“Celebrating the Church of the Brethren’s 300th Anniversary in 2008″
(Sept. 18, 2008) — Nearly 700 junior- and senior-high youth and adult advisors were part of the 2008 Church of the Brethren workcamps this summer. Participants worshiped, served, and experienced new cultures as part of the workcamp experience.
In all, 28 workcamps were offered by the Church of the Brethren’s Youth and Young Adult Ministries, in 12 states and four countries. Participants traveled as far west as Idaho and as far south as Mexico and the Caribbean. The theme for the summer’s workcamps was “…Strengthen My Hands,” based on Nehemiah 6:9.
A wide variety of experiences were available to workcamp participants. Youth in the Pine Ridge workcamp learned about Native American culture through participating in an “inipi” or sweat-lodge, a beading lesson, and a trip to the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre. Work projects included home repairs around the reservation, as well as improvements to a school.
Workcampers explored urban issues of poverty and homelessness in Roanoke, Va.; Baltimore, Md.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Chicago, Ill.; and Ashland, Ohio. Workcamps in Neon, Ken., and Keyser, W.Va., were provided with a perspective on rural life. Those who went to St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Reynosa, Mexico, received a chance for cross-cultural interactions.
Dates and locations for the 2009 workcamps will be available this fall. Go to www.brethren.org/genbd/yya/workcamps for more information. Brochures about the 2009 program also will be mailed to each Church of the Brethren congregation.
–Meghan Horne is an assistant coordinator for the Church of the Brethren workcamp program in 2009, serving through Brethren Volunteer Service.
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The Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. To receive Newsline by e-mail go to http://listserver.emountain.net/mailman/listinfo/newsline. Submit news to the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. For more Church of the Brethren news and features, subscribe to “Messenger” magazine; call 800-323-8039 ext. 247.