The Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA) has aided seven congregations with grants in these first weeks of the year. The fund provides grants using money generated by the sale of the upper campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
Find out more at www.brethren.org/faith-in-action.
$5,000 has been granted to Manchester Church of the Brethren in North Manchester, Ind., to help support a family from Nicaragua seeking asylum in the United States. The congregation has supported asylum-seeking families for several years, including people from Guatemala and Colombia. The four-member family from Nicaragua is receiving legal assistance for the asylum process from the National Immigration Justice Center (NIJC) in Goshen, Ind. The congregation is assisting the family with food, rent, utilities, auto fuel, clothing, toiletries, household goods, translation assistance, and spiritual and emotional support.
$5,000 is going to Gospel Assembly of Lehigh in Lehigh Acres, Fla., to help purchase a van for its ministries. The congregation offers an array of activities for youth, fostering their involvement in various activities including dance competitions, choir performances, and Sunday school. Twenty youth are involved in the congregation’s ministry, and 36 children are involved in the children’s ministry.
$5,000 has gone to Columbia City (Ind.) Church of the Brethren to jumpstart its new Feed the Need ministry. The outreach project is a natural extension of the congregation’s commitment to being present in downtown Columbia City, while many other congregations have chosen to move to the edge of town. The congregation plans to help a different nonprofit within the community each month of the year except July.
$5,000 is being received by Antioch Church of the Brethren in Rocky Mount, Va., to upgrade the congregation’s sound system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the congregation implemented an online worship service that reaches people who are unable to attend in person, both locally and overseas. The church streams worship using a sound system installed over 20 years ago, which cannot deliver a quality experience. A new sound system will not only improve the service but also enhance other special activities hosted by the church, such as concerts and recitals that support the World Hunger Auction.
$5,000 has been granted to Meadow Branch Church of the Brethren in Westminster, Md., to seal and cover the fellowship hall with new flooring. The current flooring is asbestos tiles that are over 50 years old. Since the floor has begun peeling and chipping, this is a growing health concern. Outreach activities and events taking place in the fellowship hall include a weekly food pantry, “Girl Talk” meetings and youth activities, dinner and movie nights, and recovery groups, among others.
$3,000 is given to Potsdam (Ohio) Church of the Brethren to fund six community outreach events in 2024. Planned events develop relationships and show the town that the church cares about them, tell about Jesus Christ’s life-saving message, and live out the congregation’s mission of “Serving God while connecting church and community.” Six events planned for 2024 included a Children’s Easter Party in March, and upcoming events including a Fish Fry in May, Vacation Bible School in June, Ice Cream in the park in July, Corn Fest in August, and Kid’s Club Kick-off in September. All the events are free of charge.
$500 to Topeka (Kan.) Church of the Brethren supported the congregation’s second Living Nativity outreach event last winter. This is part of the congregation’s Jesus in the Neighborhood initiative. The stable, costumes, and life-size cutouts are stored at the church and ready for use in future living nativities. Donations and fundraising raises money for some of the live animals’ expenses.
Clarifications for a 2023 grant:
The “Brethren Building Beloved Community” ministry project of a group of congregations from South Central Indiana District was granted $5,000 last year with the goal of carrying out Kingian Nonviolence training and implementing the training related to concerns identified by participants. It has been clarified that only the Eel River and Lafayette congregations are participants in the project and that the Kingian Nonviolence training is only a portion of the overall project.
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Nigeria Crisis Response is extended through 2024 with plan to phase out program over three years
- EDF grants in first months of 2024 include money for a South Sudan Crisis Recovery Initiative
- Book study of ‘From Weary to Wholehearted’ addresses clergy burnout
- EYN holds 77th Majalisa celebrating unity and progress
- Global Food Initiative gives four grants to start off the year