Grants have gone to several ministries in Africa and Haiti from two funds of the Church of the Brethren, the Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) and the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF). The four grants total $49,330.
Romans 12 Provides Theme for National Junior High Conference
National Junior High Conference will be held June 19-21 on the campus of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. The conference will invite youth and their advisors to consider Romans 12:1-2. The theme, “Living the Change: Our Offering to God,” asks participants to consider taking their everyday, ordinary life–our sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life–and place it before God as an offering.
White Gift Offerings, an Ivester Tradition of Ministry and Outreach
Following the aftermath of World War II, members of Ivester Church of the Brethren in Grundy Center, Iowa, began what has become a long tradition–the White Gift Offering. It began as an offering of clothing, bedding, or other household items for people in need. On a designated Sunday in Advent, members of the congregation were invited to bring a gift, wrapped in white, to place under the church Christmas tree during worship. The gifts were then sent to Church World Service for distribution to needy people.
Reports from EYN Staff, BDM Volunteer Focus on Recent Attack on Maiduguri, Nigeria
Muslims and Christians are fleeing Maiduguri, a large city in northeastern Nigeria, looking for safer places after Boko Haram insurgents attacked the area over the weekend and the Nigerian army responded, reports EYN staff liaison Markus Gamache. In a separate report Cliff Kindy, a short-term volunteer in Nigeria with Brethren Disaster Ministries, writes about efforts of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) to serve the thousands who have fled into Maiduguri to escape continuing violent attacks of Boko Haram insurgents on other communities in northeast Nigeria.
Interfaith Community Calls for Halt to Drone Attacks
More than 150 people of faith came to Princeton, N.J., this past weekend to learn from legal, ethical, and theological experts about drones and discern together a unified religious response to the horrors of drone warfare. This Interfaith Conference on Drone Warfare drew participants from all over the country and from many religious backgrounds including Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Sikh.
Newsline for Jan. 27, 2015
1) Interfaith community calls for halt to drone attacks. 2) Reports from EYN staff, BDM volunteer focus on recent attack on Maiduguri, Nigeria. 3) Summer Bible School helps sponsor cornea transplant for student in Vietnam. 4) Merger celebrates ‘One in Christ.’ 5) Brethren bits
Summer Bible School Helps Sponsor Cornea Transplant for Student in Vietnam
Nam is one of the amazing blind students at Thien An Blind School. He is easy going and optimistic. He was awarded as an excellent student in the first semester of this school year. Every day, he goes to school together with other students and he is a group leader.
Brethren Bits for Jan. 27, 2015
In this issue: Remembering C. Wendell Bohrer, Camp Swatara seeks food service manager, dates announced for annual TRIM and EFSM orientation, York First and Bermudian in annual Brethren Souper Bowl competition, Ken Medema concert will be “A Night to Remember,” Camp Emmaus to celebrate 50 years of leadership by the Hares, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.
Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center Offers Series of Continuing Education Events
The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) based at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College is holding a series of continuing education events. Heading the series is “Lives of Devotion: Biblical Approaches to Spiritual Life” taught by biblical scholars Bob Neff and Christina Bucher.
Suffering Under Boko Haram: The Horror of What Everyday Life in Northeast Nigeria Has Become
Last July the small community of Wagga was attacked by the Boko Haram, an extremist Islamist insurgent group. Over 300 of these terrorists came into the village riding on motorbikes and in cars. Most of the Christians fled the village realizing that they would become the primary targets if they stayed.