A webinar titled “The Glory of Gardening: The Hidden Promises of Community Gardening” will take place on Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m. (Eastern time). This is the final event in a webinar series sponsored by the Going to the Garden initiative of the Office of Public Witness and the Global Food Crisis Fund.
Brethren Bits for June 10, 2015
In this issue: Remembering Kathy Hess, Youth and Young Adult Ministry seeks volunteer, Brethren Disaster Ministries assess needs after Colorado tornado, Brethren leader signs letter about Israel’s plan to forcibly transfer Palestinians from West Bank, EYN president interviewed by Nigerian news, N. Indiana District hosts auction in support of Nigeria Crisis Response, Bill and Betty Hare celebrate 50 years at Camp Emmaus, and more.
Message from the Moderator of Annual Conference 2015
Dear Friends, grace and peace to you in the name of our God whose love is a powerful gift to us and to the world.
EYN Teams Available to Visit Churches This Summer, Choir Tour Itinerary Is Updated
Nigerian Brethren teams will be available to visit churches this summer, in addition to the tour by the EYN Women’s Fellowship (ZME) Choir and the BEST group, according to the EYN Planning Committee. The committee is made up of members of three Pennsylvania congregations–Lancaster, Elizabethtown, and Mountville Churches of the Brethren–and is chaired by former Nigeria mission worker Monroe Good.
Registration Closes Soon for Ministers’ Association Pre-Conference Event
Registration closes on Monday, June 15, for the Minister’s Association pre-Annual Conference event in Tampa, Fla., on July 10-11. This continuing education event for licensed and ordained ministers is titled “Delving Deeply into Compassion,” and will be led by Joyce Rupp, an author and speaker on the topic of compassion.
Emergency Disaster Fund Grants Support Shalom in Burundi, CWS Aid to Haitian Dominicans
The Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have directed two grants from the Church of the Brethren Emergency Disaster (EDF) to support the Shalom ministry’s work with Burundi refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to the work of Church World Service to assist Haitians living in the Dominican Republic.
Children’s Disaster Services Cares for Children Affected by Texas Storms, Flooding
“Our Children’s Disaster Services team in Houston is keeping busy,” reported Kathy Fry-Miller, associate director of Children’s Disaster Services (CDS). A CDS volunteer team has been caring for children and families affected by the storms that have hit Texas recently, causing tornados and also widespread flooding in north-central areas of the state.
Global Food Crisis Fund Gives More Than $90,000 in Grants
The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) has allocated a number of grants totaling more than $90,000. The allocations support Proyecto Aldea Global in Honduras, THARS in Burundi, a community garden related to Mountain View Church of the Brethren in Idaho, two community garden projects in Spain, and agricultural training in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Brethren Bits for June 3, 2015
In this issue: Betsy Mullich resigns from Brethren Disaster Ministries, Aaron Neff to serve as Brethren Historical Library and Archives intern, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seeks a personnel coordinator and Palestine Project support coordinator, Nigerian Brethren give thanks for people who escaped from Gwoza, Brethren Academy provides “Healthy Boundaries 201″ training at Annual Conference, webinar about World Refugee Day, and more.
Trauma Healing in Nigeria: A Cathedral of Tears and Forgiveness
Musa* grew up in a close-knit family that did not change even as they became adults. The siblings looked out for each other and their parents. When Boko Haram insurgent activity increased in 2014, the family became concerned for the welfare of their parents and tried to get them to move to a safer place. The parents refused, saying that at their age, they had no interest in running away from home.