1) Situation in Nigeria is ‘awful,’ EYN continues effort to aid Chibok parents and refugees. 2) Rebecca Dali to visit and speak at several places in the US in July. 3) CWS international situation report: Nigeria displacement crisis. 4) NYC theme song is released, available online. 5) Observance of 150th anniversary of John Kline’s death. 6) Tour canceled for National Youth Orchestra of Iraq. 7) International guests to be welcomed at the 2014 Annual Conference. 8) Congregations are invited to bring cards for Nigeria to Annual Conference. 9) James Risser to serve as director of Brethren Disaster Ministries. 10) Brethren bits
Tour Canceled for National Youth Orchestra of Iraq
The United States tour of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq has been canceled because of the instability and violence happening in that nation. This announcement was received through the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, which was to host the Iraqi group in what would have been its American debut.
Brethren Bits for June 25, 2014
In this issue: Youth Peace Travel Team blogs, On Earth Peace personnel and interns, bear sighting at Pine Crest, “Tears and Ashes” bus tour, peace retreat at Camp Bethel, churches advance peace on Korean peninsula, Heeding God’s Call needs volunteers, and more.
Observance of 150th Anniversary of John Kline’s Death
A play about the last few weeks in the life of martyr John Kline was an added feature in the 150th anniversary of the death of the Civil War-era Brethren leader, who was shot from ambush on June 15, 1864.
Situation in Nigeria Is ‘Awful,’ EYN Continues Effort to Aid Chibok Parents and Refugees
“It is awful,” wrote Rebecca Dali, a leading member of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) in a text on Saturday. At the time she was in Chibok meeting with parents of the abducted schoolgirls, when the Boko Haram extremist insurgents began attacking nearby villages.
BBT Announces New Communications Director and Assistant Director of Financial Operations
Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) has hired Alaska Jean Bednar as director of communications, and has hired Julie Kingrey as assistant director of financial operations.
James Risser to Serve as Director of Brethren Disaster Ministries
James K. (Jamie) Risser of Sterling, Va., will begin on July 1 as director of Brethren Disaster Ministries, working with Roy Winter, associate executive director of Global Mission and Service. Risser will work out of offices located at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
Newsline for June 17, 2014
1) Church of the Brethren general secretary among church leaders at consultation on Syria, held in Armenia. 2) Brethren Volunteer Service workers are in five nations across Europe. 3) Disaster staff direct grants totaling $74,000 to flood relief in Afghanistan and the Balkans, response to spring storms in US. 4) Global Food Crisis Fund provides grant to Bittersweet Ministries, received grant request to extend Going to Garden. 5) Church of the Brethren member named to field associate position with ADNet. 6) Intergenerational events invite children and adults to ‘get real’ about courageous discipleship. 7) Ten years of the Springs initiative: Celebrating Brethren in renewal. 8) Brethren bits
Ten Years of the Springs Initiative: Celebrating Brethren in Renewal
“The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life” (John 4:14). With this guiding biblical text, we come to the 10-year anniversary of Springs of Living Water in Church Renewal. Meeting with the Ministry and Mission Planning Council in 2004, we were encouraged to go out to develop this vision. In faith we went with a sense of urgency. Now 10 years later, our hearts are filled with humble gratitude
Brethren Bits for June 17, 2014
— “Beyond Hunger”–an event celebrating 70 years of Heifer International–will be held at Camp Alexander Mack near Milford, Ind., on Sept. 12-14. Heifer is an award-winning development organization based in Little Rock, Ark., that had its beginnings as the Church of the Brethren Heifer Project. Here is a brief history of the beginnings of Heifer