— Remembrance: Former long-term Brethren Press employee Paul E. Dailey, 97, passed away on Feb. 12 in South Bend, Ind. He worked as a graphic artist for Brethren Press from 1947 to 1970. He had worked as a graphic artist at Manchester College (now Manchester University) as well as at the General Offices of the Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill. Former colleague Howard Royer described him as “an avid walker” who continued to walk to work each day from the west side of Elgin after the publishing house moved to its current location at the General Offices on Dundee Avenue on the east side of Elgin. He was born Feb. 13, 1921, in Peru, Ind., to Charles “Marvin” and Effie (Orpurt) Dailey. On Nov. 10, 1943, he married Miriam Landis, who preceded him in death on July 12, 2016. He studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago. He was a dedicated volunteer at Hamilton Communities. He was preceded in death by his wife, Miriam, and grandson Christopher Troyer in 2002. He is survived by son Steve (Trish) Dailey of Fort Wayne, Ind.; daughters Cheryl (Henry) Stolle of Salem, Ill., Kathryn (Michael) Troyer-Clugston of South Bend, Ind., and Janice (Larry) Mitchell of La Porte, Ind.; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 12 noon (Eastern time) on Saturday, Feb. 23, at Kaniewski Funeral Home in New Carlisle, Ind. Burial will follow in Hamilton Cemetery. Visitation is prior to the memorial service from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the funeral home. The full obituary is posted at www.kaniewski.com/notices/PaulE-Dailey.
— Steve Van Houten has been hired by the Church of the Brethren as interim coordinator of the Workcamp Ministry, working from the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., with a start date of March 6. He was coordinator of the Workcamp Ministry from July 2006 through January 2008, after serving as temporary coordinator for more than a year beginning January 2005. Previous to that, he began volunteering as a workcamp director in 1996. Most recently he was senior pastor of Pine Creek (Ind.) Church of the Brethren until his retirement in August 2018. He is a graduate of Manchester College with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry/biology and a minor in psychology, and of Bethany Theological Seminary with a master of divinity degree.
— In the prayers for this week from Global Mission and Service Office, the nations of Haiti and Nigeria are lifted up:
— Haiti has suffered more than a week of civil unrest and violent protests throughout the country. “Hundreds of thousands of protestors have called for the resignation of Haiti’s president Jovenel Moise and have demonstrated against government corruption and economic turmoil,” said the prayer request. “Roadblocks have made travel extremely difficult, and schools and business have all been closed. People are lining up for much-needed fuel and water, and food prices have skyrocketed since stores have not been able to restock. Haitian hospitals, which face shortages of medicine and equipment even in peaceful times, are experiencing even greater difficulties. Romy Telfort, general secretary of Eglise des Freres d’Haiti (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti), has been receiving requests for assistance from pastors in the rural areas of Haiti. Staff with Eglise des Frere d’Haiti’s agricultural program, Haiti Medical Project, Midwives for Haiti, and Church World Service have all had to curtail their normal activities due to the unrest and violence.”
— Nigeria’s general elections that are now scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 23, after the elections including presidential and national legislative races were originally scheduled for Feb. 16. They “were postponed hours before polls were scheduled to open,” said the prayer request. “Anger and frustration are high among political parties, businesses, and individuals. Many Nigerians traveled long distances to reach their polling places and may not be able to return a second time. Many schools and businesses faced closures due to security concerns. Pray for peace before, during, and following these pivotal elections. Pray for ease of access to voting.”
— Roundtable, the Regional Youth Conference held at Bridgewater (Va.) College on March 1-3. This year’s event will feature keynote speaker Dennis Beckner, a Church of the Brethren pastor in Indiana. See iycroundtable.wixsite.com/iycbc/roundtable for more information.
— A group of Bridgewater (Va.) College students and a faculty member will put on tool belts and pick up hammers as they spend spring break volunteering as construction workers with Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge Spring Break 2019. A release from the college said the group desired “an alternative way to spend their spring break–in lieu of the traditional beach scene–10 students opted for working with Habitat for Humanity in West Melbourne, Fla. The students, accompanied by Jason Ybarra, assistant professor of physics…will work in partnership with the Brevard County Habitat for Humanity affiliate. Jenna M. Walmer, a senior global studies major, from Mount Joy, Pa., is serving as the student leader for the group.” The Bridgewater Campus Chapter, established in 1995, is one of nearly 700 campus chapters worldwide. This is the 22nd year that Bridgewater College students have used spring break to work on various Habitat projects, including three trips to Miami and one each to Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Independence, Mo., and Austin, Texas.
— “Ever wondered what it’s like to be involved in ministry and leadership…while simultaneously bringing a mini-human into the world?” asks an announcement of the latest Dunker Punks podcast. “Elizabeth Ullery Swenson and her panel of new mothers tell all about the struggles and beauties of doing just that…. This episode goes out to all the Baby Brethren and Dunker Punk-ins out there!” Listen online at http://bit.ly/DPP_Episode77 or on your favorite podcast app.