{"id":27299,"date":"2026-06-19T17:14:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T17:14:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=27299"},"modified":"2026-06-19T18:44:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T18:44:52","slug":"intercultural-ministries-frontliners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/intercultural-ministries-frontliners\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Frontliners\u2019 certified to serve in their districts on behalf of Intercultural Ministries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Founa Augustin Badet<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 24, after two hours of training, the Intercultural Ministries office awarded the participants certificates of completion as new \u201cfrontliners.\u201d Four people attended the training that evening, and three were assigned to this role in their districts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Intercultural Ministries frontliner is someone who serves on the front lines of relationship, hospitality, and bridge-building across cultures within the church and community. They help create spaces where people of different languages, cultures, and experiences can encounter Christ, belong to one another, and participate fully in the life of the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A district-level or congregation member volunteers to serve as a liaison in the district, working alongside the Intercultural Ministries office to help carry out the vision of togetherness as described in the compelling vision of the Church of the Brethren: \u201cTogether, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, they enter into a covenant to serve well: \u201cAs followers of Jesus Christ, called to embody His love across cultures, languages, and communities, we commit ourselves to the sacred work of building bridges, welcoming the stranger, and nurturing belonging within the Body of Christ. Grounded in Scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit, we enter into this covenant as Intercultural Ministries Frontliners.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The three serving as frontliners are:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tony Blackwell<\/strong>, a Sunday school teacher at Mill Creek Church of the Brethren in Southeastern District<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calvin Park<\/strong>, pastor at Brownsville Church of the Brethren in Mid-Atlantic District<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emmett Witkovsky-Eldred<\/strong>, an attorney in Middle Pennsylvania District<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Founa Augustin Badet is director of Intercultural Ministries for the Church of the Brethren. Find out more about the Intercultural Ministries at www.brethren.org\/intercultural<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

———-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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