Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to continued support for the Nigeria Crisis Response as well as to support people in Lebanon who are affected by the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Brethren Disaster Ministries
Children’s Disaster Services responds following tornados in Illinois and Michigan
On March 16-17, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), responded in Aroma Park, Ill., a suburb of Kankakee. The CDS volunteers served at a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) supporting the community following a tornado that passed through Aroma Park on March 10.
Emergency Disaster Fund gives large grants for Church of the Brethren mission in South Sudan, relief for Congolese refugees
Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have directed large grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to the church’s mission in South Sudan and to provide relief for Congolese refugees in Burundi and families continuing to be affected by violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
EYN disaster relief staff, EYN Media share news of violence affecting the church in Nigeria
Two departments of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) have shared information about recent violence affecting members and congregations of EYN in northeast Nigeria.
Brethren Disaster Ministries seeks skilled volunteers for special project in Louisiana in April
Brethren Disaster Ministries, with leadership from Cliff Kindy, is organizing a team of skilled volunteers to serve in Pointe-au-Chien, La., from April 7-28 to rebuild a home destroyed by Hurricane Ida in 2021.
Children’s Disaster Services offers next series of training events for new volunteers
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) is holding another series of training events for new volunteers this spring. Trainings are offered on Feb. 20-21 in Beaufort, S.C., and in Bradford, Ohio, and on March 14-15 in La Verne, Calif.
Children’s Disaster Services volunteers serve at American Airlines first anniversary memorial
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) served on Jan. 29 at the first anniversary American Airlines memorial for the 67 people killed in the mid-air collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and a military helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, 2025.
Worship resources are available for Service Sunday on Feb. 1
The Church of the Brethren’s Service Sunday is scheduled for Sunday, Feb 1. Service Sunday is recognized annually on the first Sunday in February. The 2026 theme “Living with Purpose: Equipping God’s People for Works of Service” is inspired by the scripture text from Ephesians 4:11-13
Kentucky partner for Brethren Disaster Ministries offers more than disaster recovery
The Brethren Disaster Ministries Rebuilding Program local partner in eastern Kentucky’s Letcher County to support the recovery from July 2022 flooding is HOMES, Inc. Originally a project of Mennonite Central Committee, HOMES began in the 1980s and has always focused on more than just initial disaster recovery by working to repair homes in the area and to provide affordable rental properties.
Jenn Dorsch-Messler resigns from Brethren Disaster Ministries
Jenn Dorsch-Messler has announced her resignation as director of Brethren Disaster Ministries, having served for more than 10 years beginning on Feb. 24, 2015. Her resignation is effective Jan. 9, 2026. She has accepted a position on a new executive leadership team at Mennonite Disaster Service located in Lititz, Pa.