NEWS: 1) Brethren Disaster Ministries works on new Disaster Recovery Support Initiative. 2) Flint Church of the Brethren is a water distribution center during crisis. 3) Disabilities ministry announces creation of Open Roof Fellowship. 4) Nursing students receive Church of the Brethren scholarships. 5) South Sudan church leaders request prayer for peace this Saturday. 6) Manchester University to offer new interfaith literacy certificate. 7) Marrakesh Declaration affirms rights of religious minorities in Muslim countries. UPCOMING EVENTS: 8) Intercultural Ministries staff leads ‘Ministry in Two Americas’ at seminary. 9) SVMC continuing education events highlight memory care, Chronicles and the church. RESOURCES: 10) Children’s book tells about seagoing cowboys who delivered livestock–and hope. 11) Brethren bits
Nursing Students Receive Church of the Brethren Scholarships
Five nursing students are recipients of Church of the Brethren Nursing Scholarships for 2015. This scholarship, made possible by the Health Education and Research Endowment, is available to members of the Church of the Brethren enrolled in LPN, RN, or nursing graduate programs.
Disabilities Ministry Announces Creation of Open Roof Fellowship
Mark’s Gospel reminds us that we are called to reach out to persons of all needs and abilities and to go to extraordinary lengths to bring them to Jesus: “Then some people came, bringing to Jesus a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him” (Mark 2:3-4). Church of the Brethren congregations committed to and actively engaged in ministry to and with persons with disabilities are therefore recognized as Open Roof congregations.
Flint Church of the Brethren is a Water Distribution Center During Crisis
The following report from Bill Hammond of First Church of the Brethren in Flint, Mich., was received Feb. 2. He reports on the water crisis in Flint and the role the Brethren there are playing in helping to serve the community:
Brethren Bits for January 23, 2016
In this issue: Remembering Virginia (Ginny) M. Stockton, Steven M. Nolt named senior scholar at Elizabethtown’s Young Center, Brethren Press and MennoMedia seek a project director for Shine, “early bird” registration discount for National Young Adult Conference ends Jan. 31, prayer sought for delegation to South Sudan, BVS highlights project sites on Facebook, worship resources are available for Service Sunday Feb. 7, and much more news about and for Brethren.
Newsline for January 23, 2016
1) Grant of $50,000 will send aid for Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon
2) Yearbook reports denominational membership in 2014, and other statistics
3) New Church of the Brethren Yearbook is available on CD
4) Brethren bits
Yearbook Reports Denominational Membership in 2014, and Other Statistics
The Church of the Brethren denominational membership was 114,465 in 2014, according to data from the “2015 Church of the Brethren Yearbook.” Compared to 2009, when denominational membership was 122,810, this represents a decline of 8,345 members over the previous five years.
Grant of $50,000 Will Send Aid for Syrian Refugee Crisis in Lebanon
The staff at Brethren Disaster Ministries have directed an allocation of $50,000 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to support the Syrian refugee relief programs of Lebanese Society for Education and Social Development (LSESD).
New Church of the Brethren Yearbook is Available on CD
The 2015 Church of the Brethren Yearbook is now available for purchase from Brethren Press. The yearbook is the annual directory of the Church of the Brethren denomination, and is published in pdf format on CD. The 2015 Yearbook may be purchased for $21.50, plus shipping and handling.
Brethren Bits for January 15, 2016
In this issue: Remembering Marianne Michael, Brethren Woods hires program directors, Southeastern District seek district executive, Lancaster Church holds 30 years of prayer breakfasts, Nominating Committee meets, BVS announces start of Winter Orientation, Latvian Christians provide resources for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and much more.