Updates

Due to numerous humanitarian crises around the world, thousands of people are seeking asylum in the United States, some of whom make perilous journeys to the southern border. In April 2022, the state of Texas began sending many of these asylum seekers in buses to Washington, D.C., without plans for their care or in coordination with the city government or others in the area.

Lisa Crouch has resigned as associate director of Children's Disaster Services (CDS), a ministry of Brethren Disaster Ministries and the Church of the Brethren. She will conclude her work at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., on March 31.

“Please continue to pray for survivors in the affected areas [of Turkey and Syria] who face the trauma of losing homes and loved ones, continued aftershocks, living out of doors without basic amenities/food and in freezing temperatures, and in danger of diseases such as cholera. Their needs are great and will continue to be great for a long time to come. Please also pray for all the official and unofficial responders.” -- Brethren Disaster Ministries

Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to continue the Nigeria Crisis Response through 2023 and to support a response to flooding and conflict in South Sudan.

Brethren Disaster Ministries staff are monitoring the re-occurring storms and flooding in California and their damage, and sending prayers for those who are affected. The staff have reached out to leadership of Pacific Southwest District and received word that they have not heard from any Church of the Brethren congregations experiencing issues, either for their church buildings or their members.

Starting in 2023, a new rebuilding project by Brethren Disaster Ministries is scheduled to open for volunteers to serve in Dawson Springs, Ky. One year ago, on Dec. 10, 2021, this community was devastated by a tornado that destroyed an estimated 75 percent of the town and killed 15 people.

A group of Brethren Disaster Ministries volunteers from the Church of the Brethren’s Mid-Atlantic District served in Somerset County, Md., this week to help restore a home before Christmas.

Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) grants to support a rebuilding project in Tennessee, the work of Children’s Disaster Services and Church of the Brethren congregations in Florida following Hurricane Ian, flood recovery work of the Christian Solidarity Program for Honduras, a flood relief program of the Church of the Brethren in Uganda, and a flood relief program of ASIGLEH (the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela).

Church of the Brethren ministries are assisting survivors of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona through shipments by Material Resources, Children's Disaster Services teams in Florida, and acts of love and compassion in Puerto Rico.

Beginning Friday, Oct. 14, an online art auction to support the Ukrainian crisis response, overseen by Brethren Disaster Ministries, will open and receive bids for 180 donated art items.