In this issue: Remembrances, an update from CDS volunteers in northern California, prayers for the reopening of EYN’s Bible college and a secondary school in Kwarhi, Nigeria, personnel notes, job openings, a new Ice Bucket Challenge from Denver Brethren, congregations in the news, more than $250,000 raised by Southern Pennsylvania District, and much more.
Brethren Academy Announces Upcoming Courses for Fall, Winter, Spring
The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership has announced courses for fall 2015, and winter and spring 2016. Courses are open to Training in Ministry (TRIM) and Education for Shared Ministry (EFSM) students, pastors seeking continuing education units, and all interested persons.
Church of the Brethren Volunteer Honored by EYN
The leadership of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) conducted a get-together fellowship in honor of Jim Mitchell, one of the three Church of the Brethren volunteers completing terms of service with the Nigeria Crisis Response. Mitchell had been in Nigeria for three months, where he participated in different events at various regions.
Global Food Crisis Fund Allocates Money to Evaluate Work in Haiti
An allocation from the Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) of the Church of the Brethren will fund an evaluation of the agricultural and community development work being undertaken by Eglise des Freres d’Haiti (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti).
Newsline for Sept. 25, 2015
1) Brethren Disaster Ministries directs $50,000 in grants to refugee and migrant crisis; 2) Global Food Crisis Fund allocates money to evaluate work in Haiti; 3) Haitian Brethren hold march in Port-au-Prince to mark Peace Day 2015; 4) Church of the Brethren volunteer honored by Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria; 5) Youth explore faith and call at Bethany Seminary; 6) Brethren Academy announces upcoming courses for fall, winter, spring; 7) Workcamp Ministry celebrates 2015 season, announces theme for 2016; 8) Strengthening our core: A letter from the Mission and Ministry Board chair; 9) Church vitality: Nurturing the strong heartbeat of God within us; 10) Brethren bits
Workcamp Ministry Celebrates 2015 Season, Announces Theme for 2016
“Side by side” is truly how the 341 youth and advisors worked this summer during the 2015 Church of the Brethren Workcamps. Thank you to all of those who participated, as well as the 39 who contributed their time and talents through their leadership of the workcamps.
NOAC by the Numbers
The 2015 National Older Adult Conference, which was the Church of the Brethren’s 13th NOAC, gathered 906 people at the Lake Junaluska (N.C.) Conference Center on Sept. 7-11. This number includes registered participants, staff, volunteers, guest speakers, and young adult assistants. Here are some more NOAC numbers:
Brian McLaren Calls NOAC to Get Back to the Bible, in a Different Way
“I can tell you love each other,” Brian McLaren said to the NOAC congregation as he began his morning keynote address. McLaren is a popular author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. His two most recent books are “Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road? Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World” and “We Make the Road By Walking.”
Dialogue Urges Christians to Work Intentionally Across Racial Divides
A lot of well meaning people assume that the Civil Rights struggle is over and that we won, said Alexander Gee Jr., during an afternoon dialogue event at NOAC 2015. “We don’t talk about it in seminary, in churches, or from the pulpit,” he said. “Like polio or tuberculosis, we say we’ve solved it!”
Brethren Bits: A Focus on the Refugee and Migrant Crisis
In this issue: A focus on the refugee and migrant crisis, plus news of Children’s Disaster Services response to California wildfires, Sept. 20’s Mission Offering Emphasis, the 39th annual Brethren Disaster Relief Auction, personnel notes and job openings, prayer requests from Global Mission, a “March for Peace” in Haiti, church anniversaries, Brethren in the news, and more.