A new Reach curriculum for youth in grades 9 through 12 is now available from Brethren Press through the Shine curriculum, a joint effort of Brethren Press and MennoMedia.
The Deportation Defense Response Team, an initiative of several Church of the Brethren districts with the Intercultural Ministries and On Earth Peace, has provided a toolkit of resources online at https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/168SYb-D3cMBO8ORb4sDXMqMbA2yvSGCN.
The Brethren Disaster Ministries Rebuilding Program local partner in eastern Kentucky’s Letcher County to support the recovery from July 2022 flooding is HOMES, Inc. Originally a project of Mennonite Central Committee, HOMES began in the 1980s and has always focused on more than just initial disaster recovery by working to repair homes in the area and to provide affordable rental properties.
This past Monday, Jan. 5, National Youth Conference (NYC) 2026 registration officially opened! The NYC staff is so excited for those that have registered so far and those who will continue to register in coming weeks. Find the registration link at www.brethren.org/nyc.
The last set of grants for 2025 from the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) rounded out the year by supporting needs around the world, from Honduras to Rwanda, Nigeria to Ecuador, as well as local projects in Pennsylvania.
In this issue: Remembering Beverly Minnich, grant for church employees losing ACA credit, new deadline to apply for the Health Care Education Scholarship, “Adaptability in Leadership” led by Jeremy Ashworth, “Identifying and Responding to Suicide Risk” led by Julie Guistwite, the annual Clergy Tax Seminar led by Deb Oskin, another information series from the DRSP, and much more
As I visit congregations, people often ask me what commonalities are present in thriving churches. The three markers I have learned to name are ancient wisdom rearticulated: orientation around spiritual practices (Love of God), healthy internal relationships (Love of one another), and taking the literal needs of actual neighbors seriously (Love of neighbor). The integration of these three markers is what we are calling Being the Body of Christ.
How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going: Leading in a Liminal Season by Susan Beaumont is the book chosen for an upcoming online book discussion sponsored by the Church of the Brethren Ministry Office and the Part-Time Pastor; Full-Time Church program.
Chelsea Skillen has resigned as director of Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) effective Feb. 10. She has served in leadership of BVS for more than three years, since Oct. 24, 2022. She plans to move to Portugal and will be joining her husband’s publishing business.
The February offering from Ventures in Christian Discipleship will be “The Ecology of Vitality: Mutuality in Pastoral and Congregational Well-Being.” Presented by John Fillmore, pastor of Nampa (Idaho) Church of the Brethren and district executive minister of the Church of the Brethren’s Idaho/Western Montana District, the course will be held online on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (central time).
