Category Archives: General

General

Living in the Spirit

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By Traci Rabenstein, executive director of Mission Advancement

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love for the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ . . . But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” ~ Galatians 5:13-14, 22-25; NIV

Over the past year, I have found myself (more than once) wrestling with what it means to have the Holy Spirit of God dwell within me, within us as the people of God. Here is what I understand:  the day we accept Christ is the day the Holy Spirit enters into our lives to dwell with us. From that point forward, the Spirit guides us through life, aiding in the interpretation of God’s word so that we might hear God’s “rhema” (God’s specific and special word to us) so that we can be drawn closer to God to know God more and more. The Holy Spirit provides us with actions and words to use in various situations so that the grace of God and love of Christ might draw others into God’s glory.

I’m not sure about you, but I regret that I can sometimes be quick to anger or focused on what I’m thinking and feeling instead of considering the needs of others. Neither of which, I’m convinced, are things that the Holy Spirit would lead me to act upon. I believe these are the kinds of “works of the flesh” that we are to avoid when we let the Spirit work in and through us.

The Galatians were a diverse people—heirs to a Celtic warrior past, immersed in a Hellenistic present with dialogue across religions, and living under Roman rule, all while navigating the new and challenging doctrines of early Christianity. Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia reveals a significant cultural and theological tension in which Jewish Christians were attempting to persuade Gentile converts that they needed to adhere to Jewish laws to express true faith in Christ. Paul’s forceful argument against this “different gospel” indicates the strength of the cultural and religious debate occurring among them. Paul reminded them that salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus and nothing else.

After sharing a list of the “works of the flesh,” Paul also shares the “fruit of the Spirit” as a contrast. In this way it is clear what is of God and what is not. It gives us insight into what life will look like if we give in to the desires of the flesh versus what our Christian life becomes when we give way to the leading and desires of the Holy Spirit.

Paul makes the difference even more stark as he mentions “the works” to describe the flesh versus simply saying “the fruit of” related to the Spirit. Works are something that you do, motivated by your flesh. But fruit is something produced through you by the Spirit as you respond to God’s prompting. The sources are different, and their outcomes are different. For fruit to be produced, the Holy Spirit must be included in every move we make if we truly want God to lead us, give us clarity about scripture, and empower us.

On a trip home to Pennsylvania, I made a stop in Kentucky. I usually enjoy hearing people share their stories wherever I go, but as I ate my meal at a Cracker Barrel that night, I was tired and wanted to get back on the road.

An older gentleman in bib overalls with large front pockets was sitting nearby, and it seemed that all the staff knew him. When I finished my meal and the waitress brought me a cup of coffee to go, she insisted that I meet Mr. Paul. I honestly didn’t want to meet Mr. Paul, but off I went with her to his table.

Our interaction was brief, sharing our names and where we’re from—and of course he knew someone from Pennsylvania. After a minute, he shared a funny joke with me, which gave me and others nearby a good laugh. Mr. Paul then said, “Thank you, Miss Traci, for letting me share to the end. Not many people do.” Had I not taken the time to go over and meet Mr. Paul, he, myself, and others would have missed the opportunity to be blessed. I’m grateful that the fruit of Spirit could be seen in action.

I pray that we all find those “Mr. Paul” moments where we turn away from our own desires, and instead lean into the Holy Spirit’s leading. And when we do so, may the grace of God and love of Christ be evident in us and produce good fruit.

As followers of Jesus in the Church of the Brethren, we aim to live by the Spirit and join Jesus in the neighborhood. Learn more about our mission and ministry at www.brethren.org/greatthings or support our work today at www.brethren.org/give.h

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Blessed are the merciful

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Founa Badet, director of Intercultural Ministries, speaking at a workshop at the L.E.A.D Conference in November 2024.

By Founa Badet, director of Intercultural Ministries

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” ~Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭7,‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

My mother came to the US with a merchant visa, which is called an E-1 Non-Immigrant (Treaty Traders). It allowed her to be admitted to the United States solely to engage in international trade on her own behalf. She had her business of goods and services where she was in and out of the country until she worked her way to apply for residency. She first applied to become a documented immigrant with her permanent green card and then applied for my older brother and me to join her—a process that usually takes three to five years. While she was waiting for us to be approved, she applied for her citizenship. I arrived in the US almost 27 years ago with a permanent green card and later became a citizen. 

My background and the process I (and others) went through in order to arrive in the US has informed the immigration work that the Intercultural Ministries Office is now part of—a pivot that has been instrumental and essential for our work for the Church of the Brethren. I am honored to serve and I am proud of the work.

Following this year’s Council of District Executives meeting, some districts contacted my office and On Earth Peace to brainstorm how to support churches dealing with immigration setbacks. Intercultural Ministries was already supporting some districts and participating in trainings from Faith In Action, ACLU, Episcopal Migration Ministries, AMMPARO, and Haitian Law Association on Know Your Rights and we were staying informed about what documents are needed for change of status, how to walk with migrants, Temporary Protected Status, Humanitarian Parole changes, and the red card. We had a resource page on our website before the change of administration. Marcia Sowles (from the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy) and I began brainstorming how to navigate the new and changing immigration policies, and the forming of an immigration support group with Brethren Disaster Ministries, the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, and Intercultural Ministries to serve this growing need in our denomination. 

The Deportation Defense Response (DDR) team—a partnership between Intercultural Ministries, On Earth Peace, districts, and many others—has answered prayers for many reasons. It includes many hands and brains to address the needs of our churches, our brethren, and ourselves. Together we are able to discover the needs and navigate the sensitive issues collectively with compassion and understanding. Serving with this group of people that is doing this great work is immeasurable but incredible.

As I previously mentioned, I came to the US with documentation, but this may not be the case for the brethren we are serving through the work of DDR. Some were offered a two-year parole from the previous administration to work, go to school, and be able to apply for different legal documentation such as work permits, driver’s licenses, Temporary Protection Status, and more. Others, however, crossed the border running for their lives with their families and belongings, but they were able to stand before a judge and get access to apply for some services. 

Addressing matters related to immigration has broadened the scope of Intercultural Ministries. We have not only been offered the opportunity to serve well but to be Jesus in the neighborhood for our brothers and sisters with knowledge, empathy, compassion, love, and respect. The same way the current administration changes daily, our work must adapt daily. The steering committee of the Response ministry team meets regularly to check-in, receive reports, and guide us for self-care and support.

For such a time as this, we are called for more, and we are grateful to be used for God’s glory. We are receiving calls and emails from pastors, lay leaders, lawyers, brothers, and sisters asking how can they help. Other districts are joining, and rallies are happening. No act of detention is going unnoticed so that our brethren do not get lost in the system. It is heavy work but we trust in God.

Intercultural Ministries is also actively working with a translation team to make important documents available in multiple languages including, but not limited to, the Separate No More paper, an upcoming position description, and more. We believe translation is an important step as we get ready for Annual Conference in July and the Jubilee Celebration in November. We continue to work with the districts that reached out for support and welcome others to join our efforts.

May God bless the work of our hands for God’s glory in Jesus’ name.

Learn more about the work of Intercultural Ministries at www.brethren.org/intercultural. Support this ministry of the Church of the Brethren today at www.brethren.org/giveintercultural .

(Read this issue of eBrethren.)

General

What if?

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By Founa Badet, director of Intercultural Ministries

The question is “What if?” It has different layers, a different capacity of expressing itself in certain situations. What if I had been born in America? What if I were not an immigrant? What if I were living the dream? The fact of the matter is, I’m not. I’m a Haitian American born and raised in Haiti. I had to learn and relearn how to live in a different country, how to adapt to a different culture.

In some shape or form, we are all immigrants. There is a smile on my face as I write this, because almost everyone is now doing an ancestry DNA test to find out where they came from or the make-up of their ethnicity.

An immigrant is someone who comes to live permanently in a foreign country, according to the dictionary, so, even if it’s not you personally, someone in your family or your great-grands migrated from somewhere else. Often safety is the main reason for anyone to leave their homes, from either political violence, fear, hunger, or all the above.

Jesus was an immigrant, going from Bethlehem to Egypt. He was born many miles away from home, traveling from one place to the next, traveling for safety reasons. I believe if we look at immigration through the lens of the Holy Spirit, we will learn to treat strangers with hospitality, because that is what Jesus taught the disciples to do: “I was a stranger, and you invited me in” (Matthew 25:35).

Yes, we do our best as Brethren to extend hospitality. We do our best to be Jesus in the neighborhood to the level of what we are able and capable to do. However, what we can do even better is recognize the reality of immigrants, because we are all strangers until we become family.

So, let’s go back to me, growing up in Haiti. Becoming a teenager, a young adult, and an adult in the United States has been a process for my life. There were some ups and downs. There were learning curves that could have been tragic but for God. The Lord saved me from many things, many dumb things. Without guidance, one can truly be lost. The sad part is that, through my trials, I did not see the church. The church did not welcome me. The church did not understand me. The church saw me as a runaway, and some opportunities were missed in the midst.

What if we changed that as the church of today? What if we allow space for others to truly feel welcome and worthy? I realize we will never be on the same page at the same time. But we can extend ourselves to be available, interested, patient, and willing. We can ask ourselves the hard questions: Who we are called to be? How can we be the vessel to allow others to be connected? How do we view others through Christ—not the barriers before our eyes, but the light? How do we invite others to “come as you are” but ready to be transformed in the body of Christ?

Cultural competence is relationship-building. It is not an overnight scheme or microwaveable component. It is an ability, something we develop to better understand and respect the values, beliefs, and customs of people from different cultures. Effective communication and interactions are key areas to reach other cultures and adapt.

What if we genuinely put on Christ, navigating cultures together and doing our best to confidently walk beside each immigrant we come across? What would it look like? What would that feel like? We become more mindful that what makes us different is often what makes us uncomfortable. What works for one culture as a norm may not work for the other, even in the same land. What if we truly see one another?

This coming year, things will look very different for immigrants, me included. Only God knows what’s next. Some may not have a place to go back to even if deported. Some may fear for their loved ones, and some may not even know how to process the change. I encourage you to ask God what your role is. How can you be the church that sees others and is ready to respond?

This reflection was originally featured in the January/February issue of Messenger magazine. Support the faith-building and life-changing ministry of the Church of the Brethren at www.brethren.org/give .

(Read this issue of eBrethren.)

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Discipleship and Leadership Formation

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Find a reflection and video that interprets the work of Discipleship and Leadership Formation in this week's issue.
View the video.

“For just as each of us has one body with many and these members do not all have the same function so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We all have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
~Romans 12:4-6a

The Office of Discipleship and Leadership Formation, a recently restructured department of the Church of the Brethren, combines the staff and resources of Discipleship Ministries (including Intercultural Ministries, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and Older Adult Ministries) with the Office of Ministry. This new team will continue to foster support for the calling and equipping of pastors and youth and young adults to become fearless disciples and leaders for and within our congregations. The change adds energy to planting new churches and renewing established ones.

Bringing these two areas together reinforces the denomination’s resolve to “develop a culture of calling and equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.” It provides the intentionality we have been seeking to aid us in “passionately living and sharing the radical transformation” of Jesus Christ through church planting, renewal and revitalization, and a shared understanding of working together to live out the great commission.

The Ministry Office’s “Part-Time Pastor; Full-Time Church” program provides a way for the church to walk with, listen to, and advocate for part-time, multi-vocational, and not-paid-to-scale pastors, empowering them to live well by enriching their journey through relationships and thoughtful knowledge sharing. Circuit riders are assigned to pastors who participate in this program to “ride” alongside them as they work to build relationships, share their wisdom, and encourage pastors to take advantage of book studies, web video series, and other resources to strengthen their ministry. Additional pastoral resources are available online (found at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice) concerning the Ministry Assistance Fund, chaplaincy resources, and resources from the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee and Ministers’ Association.

Staff will continue to focus on strengthening long-standing events and resources coming from Discipleship Ministries such as:

National Young Adult Conference was held in May at Camp Mack in Milford, Ind. with young adults coming together to fellowship, worship, study the Bible, participate in a service project, and have conversation around the scripture text of Jeremiah 18:1-6 and the conference theme “I’m not done with you.”

Christian Citizenship Seminar was held April 22-27 brought together youth from across the country to study the scripture text 1 Kings 17:7-16 centering on the theme “Hot and hungry” and wrestling with how we live out the calling from God to care for our neighbors and all of God’s creation.

The New and Renew Conference held this past May at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., focused on the theme “Disciples – Called, Equipped, and Into the Neighborhood.” The three-day hybrid event had more than 20 sessions developed to broaden the understanding of church planting and congregational renewal. This is a vibrant gathering rooted in worship and prayer while providing practical training, nurturing conversation, and stimulating idea-sharing.

National Youth Conference met in the summer of 2022 with 901 students, advisors, volunteers and staff gathered on the campus of Colorado State University to root themselves in the theme “Foundational.”

AND

National Junior High Conference was held in June on the campus of Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., with junior high youth, advisors, volunteers and staff gathering to hear dynamic speakers and attend workshops centered on the theme “What does God want from Me?”

All of these events provide opportunities for growth, worship, fellowship, and resource sharing to provide our youth and young adults a foundation for them to not only stand on but grow from, and a safe space to learn from the speakers and each other as they share their thoughts with one another in rich conversation.

National Older Adult Conference will be held September 4-8 at Lake Junaluska, N.C. and center on the theme “God is doing a new things” based on Isaiah 43:19. This event provides a venue for our more seasoned members from across the denomination to foster relationships, tour the area around Lake Junaluska, praise God together through worship, singing, and dynamic speakers, and, of course, spending time in fellowship.

Discipleship and Leadership Formation, equipped with the core understanding of being “Jesus in the neighborhood” from the denomination’s newly adapted vision statement, is a dynamic group of leaders that provides coaching, collaboration, and consultation upon request to assist a congregation that desires to reach into and connect with their local communities. A collection of webcasts and workshops with a variety of online learning opportunities is a part of a denominational resource toolkit. Find “Tools for Community Engagement” at www.brethren.org/neighborhoodtools.

Thank you for sharing your unique gifts with the body of Christ. Contributions to Core Ministries support the work of Discipleship and Leadership Formation. Learn more about this ministry of the Church of the Brethren at www.brethren.org/discipleshipmin or support it today at www.brethren.org/givediscipleship.

(Read this issue of eBrethren.)

Devotional

Good News Youth Devotional

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By Gabe Dodd (Pastor for Youth and Young Families at the Montezuma Church of the Brethren (Va.))

John 20:19-23 “…I am sending you.”

The disciples were not only fearful and worried about the Jewish people that were looking for them, but they were also grieving the loss of their friend and teacher, Jesus. What an intense week they just finished. It started with a joyful entry into the city, some stark lessons about obedience, and conversations about love. Last week also included meals, footwashing, prayer, tears, pain, suffering, death, forgiveness, and sorrow; the realities of the world did not vanish overnight. Jesus has been redeemed in the midst of angry mobs and chaos. The first gift Jesus brings to his disciples is a message of peace and assurance. “Do not fear in the midst of the chaos of the world. The Lord has redeemed me in the midst of this chaos. The Lord is also redeeming you in this midst of this chaos.”

Though our lives today may seem chaotic, may we not fear, for the Lord is redeeming you in the midst of it. God works in us, even when evil lurks. Be at peace, for the Lord has sent Jesus, and the Lord will send you!

Good News: It is good news to know that God has resurrected Jesus from the dead, and that God will resurrect us too!

Discussion question: Imagine what it would be like to be set free from evil, and sent by God!

Go one step further: Practice stillness and peace via simple meditation. Check out these links for 5-10 minute meditations for teens.

https://www.iamdiscoveringgod.net/home/christianmeditationprayeractivity

http://mindfulnessforteens.com/guided-meditations/

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Youth Peace Advocate: Camp Mack

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Being the Youth Peace Advocate at Camp Alexander Mack was a very different experience than doing it anywhere else this summer. Camp Mack is my home camp, where I’ve been attending in some form for twenty-three years. Everywhere else I am Nolan, this year’s Youth Peace Advocate. At Camp Mack I am Nolan, the former camper/CIT/councilor/Ministry Summer Service intern who most people have known forever and is the Youth Peace Advocate this year. It was good to be home.

During the week I was primarily working with the Followers and Splash camps. Both were for campers of Jr. High age. The team leaders (the same role as deans at almost every other camp) for Splash camp were my parents, Rosalie and Ryan McBride, which combined with my brother and sister working summer staff meant my entire family was at Camp Mack last week. After about a month of traveling across the country it was good for us all to be together. Additionally, I knew several other staff members of both camps, so it was very different to begin the week knowing so many people.

My daily schedule and responsibilities as the Youth Peace Advocate were also different. While exactly what was expected of me was different at each new place, all the camps before this week had explicitly set aside time for me lead my own sessions with the campers during the week. At Camp Mack both sets of team leaders already had schedules set up, and I was invited to participate and bring what I’ve put together into their plans as much or as little as I wanted. The Splash Camp leaders did explicitly ask me to lead a tour of the Brethren history murals in Quinter-Miller auditorium. Painted in 1949, the murals tell this history of the Church of the Brethren up to then, and include the artist’s prediction up to the 300th anniversary in 2008. A newer mural of more recent Brethren history was created in 2000. The murals have long been one of my favorite parts of camp, and I was excited to get to share about them. Of course, me being a History and Religious Studies major whose era of emphasis is the early modern period, this was kind of a dangerous thing to ask of me. Having recently studied the origins of the Pietist movement which shaped the Brethren movement, I might have spent a little longer than intended on “historical context.” (Hey, to understand the Brethren’s break with the state churches you need to know about the relationship between church and state in the middle ages, which means you need to know about Constantine, and so on.)

I also went boating twice with Splash Camp: kayaking Tuesday in Goshen and sailing Thursday on Lake Michigan. It was a great time, even if I fell into the river kayaking and took at least ten minutes trying to get back in.

The word of the day for the fifth day of camp is “heiwa,” a Japanese word meaning “balance.” The scripture is Mark 12:28-31, the two greatest commandments. I usually start my session for this day by asking the kids to play a game where they stand in a circle with one person being “it.” That person chooses another in the circle whom they attempt to make laugh any way short of touching them. If the laugh, they are now “it.” Afterwards I ask the campers how it was to try and not laugh, what techniques they used, and if they think it would be easier if they practiced this game every day. We then discuss the importance of practice in peacemaking, using the Civil Rights movement as an example, and the Christian life more generally. I play a section from the first episode of the Episcopal Church’s Way of Love podcast (11:38-17:36).[1] It is an interview with the denomination’s Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who recently made headlines around the world for his sermon on love at last year’s royal wedding. Bishop Curry uses the metaphors of firefighter/first responder springing into action or an athlete training for their sport to talk about how practices such as prayer, Bible study, gathering for public worship, and others mold us to be more like Jesus, so we live out his call without having to think about it. It becomes our instinctual reaction. After discussing the main points of the interview, I ask the campers to list the practices we have been following at camp that mold us to be peacemakers and help us live more like Jesus. After we have a good list going, I challenge the campers to consider how they can incorporate these practices into their daily lives.

Redeeming God, We thank you that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and accepted and loved by you not because of anything we have done, but because of your very nature. Grant that through our life we may be drawn closer to you and molded into the image of your son, our savior, Jesus.

In His name we pray,

Amen

[1] https://wayoflove.episcopalchurch.org/episodes/season/1/episode/1

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EYN Disaster Team visits Cameroon Refugee Camp

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  • Cameroon refugee camp at Minawao
  • Markus with Muslims at the camp
  • Special meeting in one of the churches
  • Difficult road conditions
  • 58,000 persons at Minawao refugee camp
  • Waiting in line for limited water

In June, a 9 person delegation from EYN drove from Nigeria to visit the refugee camp at Minawao, Cameroon. The group consisted of three persons from the disaster ministry, the wife of EYN President, the Liaison officer, an EYN reporter, a student and two drivers. The trip was long and difficult with poor roads and several flooded rivers to cross.

The camp consists of 58,000 refugees living in close quarters. It stretches across 3.7 miles. There are Muslims, Christians, and some practicing traditional African religions. For the most part they live in harmony as they all struggle to survive. Christians are from 9 different denominations with the largest representation being EYN (Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). There are over 18,000 EYN members organized into 13 local churches; each with their own pastor. At a large meeting, the delegation brought greetings from EYN and presented the camp with $38,500 to assist in purchasing food. The refugees appreciated the visit and the meeting where they were encouraged to share about their struggles.

Four areas of difficulty were evident during the visit. Lack of food (a decrease in amount distributed by the United Nations who runs the camp), lack of water (long lines from morning to evening), few opportunities to farm and grow their own food, and schooling problems for the children. There are 16,000 elementary children registered at the camp but only about 10,000 are going to school. The school has no text books, few underpaid teachers (150 students to a class), and no official papers upon completion. The schooling is further hampered by the language barrier since this area of Cameroon is French speaking. Overlying the whole conversation is the desire of most of the refugees to return to their homelands in Nigeria. Although the Nigerian government claims the people can return home, the area is definitely not safe to live in.

We continue to pray for the refugees in Minawao, Cameroon and for the EYN Disaster Ministry as they help their fellow countrymen.

Pictures and information provided by EYN reporter, Zakariya Musa, and Liaison officer, Markus Gamache.

eBrethren

Greetings from Rwanda!

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Photos by Josiah Ludwick

 By Josiah Ludwick, Global Mission worker in Rwanda

Muraho and greetings from the Church of the Brethren in Rwanda!

Since August 2018, Global Mission and Service made it possible for my family to live in the beautiful country of Rwanda and to be a part of the budding ministry God is blessing here. The Church of the Brethren in Rwanda is nearly four years old. In that short time, God has worked mightily and there are already four congregations in the western part of the country.

More recently, however, the government has imposed strict guidelines for churches, which has been a significant challenge. Every week, hundreds of churches are being closed throughout the country. In response, the people of our churches gathered last November and gave sacrificially to raise nearly $3,000 (exceeding their original goal of $2,000) to begin improving their properties. Inspired by this act of faith by the Rwandese Brethren, many brothers and sisters in the US also have chosen to support these efforts.

As a result of this faithful giving and partnership, our churches in Gasiza and Mudende have been able to improve their worship spaces (above, left). The Brethren in Gisenyi also purchased land in hopes of building a denominational headquarters. This will be very important as we work to be recognized as a denomination by the national government. The recognition process has been arduous, but we have made progress and moved to the regional level. Praise be to God!

God is blessing the church in Rwanda through the teaching of Brethren beliefs. Even though new ideas are generally met with skepticism, the people have been really open to Brethren theology. We have assured them that our beliefs and practices aren’t new, simply new to them. Several leaders from each church have been trained with the help of Brethren Beliefs and Practices, authored by Galen Hackman in collaboration with EYN (Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria– Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), which recently was translated into the local language of Kinyarwanda. These leaders were trained so that they can lead small groups from their congregations through the book (top right).

As a result of these teachings, we have had two occasions for baptisms at Lake Kivu, which include multiple people from each congregation accepting Jesus, embracing the new way, and experiencing trine immersion. We are also planning the first Brethren love feast in Rwanda, one for Gisenyi and Gasiza and another for Humure and Mudende, to take place near the Easter holiday.

We also celebrate the ability to send three young Batwa men to university. The Twa are typically an underserved group, but the congregation in Mudende has taken great efforts to make them feel part of the faith community, to share how God loves them and we love them, and to reveal how they can accomplish anything with God’s help. Most Batwa don’t dream of finishing primary school, let alone secondary school, so for a few to go to university is truly a miracle. The three were recognized by pastor Etienne Nsanzimana, founder and overall leader of the Church of the Brethren in Rwanda (bottom right).

In the great tradition of being “blessed to be a blessing,” the village of Batwa has gone to another indigenous village to encourage them with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the love the Brethren have for them. This new group of about 20 Batwa has started attending the Humure congregation. This is what kingdom building is all about!

Through the ministry of Global Mission and Service and with God’s blessing and grace, all these things have been possible. Thank you for your continued support of all the Lord is doing globally through the Church of the Brethren. On behalf of myself, my family, and our Rwandese brothers and sisters, thank you!

Learn more about the work of Global Mission and Service at www.brethren.org/global or support it at www.brethren.org/givegms.

(Read this issue of eBrethren.)

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Moving on, but not letting go?

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By Lisa-Marie Mayerle, Brethren Volunteer Service Unit #319

This year, I decided to be a part of Brethren Volunteer Service, and trust me… it was not easy to make that decision. For me, joining BVS meant not knowing where I would end up, which project I would be going to, or how I would be living for the next year. But, it was the best decision I have ever made. Of course I had a lot of insecurities during the process, but in the end I knew that this was my best opportunity to serve for a year, to explore another culture, and to make a difference.

I would say that the worst part of the transition was saying goodbye—leaving everyone I love behind. All my friends and family in Germany would continue their lives without me, but my life would continue on as well. It felt like I needed to move on and let go. So, I left with a face full of tears and a heart full of sadness and happiness mixed together. I knew it was time for a new chapter of my life.

The moment I arrived at my project in Hagerstown, Md., everyone welcomed me with open arms and a big smile on their face. In that exact moment, all my concerns and doubts were gone, and I knew that it was the right decision. I also realized that I had never left someone or something behind. Despite missing Germany, and even though I could not see or hear my family and friends every day, I can remember that they are always with me.

I enjoy every minute at my project and I love to share about it with my loved ones. The people I work with are amazing and support me. I feel like I am a part of a bigger family, and the thought of leaving them one day brings tears to my eyes. Every single minute with the kids, my co-workers, and my friends is precious, and I am so glad that I can be here. I am thankful for this journey and the relationships I am creating.

Learn more about Brethren Volunteer Service or read the most recent issue of The Volunteer at www.brethren.org/bvs. Support the ministry of BVS today at www.brethren.org/give .

(Read this issue of eBrethren.)

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Decoding your community

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Christina Singh (center) talks with Laura Leighton-Harris (left) and Kevin Kessler (right) at the New and Renew Church Planting Conference.
Photo by Doug Veal

By Christina Singh, pastor of Freeport (Ill.) Church of the Brethren and member of the Mission and Ministry Board

When I first heard about the Church Planting Conference of our denomination, it did not sound like something that would interest me. But two words in its tagline caught my attention: Revitalize and Grow! Fixated on these words, I decided to attend.

For two years, I have gone into the community around our church to spread God’s word but have found little success. There is so much potential and so many unchurched people around us, so I have felt the burden to approach them and introduce them to Christ. Going to the New and Renew Church Planting Conference, I was determined to get the most out of the experience and to learn information relevant to my community, to the church in a small town where God has placed me.

The workshop that helped me most was “Decoding your Community” by Ryan Braught, who planted the Veritas Community Church in 2009 in Lancaster, Pa. This two-part workshop moved me into action and gave me insight and tools as to how we, as a church, can successfully do God’s work in our community.

The first session of this workshop taught us how to understand the culture of where God has placed or called us. We learned that a culture is defined by language, artifacts, narratives, rituals, institutions, and ethics. Ryan then shared practices that help decode a community. One of them was “walk, observe, and pray with your eyes.” To demonstrate this practice, he read from Acts 17:16-34, which can be summarized by verses 22 and 23:

“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: ‘People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you’” (NIV, emphasis added).

Inspired by scripture and putting our learning from the first session to good use, in the second session we actually went out and practiced how to decode the community and bring people to Christ. When we walk around our communities, we need to ask, “what objects of worship are found in this community? Or what does the community ‘worship’?” It could be anything! We just have to be willing to talk with people and invite them to worship Jesus Christ rather than worship an “unknown god.”

After the New and Renew Conference, I shared what I learned with members of our church board and commission team. Now we have a great vision and plan for our church to serve the community, revitalize, and grow. Together we will work to carry out the great commission.

Find video recordings and find photos from the 2018 New and Renew Church Planting Conference at www.brethren.org/churchplanting.

(Read this issue of eBrethren.)