Brethren bits for Oct. 14, 2021

— “Consider applying to be a youthworker” at the 2022 National Youth Conference (NYC), said an invitation from Becky Ullom Naugle, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Church of the Brethren. “Do you love NYC? Will you be 22 or older at the time of NYC 2022 (July 23-28)? Consider applying to be a youthworker! Youthworkers are committed, focused, and willing to serve 10- to 12-hour days to carry out behind-the-scenes tasks that are crucial for a successful NYC. If you are selected, your travel, lodging, and meals will be covered for the week as a thank you for your service!” Apply at https://forms.gle/XfMuvmhB91kro7aaA. Email NYC coordinator Erika Clary at eclary@brethren.org with any questions.

— “Are you interested in volunteering or long‐term service options, but not sure where to start?” asked an announcement from Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS), inviting people to register for one of the upcoming BVS Coffee Hours. “Staff in the BVS Office will be available at any point during the hour to answer questions and chat about serving with BVS! Drop in for a few minutes and receive a gift card for coffee!” Register now at tinyurl.com/BVSCoffeeHour.

— South Central Indiana District of the Church of the Brethren has changed its mailing address to P.O. Box 32, North Manchester, IN 46962-0032. The emails associated with the district office and staff remain the same. An updated telephone number will be announced soon.

— Atlantic Northeast District has announced an online Intergenerational Advent Bible Study led by Jamie Nace on behalf of the district’s Nurture Commission. The theme is the hope, peace, joy, and love that is found in Jesus. A special time will be devoted to children at the beginning of each session. “The season of Advent is one of anticipation and preparation,” said the announcement. “All things considered, it is also a rather short season and often a very busy one. Wouldn’t it be nice to take a little bit of time to pause…reflect…linger…and listen?” The study will be offered on the four Tuesday evenings of Advent: Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, 14, and 21 from 6:30-7:45 p.m. (Eastern time). Find out more at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=qsqizkxab&oeidk=a07eio63l6u5e442774.

–– Southern Ohio and Kentucky District has announced a “Christian apologetics conference” titled “God’s Word Investigated.” Co-sponsored by the district, host congregation Greenville (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, and the Brethren Retirement Community, the event is planned by a group called Brethren for Biblical Authority. The speaker is Nathan Rittenhouse. The event takes place Nov. 19-20 as a hybrid event with both Zoom and in-person options for attendance. The registration fee ranges from $15 to $25. Ministers may receive 1 continuing education unit. Go to www.greenvillecob.weebly.com.

– “Feeling the Heat: Climate Change and the Poor” is the title of David Radcliff’s presentation at Bridgewater (Va.) College on Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Carter Center Stone Prayer Chapel. Radcliff is director of the New Community Project and the event, sponsored by the college’s Kline-Bowman Institute for Creative Peacebuilding, is free and open to the public. Contact chaplain Robbie Miller at rmiller@bridgewater.edu for more information.

— On the afternoon of Nov. 7, Bridgewater College is again sponsoring the annual Bridgewater-Dayton Area CROP Hunger Walk. Individuals will walk a 6K (3.7 mile) route around Bridgewater to raise funds for Church World Service hunger relief and development programs. If interested in walking or sponsoring a walker, please contact chaplain Robbie Miller at rmiller@bridgewater.edu.

— Sobering news was shared by the Disaster Relief Management program of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) this week. Two people were killed and three churches were burned in violent attacks by Boko Haram or IISWAP on Oct. 10. In the violence, a number of families also lost homes, shops, cattle, cars, motorcycles, and other property. The attacks took place in the Sikarkir and Tsadla communities in the Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State. The burned churches included two EYN buildings, one at Sikarkir and one at Tsadla, and a COCIN church building in Sikarkir. Zakariya Musa, who works for EYN Disaster Relief Management as a project officer, and who is head of media for EYN, provided the report.

— In a separate report, Musa shared that 35 displaced people were reported to have died in a cholera outbreak attributed to food and nutrition scarcity in Pulka Local Government Area of Borno State, “who were either rescued or escaped from Boko Haram-ruined communities, where four EYN District Church Councils were displaced.” There are more than 100,000 households in Pulka town alone, the report said, without enough amenities like clean water supply to meet the demands of the population. “Some NGOs have been doing their best to complement the efforts of the state government. However, much needs to be done to ensure sustained supply of clean water to the town,” said the chairman of the Gwoza Local Government Area, Professor Ibrahim Bukar.