{"id":27182,"date":"2026-05-21T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=27182"},"modified":"2026-05-23T03:09:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T03:09:58","slug":"brethren-bits-110","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/brethren-bits-110\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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— Remembrance: Celia Marian (Smith) Shankster<\/strong>, a former Church of the Brethren mission worker who served in Nigeria for 41 years, passed away May 16, on her 97th birthday. She was born in Viking Township, S.D., on May 16, 1929, the sixth child of 13 born to Beatrice (Gooding) Smith and the half-sister of four more born earlier to her father, Celia Smith. When eight years old, she moved with her family from South Dakota to Indiana after years of drought on the farm. She held a degree from Manchester College (now Manchester University) in North Manchester, Ind., which is where she met her husband, Owen Shankster. After graduating, she taught home economics and drama while he finished another year of school. They were married in May 1950. Later that year, at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Ocean Grove, N.J., they committed to and were consecrated to mission service in Africa. Their trip to Nigeria carried them across the ocean on a freighter, continuing up the Congo River, landing in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and heading to a Church Missionary Society station in Asaba where she worked as a bookkeeper while her husband learned construction and architecture. They then transferred to the Church of the Brethren Mission in Garkida. She continued her work for the mission at Waka, where she managed the girl\u2019s dorm at Waka Teacher\u2019s College, taught school, and served as bursar. During their time in Nigeria, she wrote many letters documenting their experiences, challenges, and love for doing the Lord\u2019s work. Their seven children were born in Nigeria, including twins Ellen May and Eileen Fay who were lost at birth. After her return to the United States after 41 years in Nigeria, she took on the role of deacon in her congregation and worked at Manchester University until she was in her eighties. She was preceded in death by her husband, Owen; twin daughters Ellen and Eileen; son Edwin; daughters-in-law Deb Shankster and Marilyn Shankster; and son-in-law Don Black. She is survived by sons Donald (Karen) and Carl; daughters Susan Semons and Janice Black; daughter-in-law Linda Shankster; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. (Eastern time) at Manchester Church of the Brethren. Memorial gifts are received to the Church of the Brethren Global Mission. Find a full obituary at www.mckeemortuary.com\/obituaries\/celia-shankster<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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An urgent prayer request from the Global Mission office for the Church of the Brethren: <\/strong>\u201cPlease keep the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, and surrounding countries in prayer during this latest outbreak of Ebola virus,\u201d requests Global Mission executive Sharon Brugger Norton. \u201cThere is no known vaccine for this virus and this strain is very serious. It may affect travel between countries and cause serious illness and death for those who contract the disease.\u201d Find out more about the outbreak of a rare strain of the Ebola virus at www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/20\/nx-s1-5826910\/ebola-outbreak-africa-risks<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The latest Newsline podcast episode is out.<\/strong> Brethren Disaster Ministries is featured, as well as the Germantown preservation effort, the Global Church of the Brethren Communion meeting, and personnel appointments of new interim leaders for Brethren Press as well as Church of the Brethren communications and Mission Advancement. The short (seven to eight minutes) Newsline podcast episodes come out on Tuesdays following each email Newsline issue. Go to www.brethren.org\/news\/podcast<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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— \u201cFor the first time ever, a retreat will be held for older adults 50+ in the Mid-Atlantic District!\u201d<\/strong> said a district announcement. \u201cYou don’t want to miss this opportunity to fellowship, worship, learn, serve, relax, and rejuvenate at the Mid-Atlantic District Older Adult Retreat at Shepherd’s Spring on September 14-18, 2026. With a theme of Creating Peace, the retreat will explore creating peace with our neighbors, creation, and ourselves. Each day will offer a presentation along with many activities from which to choose.\u201d A detailed brochure is available. Contact 443-960-3052 or aamad@brethren.org<\/a>. Register at https:\/\/shepherdsspring.campbrainregistration.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The planning team for National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) 2027 met this week at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill.: <\/strong>(from left) Dennis Webb<\/strong> of Illinois and Wisconsin District will serve as intercultural coordinator; Heidi Berkenbosch<\/strong> of Northern Plains District will serve as workshop coordinator; Kim McDowell<\/strong> of Mid-Atlantic District will serve as worship co-coordinator; Glenn Bollinger<\/strong> of Shenandoah District will serve as hospitality coordinator; Christy Waltersdorff<\/strong> of Illinois and Wisconsin District is the NOAC coordinator; and Ilexene Alphonse<\/strong> of Atlantic Southeast District (shown here wearing a special stole for Haitian Flag Day) will serve as worship co-coordinator. Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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— Below: Brethren Press shared Facebook posts about resources past and present.<\/strong> The Good Ground<\/em> series of Bible studies continue to offer lively biblical study resources for small groups and Sunday school classes. See the range of titles at https:\/\/www.brethrenpress.com\/category_s\/94.htm<\/a>. The final quarter of A Guide for Biblical Studies<\/em> is shipping now, for summer 2026, written by Christy Waltersdorf (soon to become the new adult quarterly Salt and Light: A Guide for Biblical Studies<\/em>). Order from Brethren Press at https:\/\/www.brethrenpress.com\/product_p\/guidesummer.htm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Find more Church of the Brethren news:<\/p>\n\n\n