Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed the latest round of grants, made this spring through early summer, from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF). The grants support disaster relief efforts and aid in North Carolina, Western Maryland, Ukraine, Gaza and the West Bank, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela, and Cuba.
In this issue: Prayer request for flooding in Indiana, Engage: Global Mission Gathering, Children’s Disaster Services trainings, Bethany Seminary accreditation visit, “Pathways to Peace and Justice,” Camp Mack seeks executive director, and more.
Samuel Hupp has begun work at the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, serving through Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS). He is a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren in North Manchester, Ind.
In action taken at a July 25 meeting, the board of the Church of the Brethren’s Southern Ohio and Kentucky District unanimously voted to offer Nick Beam a three-year contract renewal to serve as district executive minister. The announcement from the district noted that each of those three years will include a review and re-evaluation process. Also, as a part of the contract renewal, it was decided to drop “interim” from his title.
Five Church of the Brethren congregations in Pennsylvania are joining together to organize and sponsor “PeaceFest: Turning Communities Toward Peace” on Saturday, Sept. 19—the weekend closest to the International Day of Peace. This event is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lititz Church of the Brethren.
Rachel Johnson, who has completed her term as National Youth Conference coordinator through Brethren Volunteer Service, on Aug. 24 will begin a new one-year, part-time role as assistant for Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministries. She will be working from her home in Pennsylvania.
By Carolyn Neher Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), a program of Brethren Disaster Ministries, is deploying a team of four volunteers to support families affected by the ongoing wildfires in Washington State. Brethren Disaster Ministries personnel continue to monitor the situation and remain in contact with local Church of the Brethren congregations and Pacific Northwest District
By Sharon Franzén Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) has opened a new Rebuilding project site in Yancey County, N.C., expanding its long-term response to communities affected by Hurricane Helene in 2024. The site opened June 7, 2026, after volunteers served earlier this year in Ashe, Henderson, and Transylvania Counties. Yancey County was among the communities hardest
By Ryan Braught The Church of the Brethren’s Part-Time Pastor; Full-Time Church program will sponsor Practicing the Way: The Scripture Practice this fall for multi-vocational pastors. What is the Scripture Practice? In Practicing the Way, a book by John Mark Comer, readers are introduced to nine spiritual practices—Sabbath, Solitude, Scripture, Prayer, Fasting, Generosity, Community, Service, and Witness—that help
The Church of the Brethren has named Rev. Dr. John Fillmore as director of ministry, effective Nov. 2, 2026. As part of the denomination’s Discipleship and Leadership Formation team, he will lead the Ministry Office, equipping ministers, supporting congregations and districts, and strengthening pastoral leadership across the denomination. Fillmore has served as pastor of Nampa