The Ventures in Christian Discipleship initiative hosted at McPherson (Kan.) College offers series of courses aimed at empowering small congregations. The courses offered in coming months cover the topics of “How the Bible Came to Be the Bible,” “Revitalizing Worship Through the Arts,” and “Congregations Nurturing a Culture of Call.”
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) is offering several training workshops for volunteers this spring, in a variety of locations across the country. CDS volunteers work at the invitation of the American Red Cross and FEMA to care for children and families affected by disaster. Find out more about the ministry of CDS and how to become involved at www.brethren.org/cds.
In this issue: Remembering Wayne Geisert, Elsie Hall, Ann Burger, and Marylee Lang, plus personnel announcements and job openings, ordinations in Haiti–including the first woman ordained in Eglise des Freres d’Haiti, plans for Roundtable, and more.
Church of the Brethren Newsline January 13, 2018 NEWS 1) Ending of temporary protected status affects Haitian Brethren and their churches 2) Nigeria Crisis Response celebrates work and achievements in 2017 3) Building dedication marks beginning of classes in EYN-Bethany partnership 4) EYN commissions multi-million Naira project with Bethany Seminary 5) Brethren Microfinance Bank Board of Directors
A multi-million Naira Technological Centre was dedicated and commissioned by Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) president Joel S. Billi on Monday, Jan. 8, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. In his address at the occasion, the president stated that the facility would not be standing today if it were not for the tremendous financial support received from brothers and sisters in America.
In this issue: Remembering Samsudin Moledina, personnel notes, job openings, Jan. 25 is the next moderator’s Town Hall, mission vehicle arrives in South Sudan, worship resources for Service Sunday on Feb. 4, Office of Public Witness involved with upcoming events in D.C., Global Women’s Project celebrates 40th anniversary, World Council of Churches begins 70th anniversary with delegation to China, and more.
Roxanne Aguirre begins Jan. 16 as part-time coordinator of Spanish-language ministry training programs at the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. She will work from her home in central California. The academy is a ministry training partnership of Bethany Theological Seminary and the Church of the Brethren.
This year’s Lenten devotional from Brethren Press, written by Erin Matteson, is titled “Growing in God’s Garden.” The pocket-sized paperback includes daily devotions, scriptures, and prayers for Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, through Easter Sunday, April 1.
A Brethren Microfinance Bank Board of Directors was inaugurated by Joel S. Billi, president of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) on Saturday, Jan. 5, at the EYN Headquarters, Kwarhi. The seven-person board is to be chaired by Eugenia L. Zoaka, and has Daniel Y. C. Mbaya as its secretary. Other members include Paul Mele Gadzama, Samuel Wiam, Sani Drmbi Zira, Rebecca S. Dali, and Joseph Yabwa.
In November, the Trump administration rescinded the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that gave protections against deportation for some 60,000 Haitians who came to the US after a massive earthquake hit their country. Today is the eighth anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010.
