International Guests Come to NYC from Brazil and Nigeria

2010 National Youth Conference of the Church of the Brethren

Fort Collins, Colo. — July 18, 2010

 


Israel Fereira Lopes Jr. greeted the NYC. He is one of the Brazilian youth representatives here this week. Below: Nigerian representative Markus Gamache (right) is interviewed by Frank Ramirez, a member of the NYC news team. Photos by Glenn Riegel

 

Israel Ferreira Lopes Jr., a youth leader from Igreja da Irmandade (the Church of the Brethren in Brazil), said that one of the first things he noticed about the United States since he arrived Friday was that there are so few soccer fields. Lopes and Matheus Moura Tavares, a member of the youth in Brazil, told how they’d helped to raise money to build a soccer field on their church lot so local youth would not have to rent a field to play.

The two are among three international attendees honored at an International and Scholarship Guest Reception held at NYC as one of the late-night activities on Saturday evening, July 17. The event celebrated the diversity of Brethren across the nation and the world.

The international guests said the Church of the Brethren provided all the support for their travel and registration, but not for their visas. Speaking through their interpreter, Katie O’Donnell, Lopes said the opening night worship was very different from Brazil’s worship style. He enjoyed the fact that it was very organized, and considered that a sign of a good culture. “I thought it was good that the people are on board about loving one another, following Christ, and how important it is to love your neighbor as yourself.”

Markus Gamache of Jos, Nigeria, attended the Pittsburgh Annual Conference before he came to NYC, and plans to visit missionaries while he is in the United States. He serves as a business manager for Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN–the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). He said he appreciated “the spirit of humbleness and love” among the American Brethren. “They have embraced me and welcomed me in Christ’s love.”

–Frank Ramirez is pastor of Everett (Pa.) Church of the Brethren

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The News Team for the 2010 National Youth Conference (NYC) includes photographers Glenn Riegel and Keith Hollenberg, writers Frank Ramirez and Frances Townsend, “NYC Tribune” guru Eddie Edmonds, Facebooker and Twitterer Wendy McFadden, website staff Amy Heckert, and news director and editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. Contact cobnews@brethren.org .

Go to www.brethren.org/Newsline to subscribe to the Church of the Brethren Newsline free e-mail news service and receive church news every other week.

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