Azua fellowship) and the San Luis Brethren. Praise God for this new building for the largest Dominican congregation with more than 140 persons in worship!

New Address for Ebys:

Please note a change of address for the Eby family.

Brethren Mission House
BM #7005
6911 Northwest 87th Avenue
Miami, FL 33178

Attn: "Name of recipient," i.e., Earl & Barbara Eby or one of the BVSers

Jerry and Becky Baile Crouse, Mission Coordinators