#LoveOurNeighbors #NewTestamentGiving
In addition to the large grant of $225,000 that extends the Nigeria Crisis Response program through 2024, the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) has provided grants to various countries including a grant that will help start a new South Sudan Crisis Recovery Initiative with staff from Global Mission.
The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) has given its first round of grants for 2024, supporting an aquaculture project in the Dominican Republic, a grain mill project in Burundi, a maize mill project in Uganda, and Syntropic training in Haiti. Two grants made in 2023 have not previously been reported in Newsline, for a school-based organic food production and environmental awareness effort in Ecuador, and to First Church of the Brethren, Eden, N.C., for its community garden.
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.
Older adult FaithX participants had a wonderful week at Camp Ithiel in Gotha, Fla., where they spent time together in service, fellowship, and worship. A variety of volunteer projects were completed under the guidance of camp director Mike Neff, including removal of invasive plants, trimming of overgrown forest, kitchen help, cleaning, window washing, and painting.
Registration for FaithX 2024 is opening on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. (Eastern time) at www.brethren.org/faithx. The schedule, pricing, and more details about FaithX trips for 2024 is at www.brethren.org/faithx/schedule.
Coming up in February, FaithX is hosting an older adult service trip at Camp Ithiel in Gotha, Fla., and you are invited to join us! Registration is open now for this trip and will close on Feb. 1, 2024. To register and for more information, go to www.brethren.org/faithx.
A total of 13 service trips are planned for FaithX 2024, the Church of the Brethren’s program of short-term service opportunities for youth, young adults, and adults. New opportunities include more options for combined junior and senior high youth groups, a family camp with childcare provided, an older adult trip in February, and both international and domestic trips for adults.
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Unit 333 held orientation Aug. 1-9 at Inspiration Hills Camp in Burbank, Ohio, with 13 volunteers and 3 staff participating. Six of the volunteers came from EIRENE, BVS’s long-time service partner in Germany.
the workcamp ministry of the Church of the Brethren as an assistant coordinator. I could not have imagined all the things that would change in the next year and a half. When July rolled around, I headed to Elgin, Ill., to start my service, thankful that–despite the COVID-19 pandemic–at least one thing I planned would still be happening.
