{"id":27388,"date":"2026-06-29T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=27388"},"modified":"2026-06-30T04:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T04:54:09","slug":"a-reunion-and-a-planning-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/a-reunion-and-a-planning-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"A reunion and a planning committee: The Brethren Disaster Ministries and Children\u2019s Disaster Services breakfast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Frank Ramirez<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Brethren Disaster Ministries and Child Disaster Services breakfast at Annual Conference always has the feel of a reunion, looking backwards, and a planning committee, looking forward. This year was no different as the past and future were celebrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a prayer that recognized God in the storm, wind, earthquake, and the sound of sheer silence, Roy Winter cataloged new initiatives, strategic planning, and trends in the field of disaster relief. Winter is executive director of Service Ministries for the Church of the Brethren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe greatest need is for more volunteers,\u201d he said, adding later, \u201cWe\u2019re not getting rid of anything we do, but how do we work in more things around that.\u201d In recent years, the focus has been on running one disaster rebuilding project site at a time, but Winter emphasized the importance of operating several simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent months, Brethren Disaster Ministries has been partnering with consultants on the east and west coasts who are helping the ministry look for new partners. \u201cWe\u2019re working to integrate individuals not affiliated with any church,\u201d Winter said. \u201cThere are people not associated with any church but who still care.\u201d These people may have been turned off by religion, but they consider themselves spiritual. \u201cHow do we build relationships with them, but keep our culture, building community with volunteers and the communities we serve?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Roy Winter, executive director of Service Ministries for the Church of the Brethren (at right), receives an award from Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), presented by Yuguda Mdurvwa, former director of EYN disaster ministries. Photo by Donna Parcell<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

To that end, Brethren Disaster Ministries is taking advantage of a new Lilly Endowment grant \u201cto help equip faith-based programs for disaster relief.\u201d Winter added and emphasized, \u201cLilly came to us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeff Thomson, newly hired as director of Brethren Disaster Ministries, was introduced. He will be based in Kansas and work remotely. He had begun in the job a scant seven days ago. He told the breakfast crowd that his recent background has been with non-profit housing and coordinating volunteers. He had been looking for a new challenged and prayed, \u201cLord, if you open the door, I\u2019ll step through it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an update on recent disasters, it was reported that the 45 congregations of ASIGLEH, the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela, were not directly affected by the recent disastrous earthquake but that with the help of an immediate Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) grant directed to them through Brethren Disaster Ministries, they are seeking ways to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a special moment during the event, Roy Winter was presented with an award by Yuguda Mdurvwa, former director of Disaster Relief Ministries for Ekklesiyar Yan\u2019uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). The award celebrates Winter\u2019s many years of service to the Church of the Brethren and EYN. Mdurvwa began by quoting from the Sermon on the Mount, \u201cBlessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God,\u201d and then said, \u201cFor the past 10 years what I have seen in Brother Roy is Christ\u2019s love and compassion.\u201d Citing the constant support through the persecution from Boko Haram, he said, \u201cYour love and commitment has kept us alive through troubled waters. Peace be with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the breakfast event ended, attendees were reminded, \u201cEvery act of service truly matters. Thank you for all you do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–– Frank Ramirez is a member of the 2026 Annual Conference Press Team.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

———-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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