1) Children’s Disaster Services cares for children affected by Texas storms, flooding. 2) District executives sponsor conference celebrating gifts, calling for leadership. 3) Transforming ‘thorns’ into joyful action at Young Adult Conference. 4) Global Food Crisis Fund gives more than $90,000 in grants. 5) Ministry Summer Service pairs interns with mentors for church ministry. 6) The EYN pastor’s wives’ conference: A joyful reunion. 7) Trauma healing in Nigeria: A cathedral of tears and forgiveness. 8) Brethren bits
Transforming ‘Thorns’ Into Joyful Action at Young Adult Conference
Collect. Plant. Grow. Tend. When we came together as a group for Young Adult Conference over Memorial Day weekend, our focus during worship, workshops, and small groups was on these four themes. Overall, we reflected on and discussed how we can take the negative and painful “thorns” of our world and transform them into “joyful action” meant to bring God’s kingdom into this world.
Breaking the Chains: A Reflection from Ecumenical Advocacy Days
I don’t often watch the news anymore; it is too frustrating. I read my fair share of articles while scrolling through my Facebook feed that describe just what state of disarray our world is falling toward. There are few things more terrifying than seeing the brilliantly dramatized retelling of the things that are going on around me, and many days it is hard to find comfort in knowing too much about the world that I live in. Some days I cry.
Brethren Bits for May 27, 2015
In this issue: Remembering Gerald Neher who served in Chibok, new leadership for ADNet, Brethren Academy seeks coordinator of Spanish Language Ministry Training Programs, two Bethany courses to be offered at Brethren-related colleges this fall, last webinar in the “After Christendom” series, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.
First District Church of the Brethren in India Celebrates 100th Jilla Sabha
Indian Brethren gathered in Valsad, Gujarat, for the church’s 100th Jilla Sabha (district conference). The two-day event began on May 13 with worship and the regular business of the denomination, while May 14 was dedicated to a full day of celebration that ran late into the evening. Attending on behalf of the Church of the Brethren was David Steele, moderator, and Jay Wittmeyer, executive director of Global Mission and Service.
Newsline for May 27, 2015
1) First District Church of the Brethren in India celebrates 100th Jilla Sabha. 2) Nigeria Crisis Response staff provide details of the relief effort. 3) New Humanitarian Pledge to ban nuclear weapons advances as troubled treaty stalls. 4) Breaking the chains: A reflection from Ecumenical Advocacy Days. 5) Brethren bits
First District Church of the Brethren in India Celebrates 100th Jilla Sabha
Indian Brethren gathered in Valsad, Gujarat, for the church’s 100th Jilla Sabha (district conference). The two-day event began on May 13 with worship and the regular business of the denomination, while May 14 was dedicated to a full day of celebration that ran late into the evening. Attending on behalf of the Church of the Brethren was David Steele, moderator, and Jay Wittmeyer, executive director of Global Mission and Service.
Nigeria Crisis Response Staff Provide Details of the Relief Effort
Church of the Brethren staff working with the Nigeria Crisis Response have provided financial details and accounting of the relief effort in Nigeria, which responds to needs of those affected by the violent Islamist insurgency in the northeast of the country. The crisis response is a cooperative effort of the Church of the Brethren and Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria).
Church of the Brethren General Secretary Attends EYN Annual Conference
Church of the Brethren general secretary Stanley J. Noffsinger traveled to Nigeria on May 3-11 to attend the Majalisa of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Noffsinger was billed as the guest speaker for EYN’s 68th annual meeting. Roxane and Carl Hill, co-directors of the Nigeria Crisis Response, accompanied the general secretary to Nigeria and were also given an opportunity to share before this large gathering.
Re: Targeted Lethal Drones Program
Church of the Brethren general secretary Stanley J. Noffsinger and On Earth Peace executive director Bill Scheurer are among a number of American faith leaders to sign a letter to President Obama expressing “grave concerns” about the United States’ lethal drones policy. The letter follows on the recent drone strike killing of US citizen Warren Weinstein. The letter was put together by an interfaith working group on drones that includes staff of the Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness.