As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to walk in solidarity with those who face racial injustice and to live out the gospel message of love, justice, and dignity for all. The Standing with People of Color mandate has guided us these past three years in awakening our collective conscience, drawing from the teachings of Christ and inspiration from scriptures like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) and the Woman at the Well (John 4).
Training
Shine curriculum launches surveys to hear directly from congregations and families
Shine: Living in God’s Light, a Bible-based Sunday school curriculum published jointly by MennoMedia and Brethren Press, is launching two important surveys this spring—one for congregations and one for families.

Annual Conference office encourages districts to hold delegate briefings
Church of the Brethren districts are encouraged to host their own delegate briefings to help congregational delegates prepare for Annual Conference 2025, which is scheduled for July 2-6 in Greensboro, N.C.

Death Row Support Project offers informational sessions via Zoom
By Heidi Gross The Death Row Support Project (DRSP) will be holding informational sessions for people interested in learning more about writing to those on death row. Join us on Zoom at any of the below times. During the session we will go over some basics of how this project works, introduce members of the

Hesston College using The Peace Table as textbook
Hesston (Kan.) College is using the beloved storybook Bible from the Shine curriculum, The Peace Table, as a textbook in its Biblical Literature class. Introduction to Biblical Literature is a required course for all Hesston College students.

Tabitha Hartman Rudy to join staff of Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership
Tabitha Hartman Rudy will join the staff of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership as part-time coordinator of English-Language Ministry Training Programs, starting May 1.
April Ventures course to focus on communities of belonging
The April offering from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson (Kan.) College will be “A Place for Everybody: Creating Communities of Belonging” to be presented by Jeanne Davies, executive director of the Anabaptist Disabilities Network.

Children’s Disaster Services offers new volunteer training events
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) is preparing to hold three new volunteer training events in March, April, and May 2025. Upcoming CDS Volunteer Training events are as follows:

‘Changing Mindsets for Ministry’ held jointly by seven districts
Seven Church of the Brethren districts in the midwest and plains regions partnered to hold an online workshop titled “Changing Mindsets for Ministry” on Feb. 22, with about 80 people participating. The event featured Jeff MacDonald, a journalist and pastor from the Boston area, as keynote speaker.
March Ventures course to be presented by Annual Conference moderator Dava Hensley
The March offering from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson (Kan.) College will be “Acknowledging Grief, Claiming Hope: Reflections from Around the Church of the Brethren” to be presented by Dava Hensley, Church of the Brethren ordained minister and 2025 Annual Conference moderator.
