In scattered reports received piecemeal by e-mail, text, and Facebook since the weekend, it appears that most if not all the denominational staff of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) and their families have left the EYN headquarters as Boko Haram insurgents advance on the area.
Brethren Disaster Ministries
Prayer Is Requested as EYN Temporarily Closes Kulp Bible College in Face of Boko Haram Advance
Prayer is requested for the students and staff of Kulp Bible College (KBC), and the leadership of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), as the decision has been made to temporarily close the college. Students will be leaving for other areas of the country, and headquarters staff also may be making ready to leave as Boko Haram forces advance to within 50 kilometers of the EYN headquarters.
Grant Goes to IMA World Health Appeal for Ebola Emergency
Brethren Disaster Ministries is directing an allocation of $15,000 from the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to an IMA World Health appeal for support of Ebola health workers in Liberia. The grant is funding work carried out through the Christian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL).
Children’s Disaster Services Offers Training Workshops in Hawaii, Indiana, Oregon
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), a Church of the Brethren ministry offering care for children and families following disasters, is holding three volunteer training workshops in September and October. The workshops will be held in Hawaii, Indiana, and Oregon. Cost is $45. Register and find more information at www.brethren.org/cds/training/dates.html .
Plans Progress for Nigeria Relief Effort in Cooperation with EYN, Global Mission and Service, and Brethren Disaster Ministries
Plans are progressing for a relief effort responding to the violence in northeastern Nigeria, in cooperation with Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) and the Church of the Brethren’s Global Mission and Service and Brethren Disaster Ministries.
Children’s Disaster Services Contracts with New Gulf Coast Coordinator
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) has contracted with Joy Haskin Rowe to work as the CDS Gulf Coast regional coordinator. She lives in North Port, Fla., and also serves part-time in a pastoral ministry position with Central Christian Church in Bradenton, Fla.
Disaster Ministry Directs Grant to CWS Work with Unaccompanied Child Refugees, Material Resources Sends Supplies Following Floods in Detroit
Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed a grant of $25,000 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to support the Church World Service response to the surge of unaccompanied child refugees entering the United States.
CWS Announces Efforts for Unaccompanied Child Refugees, Faith Leaders and Immigrant Activists to Protest Deportations
Church World Service is involved in an action of civil disobedience at the White House this week, as the Congress and US administration consider expediting deportations of refugee children. Also, CWS has announced a number of ways it is working to aid the refugee children, and is asking supporters to call Congress to urge passage of a “clean” supplemental funding bill responding to the situation of unaccompanied children fleeing violence in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. CWS is a longstanding ecumenical humanitarian organization, of which the Church of the Brethren is a member denomination.
Resolution Supports Nigerian Brethren, Invites Worldwide Community of Brethren to a Week of Fasting and Prayer
Annual Conference delegates voted Saturday in favor of a resolution indicating solidarity with Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). The resolution comes as the Nigerian Brethren endure turmoil in their country.
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.