The Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA), which provides grants to outreach ministries of Church of the Brethren camps and congregations, has announced its last grants for this year are going to eight Church of the Brethren congregations: Circle of Peace in Peoria, Ariz.; Jesus Lounge Ministry in West Delray Beach, Fla.; Living Faith in Concord, N.C.; Miami (Fla.) Haitian; Naples Haitian in East Naples, Fla.; Sangerville in Bridgewater, Va.; West Charleston in Tipp City, Ohio; and Wichita (Kan.) First.
With funds generated from sale of the upper campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., grants are made to ministries that honor and continue the center’s legacy of service while also addressing the dynamics of the present age. For more information and how to apply go to www.brethren.org/faith-in-action
$5,000 to Circle of Peace Church of the Brethren in Peoria, Ariz., for its grand opening outreach projects following the building of a new worship center. The congregation planned a combination of efforts this month including frontage signage, a digital footprint, and a grand opening celebration. The celebration invited the whole neighborhood and was a unique and exciting opportunity for the congregation to reach out and re-introduce itself to the community.
$5,000 to Jesus Lounge Ministry in West Delray Beach, Fla., for legal expenses related to immigration documentation of 10 families in the congregation. This ministry serves the members of the congregation who are active but unable to work due to their documents being revoked. Supporting them will strengthen the congregation. The congregation will connect these affected families to attorneys recommended by the Deportation Defense Response Team.
$5,000 to Living Faith Church of the Brethren in Concord, N.C., for its food pantry ministry that is core to the congregation’s identity and how it is known in the community. Every member supports the pantry and, except for the members who cannot still attend in person, all members participate. The pantry is near neighborhoods that are among the lowest income areas of the city and is seeing more guests who have not needed food assistance before. Challenges for the pantry include inconsistent food supply, rising food costs, and enough cold storage. The congregation expects the pantry will serve 5,000-plus people in 2025.
$5,000 to Naples Haitian Church of the Brethren in East Naples, Fla., to help purchase a van for food distribution to the community and as a way to transport members and to purchase food for congregation and community members. Being able to support the members of congregation and the surrounding community during this difficult time in the country is an important ministry of support as well as an evangelism effort in the neighborhood.
$5,000 to Wichita (Kan.) First Church of the Brethren to hold a 16-hour Kingian Nonviolence Training led by On Earth Peace. The training helps give participants resources and, in turn, greater confidence to speak out and take a stand for racial justice. In the current socio-political climate, this type of training is timely and crucial to how congregations may move forward with beneficial dialogue and action in their communities. The goal to have a minimum of 50 people participate in the training was open to all members and friends of congregations in Western Plains District.
$4,667 to West Charleston Church of the Brethren in Tipp City, Ohio, to expand outreach capacity in support of people in the congregation who are immigrants or refugees, while growing internal leadership to maintain the program after grant funding. Leaders and pastors share in the work of accompaniment with people who may need to drive 100 miles or more to required hearings and appointments, provide translation to Spanish speakers through the legal process, provide education around intercultural adjustment, make referrals to programs that can meet other needs, and more. In addition, the funding supports a workshop series to teach community members how to utilize digital translation aids and understand various legal processes.
$3,333.33 to Miami (Fla.) Haitian Church of the Brethren (Eglise Des Freres Haitiens) to help adequately supply the congregation’s food pantry. The congregation seeks to continue to serve the community through its food pantry, particularly during this time when food insecurity is on the rise.
$2,000 to Sangerville Church of the Brethren in Bridgewater, Va., for a Live Nativity community outreach. With 200 to 300 people attending the Live Nativity in the past, it has become the congregation’s largest outreach project. The grant will help make some upgrades and widen the advertising to increase attendance and connect more people to Christmas as presented through the gospel as the reason for the season.
#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving
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