Christian leaders in US send open letter to Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill

Nathan Hosler, director of the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, is one of the more than 100 Christian leaders in the United States who have signed an open letter to Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, asking him to speak out against his country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Brethren bits for March 5, 2022

In this issue: Updates on recent kidnappings and violence in Nigeria, Ash Wednesday, job openings, One Great Hour of Sharing, March Messenger features composer Perry Huffaker, BVS love stories, church events for peace in Ukraine, and much more.

Crisis in Ukraine: Preparing to respond to needs

All believers are called to continue praying for the people of Ukraine and all impacted by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Please also pray for world leaders and Russian leadership that a miracle will happen, and a road to peace and justice will be found. Brethren Disaster Ministries is monitoring the needs of response partners and mapping out the Church of the Brethren response.

Quinter Brethren request prayer for partner congregation in Ukraine

Quinter (Kan.) Church of the Brethren, which has a longstanding relationship with a partner congregation in Ukraine, is requesting prayer “for intervention for peace and safety and an end to the escalation of the situation.” Quinter pastor Keith Funk shared the request in a telephone interview this afternoon. The partner congregation in the city of Chernigov, Ukraine, identifies as the “Church of the Brethren in Chernigov.” It is pastored by Alexander Zazhytko.

A call to prayer for Ukraine

General secretary David Steele invites the members, congregations, and districts of the Church of the Brethren into prayer for the crisis in Ukraine.

EYN leadership solicits prayers as pastor’s wife held by kidnappers

“We solicit for your prayers. The wife of the pastor of EYN LCC [local church] Wachirakabi has been kidnapped last night. Let’s commit her to God in prayers for His miraculous intervention in the situation,” Anthony A. Ndamsai shared via WhatsApp. Cecilia John Anthony was reportedly kidnapped from a village in Askira/ Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

Faith groups send letter on nuclear dangers

The Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy is one of the faith groups that signed a letter to President Biden calling on the US administration to “seize this moment and move us closer to a world free from the existential threat of nuclear war.”

Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signs joint letter from faith groups urging leaders to de-escalate tension, pursue peace in Ukraine

With the threat of a Russian invasion looming in Ukraine, faith communities are uniting in their message to Congress and the Biden administration, calling for leaders to protect human lives and prevent war. The Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy has joined other Christian denominations and interfaith groups in sending a joint letter to Congress and the Biden administration. The letter, dated Jan. 27, 2022, urged leaders in the US, Russia, and Ukraine to invest in diplomacy, reject a militaristic response, and act to prevent human suffering.

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