Three new fellowships are welcomed by Annual Conference

Today three new fellowships were welcomed into the Church of the Brethren by Annual Conference. Nate Polzin, executive director of Discipleship and Leadership Formation for the Church of the Brethren, assisted the Conference officers in recognizing the new groups and their representatives.

Monte de Dios in Eden, N.C., in Virlina District, is led by pastor Manuel Cruz. The district recognized the group’s fellowship status in January this year. The Monte de Dios Fellowship is a growing new fellowship with an outreach to Spanish-speaking families in the greater Eden area. The fellowship celebrated its first baptism on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. Pastor Manni Cruz focuses his ministry on reaching out to those who do not yet know Jesus and nurturing discipleship in those who do.

The Way in Roanoke, Va., in Virlina District, is led by pastor Gina Wright-Hawkins. The district recognized the fellowship in January this year. The Way fellowship is a dinner church ministering to the Mountain View neighborhood of Roanoke. Centering their worship on table fellowship and communion, The Way intentionally seeks those who are not likely to be reached by the ministry of more traditional churches.