[gtranslate]

One year in: An interview with EYN president Joel S. Billi

Joel Stephen Billi was elected president of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) and assumed his duties on May 3, 2016, alongside other principal officers of the church. He came into leadership at a time when the church was in a state of disarray following the incessant attacks on its members by insurgents. After spending one year in office, this interview was conducted to take stock of his stewardship as the leader of the church at such a hard time in the history of EYN. Here are excerpts from the interview,

Unmuting silenced voices: Planning a gathering to remember those who resisted World War I

Church of the Brethren Newsline July 20, 2017 by Andrew Bolton “The First World War was a tragic and unnecessary conflict.” These are the first words of British historian John Keegan in his book, The First World War. It was unnecessary because it was preventable–a local conflict that did not need to escalate. Eventually, 100 countries were

Disabilities Ministry celebrates 27 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act

July 26 marks the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Find more information at https://www.adaanniversary.org . This year at Annual Conference, Congregational Life Ministries welcomed the 27th congregation into the Open Roof Fellowship. Over the past 13 years, these congregations have intentionally embraced and invested themselves in disabilities ministries.

Latest Brethren grants from the EDF and GFI are announced

The latest grants from two Church of the Brethren funds–the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) and the Global Food Initiative (GFI)–have been given to Brethren Disaster Ministries work following flooding in the area of Columbia, S.C.; the church’s mission in South Sudan, where staff are responding to needs of people affected by the country’s civil war; the Shalom Ministry for Reconciliation in the Democratic Republic of Congo serving people affected by conflict; and community gardens related to Church of the Brethren congregations.

Raising awareness and solutions on Capitol Hill for the crisis in Nigeria

One week after attending the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., on July 10 leaders of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) attended several meetings in Washington, D.C., organized by the denomination’s Office of Public Witness.

Newsline for July 8, 2017

1) New Annual Conference officers are consecrated
2) Mission and Ministry Board approves 2018 budget parameter, among other business
3) Congregational Life Ministries gives Intercultural Award, welcomes new members of Open Roof Fellowship
4) Minister’s Association hears from Lillian Daniel, discusses relating to ‘Nones’
5) Bethany and Brethren Academy luncheon senses ‘Spirit Moving’
6) Brethren Revival Fellowship dinner, insight session address inspiring questions
7) Insight session tells the story of the Solingen Brethren
8) Banning nuclear weapons, 122 governments take leadership where nuclear powers have failed

9) Brethren bits

Brethren bits for July 8, 2017

In this issue: Remembrances, job openings, new fellowships and congregations, listening sessions in Michigan District, donations for Annual Conference webcasts, Snapchat views of Conference, Nigeria briefing for legislators, children’s books for Flint, WCC appeal against escalation on the Korean peninsula.

Insight session tells the story of the Solingen Brethren

Six Brethren were arrested 300 years ago in Solingen, Germany. What was their crime? In 1716, the six men, ages 22 to 33, had been baptized as adults. This crime was a capital offense, the punishment could be execution. The six men were first marched to Dusseldorf for interrogation. It is said they sang hymns as they walked to their imprisonment.

Brethren Revival Fellowship dinner, insight session address inspiring questions

The Brethren Revival Fellowship hosted several events during the 2017 Annual Conference, including an annual dinner on Saturday evening, July 1, and an insight session focused on the Conference theme, among other events that included a BRF luncheon on Friday, June 30, with Annual Conference moderator-elect Samuel Sarpiya. Both the dinner and the insight session addressed inspiring questions.

Translate »
[gt-link lang="en" label="English" widget_look="flags_name"]