In this issue: Remembering Jan West Schrock, Brethren World Mission holds fundraising dinner for the global church, Fairview Church of the Brethren in Cordova, Md., celebrates 130 years, National Council of Churches marks 55 years since the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Earth Day Sunday resource and online service, and Churches for Middle East Peace Advocacy Summit.
A silent auction will be held by the Program and Arrangements Committee at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, this summer.
Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) has celebrated its 100th anniversary with many thousands of church members and guests attending more than a dozen centenary events held in 13 zones across the country. The theme for the centenary events was inspired by Deuteronomy 7:9, “Great Is God’s Faithfulness.”
President Joel S. Billi of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) has said God in his faithfulness used the insurgency to propagate the gospel. He stated this during an international press conference held on March 15 at EYN Headquarters in Kwarhi, Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State.
In this issue: Silent Auction at Annual Conference, BVS 75th Anniversary Facebook group, register now for New and Renew Conference, From Statement to Action event with Drew Hart, personnel and job opening announcements, and much more
As we walked to the church building for the March 8 “Zonal Centenary Celebration,” we made our way through a crowd of many Boys and Girls Brigade members in their uniforms, waiting to ceremonially present the flags. I thought, “These children and young people are the future of the EYN church. The church is expanding rapidly in Nigeria and in Africa!”
One of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) kidnapped while traveling from an IDP camp in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, has miraculously returned home, while his brother is still missing. According to a camp official, the two brothers–Ishaya Daniel and Titus Daniel, aged 20 and 22–were kidnapped from a commercial bus when they were stopped by Boko Haram terrorists along Burutai Road.
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board, meeting March 10-12 in Elgin, Ill., approved a statement lamenting the Doctrine of Discovery and recommended its adoption by Annual Conference. The Church of the Brethren statement grew out of years of background work by the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy and Discipleship Ministries.
At a March 3 online meeting, Standing Committee decided on a path forward responding to a recommendation from the 2022 Annual Conference. They voted to read the recommendation of the 2022 Standing Committee and provide for a time of silent personal reflection and confession. Four other subcommittees presented progress reports on their tasks.
A new Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team launched in January 2023, with the purpose of encouraging the Church of the Brethren to be faithful as an effective force for reducing gun violence in our neighborhoods and wherever it occurs. On Earth Peace is convening this action team as part of a broader campaign to activate advocates for gun violence prevention.
