Congo Journal: A Brethren pastor’s run/walk for peace
(November 15, 2012)
Gary Benesh, pastor of Friendship Church of the Brethren in N. Wilkesboro, N.C., was inspired to return to long distance running after he heard Global Mission and Service executive Jay Wittmeyer share the story of the Congo Brethren. “Coming from the most violent area on earth, they were particularly interested in taking seriously Jesus as the Prince of Peace, and the Gospel being a ‘Gospel of Peace’ (Romans 10:15, Ephesians 6:15),” he explained. Benesh set out to “run, walk, or crawl” 28 miles across Wilkes County in the northwestern North Carolina foothills of the Blue Ridge escarpment to raise money for the Congo mission and for peace in that region of the eastern Congo. Here is his story:

---

Global Food Crisis Fund gives $50,000 grant to Haitian Brethren
(October 31, 2012)
A $50,000 grant from the Global Food Crisis Fund for agriculture projects in Haiti will be implemented together with L'eglise des Freres Haitiens (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti). The grant funds a program intended to build on the work of Brethren Disaster Ministries in Haiti over the past three years.

---

Brethren Disaster Ministries monitors storm and calls for prayer, Children’s Disaster Services volunteers on alert
(October 29, 2012)
“CDS is busy,” reports Judy Bezon. As the storm called “Sandy” assaults the East Coast, Children's Disaster Services has put volunteers on alert and Brethren Disaster Ministries staff are calling for prayer as they monitor the situation. Prayer is requested for all affected by the storm, as it threatens the US after causing damage in a number of Caribbean nations including Haiti--where four Brethren families lost homes--as well as the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

---

Mission Alive conference to be viewable by webcast
(October 18, 2012)
Plenary sessions and other events at Mission Alive 2012, a conference sponsored by the Global Mission and Service program of the Church of Brethren, will be webcast and viewable through an Internet connection. The conference is Nov. 16-18 at Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren with the theme, “Entrusted with the Message” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).

---

Brethren drought response will aid farm families, encourage garden projects
(October 3, 2012)
A new Brethren effort has been put together by denominational staff and districts to respond to needs of farmers and communities following a summer of extreme drought. The Church of the Brethren drought response will be carried out in two parts, a Farm Relief Initiative, and a Community Food Security and Nutrition Initiative.

---