Monthly Archives: August 2024

eBrethren

A helping hand

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www.brethren.org/missionoffering

A theme interpretation for the 2024 Mission Offering by Matt DeBall, coordinator of Mission Advancement Communications

“Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” ~Romans 14:19, NRSVUE

Our houses of worship are wonders to behold. Whether constructed recently or long ago, our congregations were built—brick by brick, panel by panel, glass pane by glass pane—with purpose and beauty.

Our church buildings may differ from one to another for the Church of the Brethren in the US, but greater differences are realized as we consider churches around the world. And while all of our churches are unique, the people who worship, serve, and are served within them are even more diverse. Even while differences and distinctions exist, we are all united in our mission to love and serve one another, making room for what God is building in us and around us.

In the book of Romans, we find a letter to the church from Paul in which he proclaimed that all followers of Jesus—whether Jew or Gentile, man or woman, having weak faith or strong—are equal members of the family of God. Rather than squabbling about earthly differences and preferences, Paul called them to live unto the Lord, to extend helping hands to one another, to work for the good of all.

We build up one another through love and service, and as we do so, we become the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. Through the work of Jesus, we offer a helping hand to one another and all people, pursuing peace and working to build up our neighbors near and far. We do this because Jesus did and because we believe this work is life-giving for each of us as we share love with one another.

The Mission Offering highlights the ministry of our sisters and brothers around the world. It is an opportunity for congregations and individuals to financially and prayerfully uplift the core mission and ministry of the Church of the Brethren that provides support to pastors and leaders in the US but alsoour Global Mission staff in South Sudan (Athanasus Ungang), sister denominations that are members of the Global Church of the Brethren Communion, and partner organizations around the world.

Thank you for offering a helping hand to people in your community. Thank you for allowing the love of God to work through you to encourage others. Although each of our neighborhoods is unique, our efforts to pursue peace and offer mutual encouragement together make a difference wherever we are. May we celebrate what we have to give and receive, and marvel at the wonders that God is building in all the world.

Learn more and find worship resources for the Mission Offering (suggested date: September 15) at www.brethren.org/missionoffering. Give an offering today at www.brethren.org/giveoffering.

(Read this issue of eBrethren.)

eBrethren

Doers and givers

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Jennifer Hosler with a 2024 cucumber in the Washington City (DC) church garden.
Photo by Nathan Hosler.

By Jennifer Hosler, manager of the Global Food Initiative

I joined the Church of the Brethren as a young adult, inspired by the church’s emphasis on being doers of the word (James 1:22) and on living simply to give generously (James 1:17).  A denomination that stressed following Jesus through service and simplicity? Yes, please! I was drawn to this community of faith that teaches a radical discipleship. We model “another way of living” as we are reconciled to God and seek to be reconciled to one another. Part of that reconciliation to one another and to God involves sharing what resources we have, just as God our Father is a generous giver (James 1:17-18). The gospel of Jesus is good news for the poor (Luke 4:18; James 1:9-11).

The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) is a terrific example of how Brethren give generously and how we preach a holistic gospel of Jesus. The Global Food Initiative has been part of the Church of the Brethren’s ministry for more than 40 years, empowering our siblings in Christ to meet their nutritional needs, to farm sustainably, to feed children, and to create livelihoods. Donations to GFI support food security and hunger-related initiatives around the world, in countries like Nigeria, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Honduras, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. We also fund local church projects in the United States, through congregations seeking to make community gardens or to address hunger in their communities.

I bring diverse experiences to my new role, including depth within the Church of the Brethren. My husband Nathan and I served in Nigeria for two years with Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN – the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) doing peacebuilding work. 

I am a local church pastor at the Washington City congregation in Washington, D.C., where we received a GFI church garden grant about 10 years ago (our garden is still going!). My current tenure with GFI builds on my experience as a member of the GFI Grant Review Panel, where I served for five years on a volunteer team, assisting the review of large grant applications (greater than $5,000). My travels and ministry have allowed me to see first-hand the ministry of GFI in the United States and around the world: soybean fields and goat projects in northern Nigeria, Capstone 119 urban gardening in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, La., and congregational Growing Projects through Growing Hope Globally. In addition to my ministry training, I am a community psychologist. My expertise focuses on program development, implementation, and evaluation. I work with communities and congregations to address social issues and promote community well-being–which is a great fit for GFI.

I am grateful to be in my new role as Manager of the Global Food Initiative for the Church of the Brethren. This position involves a mission dear to my heart: strengthening bridges between the US church and our siblings in Christ around the world. I envision that we can utilize GFI to strengthen solidarity across national, ethnic, and religious boundaries, by sharing resources, learning from one another, and developing relationships of mutual care. Learning and sharing should be bi-directional, since Brethren everywhere have much to share together. We are doers and givers. I look forward to seeing God’s blessings through this work and I appreciate your prayers for the journey ahead.

This reflection was originally featured in an email update by Global Food Initiative. Learn more about this ministry at www.brethren.org/gfi or support it today at www.brethren.org/givegfi.

(Read this issue of eBrethren.)

eBrethren

Together we join Jesus in the neighborhood

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www.brethren.org/greatthings

“Therefore encourage one another
and build up each other,
as indeed you are doing.”
~1 Thessalonians 5:11, NRSVUE

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Thank you for giving generously of your time, talent, and treasure to partner in the faith-forming and life-changing work of the Church of the Brethren. We are regularly inspired by the many ways you encourage and build up others, making a difference in places near and far.

Our mission and ministry often overlap in how they reflect our vision and how they connect to the Mission and Ministry Board’s strategic plan. We have created a print resource and a webpage to help interpret the work carried out by the staff and volunteers of the Church of the Brethren. We have focused on core priorities centered around discipleship, service and mission, extending generosity and witness, and stewarding God’s blessings. Each ministry area has been highlighted under the priority where its core purpose has the strongest alignment.

TOGETHER as the Church of the Brethren, we join Jesus in the neighborhood. Together we grow courageous disciples, love and serve one another, extend generosity and witness, and steward God’s blessings. In all that we do together, we are intentional as we call leaders, connect with our neighbors, cultivate relationships, and encourage stewardship. We are called to passionately live and be the body of Christ TOGETHER to build up one another and our neighbors near and far.

Thanks again for your partnership!

Traci Rabenstein, executive director of Mission Advancement

Learn about the mission and ministry of the Church of the Brethren at www.brethren.org/greatthings. Support its work at www.brethren.org/give.

(Read this issue of eBrethren.)