The Church of the Brethren has hired Jenn Dorsch of Frederick, Md., as director of Brethren Disaster Ministries, beginning February 24, 2015. Most recently she has been part-time interim program assistant in the Brethren Disaster Ministries office at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., while also working part-time at Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren as director of communications.
Brethren Disaster Ministries
Tina Christian to Be Gulf Coast Coordinator for Children’s Disaster Services
Tina Christian has been named as the new part-time Gulf Coast coordinator for Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), a ministry within Brethren Disaster Ministries. She will serve as an independent contractor committed to the ecumenical mission of CDS in the Gulf Coast. The Gulf Coast project of CDS is a partnership between the Church of the Brethren and the Disciples of Christ.
Brethren Mission Worker Involved in Auto Accident in Nigeria
At the end of a busy work week, Church of the Brethren mission worker Cliff Kindy was involved in an auto accident while traveling from Yola to Jos, Nigeria (approximately 200 miles). He and his party appeared unhurt, but the driver of another car suffered a broken leg in the accident.
Co-Directors of Nigeria Crisis Response Praise God for ‘Phenomenal’ Giving
“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise…. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made” (Psalm 145:3a, 9).
Church of the Brethren Funds Give Grants for Work in Africa and Haiti
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.
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.
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.
Some Nigerian Brethren Are Attacked Again After Returning to Their Homes
“Since Christmas many displaced persons had returned to their homes in northeast Nigeria,” the Hills report. “They had begun holding services outside burnt and destroyed churches. But last week Boko Haram again attacked some of the same areas causing another wave of confusion and terror.
Donations to Nigeria Crisis Fund Meet Board’s Matching Challenge
More than $500,000 has been raised for the Nigeria Crisis Fund, meeting a matching challenge issued by the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board last fall. As of Dec. 31, 2014, the Nigeria Crisis Fund had received a total of $506,100.50 in donations.
Children’s Disaster Services Cares for Children Affected by California Building Collapse
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) has responded in Pico Rivera, southern California, following evacuation of a multi-apartment complex due to a partial collapse of the building. The CDS response ended today. CDS is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren and part of Brethren Disaster Ministries.