The staff of Brethren Disaster Ministries and Iglesia de los Hermanos (the Church of the Brethren) in the Dominican Republic (DR) are working together on an effort to aid displaced Haitians. A grant of $5,000 is being requested from the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to provide emergency food to Haitian citizens fleeing across the border to the Dominican Republic and away from the violence in Haiti. Haiti and the DR share the same Caribbean island.
Brethren Disaster Ministries
Children’s Disaster Services deploys to Ohio in response to tornadoes
On March 20, Childrens Disaster Services (CDS)–a ministry within Brethren Disaster Ministries–deployed volunteers to two Multi Agency Recovery Centers (MARCs) in Ohio, in collaboration with longtime partner Child Life Disaster Relief.
Gifts to live on: Caring for children after the Maui fires
Judi Frost is a member of the Week of Compassion Board of Stewards and a trained and experienced CDS volunteer. She deployed to Maui after the wildfires with an early CDS team to set up a center for children to be cared for while parents who have finally found some temporary shelter begin to ponder what’s next.
Register by April 1 for FaithX service trip in partnership with Brethren Disaster Ministries
Dawson Springs, Ky., will be the location of the FaithX adult (age 18-plus) service trip in partnership with Brethren Disaster Ministries on July 28-Aug. 3, 2024. There is still time to sign up for this trip if you are interested! FaithX registration can be found at www.brethren.org/faithx and will close on April 1.
Children’s Disaster Services offers series of volunteer training workshops
Registration is now open for the Spring 2024 Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) Volunteer Training Workshops. If you have a heart for serving children and families in need following a disaster, find the schedule, cost, and a registration link at www.brethren.org/cds/training/dates.
A pastoral statement for Haiti
Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele has shared the following pastoral statement for Haiti during a state of emergency and widespread violence in the Caribbean island nation. The full text of the pastoral statement follows in three languages: English, Haitian Kreyol, and French:
Brethren Disaster Ministries extends rebuilding project site in Kentucky
Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have announced that the rebuilding project currently serving Dawson Springs, Ky., has been extended until Aug. 17, 2024. This project is rebuilding homes as part of the 2021 tornado recovery in Hopkins County. Brethren Disaster Ministries opened the project site in January 2023.
People killed, church communities attacked in Christmastime violence in Nigeria
Congregations and communities of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) were among those suffering attacks during the Christmas season in northern Nigeria, reported EYN staff.
Brethren Disaster Ministries celebrates house blessings, attends events with Kentucky governor
Brethren Disaster Ministries staff and volunteers celebrated house blessings for homes that the disaster rebuilding program completed last year in Kentucky. House blessings were held last summer and fall for homes completed for tornado survivors in Dawson Springs, Ky.
Last round of grants for the year announced by denominational funds
A last round of grants for the year 2023 were given from three funds of the Church of the Brethren: the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF–support this ministry with donations at https://churchofthebrethren.givingfuel.com/bdm); the Global Food Initiative (GFI–support this ministry with donations at https://churchofthebrethren.givingfuel.com/gfi); and the Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA–see www.brethren.org/faith-in-action).