Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) worker Stephanie Barras provided this report from Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, where she has been living since Sept. 2013. She is working at OKC Abrasevic, a youth cultural center: I will do my best to explain what has been happening here after the Feb. 7 protests. A day or so before, there was
Newsline for April 22, 2014
1) Presidential inauguration highlights Bethany Seminary trustee meeting. 2) Church of the Brethren Benefit Trust supports Church Alliance filing of Amicus Brief in clergy housing exclusion case. 3) Global Food Crisis Fund to assist Fisherfolk’s Association in Philippines. 4) Brethren Press offers summer curriculum. 5) Water, Holy Water: Praising God on Earth Day. 6) The history of International Cane Awareness Day in Vietnam. 7) Brethren bits
Brethren Bits for April 22, 2014
In this issue: Medical volunteers needed at Annual Conference, project leaders needed by Brethren Disaster Ministries, continued prayer needed for Nigeria, plus the SVMC board meeting, May 1 registration deadline for NYC, 150th anniversary of Elder John Kline’s death, and lots of news from congregations, districts, colleges, and more.
The History of International Cane Awareness Day in Vietnam
The first event of International Cane Awareness Day in Vietnam occurred in October 2011, at Nguyen Dinh Chieu Blind School, Ho Chi Minh City. An overall theme was chosen for this event: “The white-tipped cane is an adaptive, functional cane used by blind persons, which alerts people to give priority to the person using the cane.”
Global Food Crisis Fund to Assist Fisherfolk’s Association in Philippines
A grant of $10,000 from the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) has been allocated for replacement of fishing equipment in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan. The recipient of the grant is Barangay District 1 Fisherfolk’s Association of Babatngon, Leyte, the Philippines.
BBT Supports Church Alliance Filing of Amicus Brief in Clergy Housing Exclusion Case
The Church Alliance–a coalition of the chief executive officers of 38 denominational benefit programs including Church of the Brethren Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT)–has filed an amicus curiae brief in the Seventh Circuit US Court of Appeals (Chicago) in the case challenging the constitutionality of the clergy housing exclusion under Section 107(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code).
Children’s Disaster Services Responds to Washington Mudslide
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) deployed seven volunteers in response to the catastrophic mudslide in Snohomish County, Wash. CDS is a program of Brethren Disaster Ministries. The CDS team served in Darrington, a community near the slide location. The response ended Sunday, April 6, having made a total of 83 child contacts, according to CDS associate director Kathy Fry-Miller.
Brethren Press Offers Summer Curriculum
Brethren Press is offering a variety of curriculum for this summer, including the final quarter of Gather ’Round, the predecessor to the new Shine curriculum; A Guide for Biblical Studies on the topic “The People of God Set Priorities” written by Al Hansell; and a Vacation Bible School curriculum from MennoMedia focused on biblical hospitality, titled “Give and Receive God’s Great Love.”
‘Shine’ Fall Quarter and Starter Kits Are Now Available for Children’s Sunday School
“Shine,” the new Christian education curriculum from Brethren Press and MennoMedia, is now available to congregations for the fall quarter. Also available now are two starter kits: The Shine Starter Kit with a quarter’s worth of Shine materials; and the Shine Multiage Starter Kit for congregations with a range of age groups.
Brethren Bits for April 15, 2014
In this issue: A correction, remembering Josh Copp, Material Resources seeks truck driver/warehouser, Bridgewater College celebrates the installation of president David Bushman, a new Springs folder for the Easter Season, Earth Day Sunday resources from Creation Justice Ministries.