NEWS

• Don Vermilyea completes 10,000th mile of his Walk Across America.
  
• Record number train for Ministry Summer Service.
  
• Disaster grants fund storm relief, aid Sudan and Sierra Leone.
  
• Puerto Rican churches hold 18th annual assembly.
  
• Brethren bits: Personnel, 'Pennies for Seeds,' and much more.

PERSONNEL

• Mission staff complete terms of service in Nigeria.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• ABC offers seminar on older adult ministry, disabilities listserve.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW

• International visitors are refused visas for Annual Conference.

FEATURE

• 'Out of context' milestone prompts writer's reflection.

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Don Vermilyea completes 10,000th mile of his Walk Across America.

"We're calling it 10,000," said Don Vermilyea as he completed 9,999 3/4 miles of his Walk Across America. A Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) worker on a mission to connect Brethren gathering places by walking to each Church of the Brethren congregation in the United States, Vermilyea has been walking since Feb. 2, 2002. On June 15 his 10,000th mile took him through the door of a country church just like many of those he has visited in the wide-open west—the Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren, located on a gravel road three miles from York, N.D.

Vermilyea's walk is sponsored by BVS and the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office. When he visits a congregation, Vermilyea offers to preach, teach, or simply join in worship. Host congregations provide housing and simple meals and congregation members are invited to walk along for a few yards or a few miles. Vermilyea takes donations to a walk fund that benefits the Global Food Crisis Fund and the Emergency Disaster Fund.

The walk challenges Vermilyea with times of discouragement, loneliness, and weakness, as well as times when God gives him new strength. "When I look at it one day at a time, one step at a time, it's easier to deal with," he said in a telephone interview. "Sometimes I say to myself, why am I doing this?"

That kind of honesty is why the walk works, he said. Vermilyea doesn't tailor his message—about the need for peace and justice in this world—to the different kinds of congregations he visits or the different types of people he meets on the way. His basic message is clear. "God is truly great," he said. "We just need to pay attention."

Vermilyea started walking in Tucson, Ariz.; headed west to California; north to Oregon, Washington, and Idaho where he spent the winter of 2002; crossed the Rocky Mountains in the summer of 2003; and visited congregations of the plains states, where he continues to walk this summer. "I predicted the walk would take five years and 5-10,000 miles," he said. "It's going to be a few more," he added, as he looked forward to the next steps on a journey that eventually will take him all the way to the east coast. From Pleasant Valley he plans to visit Prairie Peace Fellowship in Surrey, N.D., then will take two weeks to walk to the Big Sky American Baptist/Brethren Church in Froid, Mont., and then will walk 700 miles to Worthington (Minn.) Church of the Brethren. Then he will head south again, hoping to be in south Texas in Jan. 2005.

Vermilyea is ready to retire his sixth pair of shoes, which will be auctioned off at the Northern Plains District Conference on the same day that his fifth pair—retired in McPherson, Kan.—will be auctioned at the Western Plains District Conference. "The more they get worn out, the more money they'll bring," he said.

"I ask for your prayers," he said to all who will read this article. "This walk works by my relationship with the Lord and the prayers of others."

For more information call 800-323-8039 ext. 239 to hear Vermilyea's telephone updates or log on to www.brethren.org and click on the keyword box to find "Walk Across America."

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Record number train for Ministry Summer Service.

A record number of interns met in Richmond, Ind., June 5-11 for this year's Ministry Summer Service (MSS) orientation. Some late additions raised the total number of young adults participating to 17, the highest total in the program's nine years. The program sponsored by the General Board's Youth/Young Adult Ministries office gives young adults ages 18-24 an opportunity to explore ministry options under the guidance of a mentor. Interns serve for nine weeks in congregational or other church-related settings.

Ministry Office director Mary Jo Flory-Steury and Youth/Young Adult Ministries director Chris Douglas led many of this year's sessions. Faculty from Bethany Theological Seminary, Southern Ohio District executive Mark Flory Steury, and other denominational staff provided additional leadership. Topics addressed included Brethren heritage, personality styles, ministerial ethics, and church polity. The group also worshiped at Richmond Church of the Brethren, visited the Bethany campus, and took turns leading devotions. Mentors arrived for the final three days of the orientation, getting to know their interns and building plans for the summer. The week concluded with a commissioning service.

Ten female and seven male interns are participating this year. Ten are serving in congregations, others are working with camps, on the Youth Peace Travel Team, with youth workcamps, in the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, and with Companeros en Ministerio of Tijuana, Mexico.

More than 100 young adults have been part of MSS since it began in 1996. The challenge now is to secure support so the program can continue. Underwritten by an individual donor for its first eight years, the program now requires other funding. General Board staff are seeking donors and funding resources.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Disaster grants fund storm relief, aid Sudan and Sierra Leone.

A total of $55,000 in grants from the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund have been given to storm relief efforts and to aid Sudan and Sierra Leone.

A grant of $20,000 will continue funding a long-term Emergency Response project in Poquoson, Va. The repair and rebuilding project was begun following Hurricane Isabel, which caused extensive coastal damage in Sept. 2003. The project is expected to continue into 2005.

In the aftermath of a multitude of spring storms and extreme weather across the US, an allocation of $10,000 supports a Church World Service (CWS) appeal for aid. Since April, 520 tornadoes have caused deaths and injuries in 14 states and Puerto Rico, and widespread damage including the destruction of homes, power outages, flooding, and thousands of tons of debris. The spring storms relief effort also includes shipments of supplies from the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., and a grant of $5,000 to fund Disaster Child Care in affected areas. The child care program has deployed volunteers in Nebraska, following a tornado in Hallam, and in West Virginia where four counties—Mingo, Raleigh, Wyoming, and Logan—have had repeated flood damage.

Another $5,000 has been given to open a flood recovery project in Greenbrief County, W.Va. Last November, storms again flooded numerous communities that already had suffered multiple floods in less than two years. About 19 families currently await assistance from the Brethren volunteers who are doing repair work, Emergency Response staff reported.

The Church of the Brethren has responded to an appeal for Sudan with $15,000 to help displaced people in the Darfur region with food, medicine, water, and agricultural training. Sudan is holding peace talks to end its civil war but continues to experience violence. "One of the worst humanitarian crises in Africa has been unfolding in Darfur," according to the appeal from CWS, which said that the area has suffered systematic killings, the burning of villages, and human rights violations by militias tied to the government.

The Brethren fund also is supporting civil war recovery in Sierra Leone, sending $10,000 to a community empowerment and sensitization project for children, youth, and young workers. Following a decade-long civil war, the grant will support a program combining education, food production, and skills and management training as an alternative to armed conflict.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Puerto Rican churches hold 18th annual assembly.

The 18th annual island-wide assembly of Church of the Brethren congregations in Puerto Rico was held at Cristo Nuestra Paz Fellowship in Yahuecas on June 4-5.

Opening the weekend event was a workshop on leadership led by Carol L. Yeazell, General Board Congregational Life Team staff from Area 3-Southeast. Evening worship began with Miguel Alicea, pastor of Rio Prieto, Iglesia de los Hermanos, preaching on the conference theme "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season..." from Psa. 1:3a.

Under the leadership of Maria Otero, moderator and member of the Vega Baja congregation, 23 delegates heard reports, voted to recognize La Casa del Amigo, Santana Arecibo, as a fellowship, and approve a budget. Lydia Fernandini was chosen as moderator elect. A group from La Casa del Amigo shared about exciting work being done in Arecibo where 25-30 young people now gather on a weekly basis for worship, teaching, and fun in a drug-free environment. Already the testimonies of changed lives is resulting in church growth for this new church plant.

Wilson Novia, fraternal delegate from the Dominican Republic, gave a report on the crises involving Haiti and the DR. No Church of the Brethren congregation was affected directly by recent flooding on the border of the two countries, but extended family and friends of church members suffered losses. The Dominican Brethren are making plans to assist with construction of 20 homes and are at work to provide needed medical and material aid to those who have been left bereft.

Next year's annual assembly will take place in Vega Baja on June 3-4, 2005.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Brethren bits: Personnel, 'Pennies for Seeds,' and much more.

• Leland W. Flora, director of admissions for Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., has announced his resignation effective June 30. He served Bethany just under one year. Prior to his work at Bethany, Flora was a teacher, assistant principal, and for 27 years a personnel supervisor for the Prince William County, Va., public schools. He plans to enjoy more time in retirement and volunteer activities.
  
  
• Bethany Theological Seminary announces the appointment of two associates in the Institutional Advancement office. Theresa Eshbach, who earlier this year announced her retirement as executive director of Institutional Advancement, will continue in this new capacity half time, working from her home in York County, Pa. Fred Bernhard, pastor of Oakland Church of the Brethren in Greenville, Ohio, will join Bethany's staff, working from his home in Arcanum, Ohio. Bernhard and Eshbach will serve for two years as Bethany completes its "Inspired by the Spirit, Educating for Ministry" financial campaign.
  
  
• McPherson (Kan.) College has named Michael Schneider vice president of advancement, a role in which he will provide leadership for career services, communications, and development. Schneider has served the college as director of career services since Aug. 2002. He is a 1996 graduate of McPherson and completed an MBA at the University of Denver.
  
  
• Bethany Theological Seminary announces an opening for director of admissions, available immediately. The school seeks a creative professional to help identify and encourage leaders to develop their gifts through graduate theological education. The director of admissions will be responsible for student development and recruitment, will represent the seminary at off-campus events, and travel to visit students and attend camps and conferences. Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree with seminary experience preferred. Understanding of the Church of the Brethren is required. Two to five years of professional experience in a field working with people is valuable. Applicants should demonstrate skills in communication, listening, organization, and the ability to help individuals discern vocational direction. Experience in communication technology and multicultural recruitment is a plus. Bethany is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from those who can enhance the breadth and diversity of the educational community. Submit a letter of application and resume to the Executive Director of Student and Business Services, Bethany Theological Seminary, 615 National Rd. W., Richmond, IN 47374.
  
  
• McPherson (Kan.) College is accepting applications for director of development and director of career services. In a recent release the college announced that it has restructured its advancement department to replace the position of director of alumni and community relations with a second director of development. Each development position will provide constituent relations from a team approach. Members of the development team will lead alumni events and coordinate community programming. For more information contact Michael Schneider, vice president of advancement, at 620-241-0742 ext. 1227 or e-mail schneidm@mcpherson.edu.
  
  
• After the children of Calvary Church of the Brethren in Winchester, Va., collected "Pennies for Seeds" for the Global Food Crisis Fund, someone left an anonymous donation at the church office: a five-gallon bucket full of pennies. Karol Hottle, the Sunday school superintendent who already had counted and wrapped most of the $225 worth of pennies collected by the children, knew she needed help when the bucket showed up. She took the bucket to a bank that wrapped 207 more rolls of pennies—10,396 in all. "Our check for Pennies for Seeds came to $332.24," she said. "We also got two washers, one button, two foreign coins, and three paper clips! This morning, there was a small bank envelope with more pennies in my church box. This project not only helped the hungry, but it got a bunch of pennies back in circulation!" Hottle wrote in a follow-up note to General Board staff, "Next year I think we'll do 'Dollars 4 Seeds'!"
  
  
• A "19th Annual Run for Peace" and "4th Annual Walk for Peace" will begin at 8:15 a.m. June 28 at Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. Runners and walkers will follow a course through town and the Elizabethtown College campus. A 5K run, 10K run, and 5K walk will be held. Registration costs $15 before June 21, then $20 until race day. This year's beneficiaries are the Brethren Housing Association and the Emergency Disaster Fund, according to the church's newsletter. For more information visit www.etown.edu/cob/peace-run-walk.htm.
  
  
• A program on Civilian Public Service will be presented by Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center, 2 p.m. June 19 at Garbers Church of the Brethren, Harrisonburg, Va. The video "A Life of Peace in a Time of War" will be shown followed by a discussion. Exhibits will highlight the CPS story. Al Keim, first director of the center and author of "The Politics of Conscience" and "The CPS Story" is the program coordinator. For more information call 540-438-1275.
  
  
• Volunteers to help with the blood drive and a display booth at this year's Annual Conference in Charleston, W.Va., are sought by the General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries. The blood drive will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 5 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. July 6, and five volunteers are needed each day to help with registration, escort donors, and serve in the canteen. Volunteers also are sought to staff the ER/SM booth, to greet guests and answer questions related to the Disaster Response and Disaster Child Care programs. Contact Diane Gosnell at 800-451-4407.
  
  
• Helen Stonesifer and Glenn and Helen Kinsel, of the General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries, attended a Region III Disaster Child Care Reunion at the home of Jean and Carl Myers in Sinking Spring, Pa., on June 5. Approximately 28 child care givers attended the event from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. "Everyone had a great time of fellowship, fun, sharing disaster response pictures and stories," reported Stonesifer.
  
  
• Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Unit 260 is holding a potluck 6 p.m. July 31 for former BVS workers and Civilian Public Service (CPS) workers and anyone connected to BVS or CPS in the area of Union Bridge, Md. The potluck will be held at Union Bridge Church of the Brethren. "We see this potluck as a wonderful opportunity for the volunteers in training from Unit 260 to be able to connect with people who have done similar service," said Sam Bowman, assistant to orientation. "Please bring a covered dish to share, or any other type of food for the potluck. There will be a short informal time of introduction and sharing. We hope to see you there."
  
  
• Brethren Village, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in Lancaster, Pa., was given attention in a Workforce Management publication reported Ralph McFadden, staff for the Association of Brethren Caregivers' Fellowship of Brethren Homes. Under the title, "They Don't Retire Them, They Hire Them," Brethren Village was commended for its policy of hiring older adults. The article noted the leadership of David Fleming, who heads human resources. "Because Lancaster is an older area, so is Brethren's workforce: 34 percent of its workers are over age 50," the article read in part. "Fleming goes to senior job fairs when he stresses the many job attributes at Brethren that surveys show are particularly important to older workers....If workers want to spend the winter in Florida, Brethren will be happy to employ them during the warmer months. Knowing that health insurance can be a hot-button topic for older workers, Brethren gives health-care coverage year-round to part-time workers."
  
  
• The Cedars, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in McPherson, Kan., was honored April 29 with two awards from the Kansas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. The Cedars received a Clinical Care Award for its risk management program, which demonstrated significant improvement for residents in the areas of weight, skin integrity, fall prevention, restraints, infections, and pain. The Cedars also received a Recognition Award that is presented to association members receiving three or fewer nursing care deficiencies on their annual surveys. The Cedars received only two.
  
  
• The Good Shepherd Home, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in Fostoria, Ohio, went to extremes to make the news in May, according to Ralph McFadden, staff of the Association of Brethren Caregivers' Fellowship of Brethren Homes. The town newspaper ran an article titled, "Stag wreaks havoc, injury at Good Shepherd" after a deer jumped through a window in the home's assisted living facility at about 3:30 a.m. on May 20, injuring two residents and three staff members. The police and fire departments captured the deer. The home's executive director Chris Widman noted that the response of the home's staff to the emergency was tremendous.
  
  
• Heifer International's 60th anniversary will be celebrated June 25-27 at HI's Midwest Regional Center in Goshen, Ind. The event will recognize the beginnings of HI in Elkhart County, where Church of the Brethren leader Dan West first found support for a shipment of heifers to Spain in 1944. The weekend will include educational forums, dedication of the center, a Ken Medema concert, animal displays at the Elkhart County fairgrounds, speakers from HI projects around the world, a celebration banquet at Greencroft Senior Center, and church services Sunday morning. A Dan West monologue co-authored by his daughter, Jan Schrock, will be performed at the banquet by Brian Kruschwitz, a former Brethren Volunteer Service worker. Registration is required for the concert and banquet. For more information call 574-642-3096.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Mission staff complete terms of service in Nigeria.

John and Patty Crumley, mission staff of the General Board in Nigeria, have completed their term of service and have returned to the United States. Program volunteers Gerald and Eleanor Roller also have returned to the US.

The Crumleys began their work in Nigeria in 1999. Patty taught music at Hillcrest School in the town of Jos, and John filled a variety of mission support positions including the tutoring of students and working on buildings and grounds projects at Hillcrest. For the past year John also has taught at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria.

Also completing a term of service in Nigeria are Gerald and Eleanor Roller, who have served for six months as program volunteers in the areas of leadership training, marriage enrichment, and the Rural Health Program.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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ABC offers seminar on older adult ministry, disabilities listserve.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) is offering "A Seminar on Effective Ministry for, by, and with Older Adults" in conjunction with its National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) in Lake Junaluska, N.C., Sept. 6-8. The association also has a new listserve for those interested in disabilities issues.

Keynote leader for the seminar will be Ted Sample, coordinator of the Network for the Study of US Lifestyles which has focused attention on generational research. Church of the Brethren presenters also will provide leadership for the event, which is designed for clergy, chaplains, retirement center personnel, social workers, and lay leaders involved in older adult ministry.

Clergy will receive one continuing education unit and EFSM/TRIM students who attend may receive one ministry skills unit through the Brethren Academy. Registration for the seminar includes participation in NOAC. Cost is $175, $285 for EFSM/TRIM students. For more information contact ABC staff member Scott Douglas at 800-323-8039 ext. 303.

ABC has launched a new e-mail listserve for individuals and congregations interested in discussing disability issues and concerns. The listserve is a ministry of the Church and Persons with Disabilities Network. To subscribe to the list, go to http://listserver.emountain.net/mailman/listinfo/cpdn and follow the instructions.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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International visitors are refused visas for Annual Conference.

Several international guests who were invited to attend Annual Conference this year were not able to get visas to enter the United States. Those denied visas include Anastasia Buena, moderator of Iglesia de los Hermanos (Church of the Brethren) in the Dominican Republic; her husband, pastor Isaias Pena of San Luis Iglesia de Los Hermanos; Filibus Gwama, president of Ekklesiyar Yanuwa a Nigeria (EYN—the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria); and Yohanna Y. Balami, EYN's general secretary.

Although a July 6 insight session that was to feature the Nigerian leadership will be canceled, an International Welcome Dinner on July 3 will still take place with speakers Jeff and Peggy Boshart, mission staff for economic development in the Dominican Republic. Another July 5 evening insight session that was to be led by Buena may still take place as well.

Haruun Ruun, executive secretary of the New Sudan Council of Churches, will attend the Conference to speak about efforts for peace in Sudan. He will be accompanied by Merlyn Kettering, NSCC strategic advisor. Ruun will be at the International Welcome Dinner and will be the featured speaker for the Global Ministries Dinner and an insight session on July 6.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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'Out of context' milestone prompts writer's reflection.

Nearly ten years, two churches, and four computers later, the 500th meditation in my weekly feature "Out of Context" will appear in the June 27 lesson of the Brethren Press curriculum "A Guide for Biblical Studies," in the issue for June, July, and August 2004.

The feature has appeared without a break as I moved from Indiana to Pennsylvania, traded in my Atari 800XL word processor for the first in a series of PCs and laptops, and said goodbye to my children and hello to the empty nest I share with my spouse, Jennie.

Each week, "Out of Context" hones in on a Bible verse to provide a second focus to complement the lesson. The result is a meditation built around a personal experience, a figure from Brethren history, an observation about the natural universe, or a reminiscence about a friend or place. In some I have written about my travels (always on the cheap). In others I've given a glimpse of my personal life (usually at my expense). Often I uncover some facet of the lesson I was pretty sure was too odd for the writer assigned to the quarter. Some are poignant, some funny, and most, I hope, are thought provoking. All, I pray, give glory to God.

The idea for "Out of Context" was loosely based on the work of a friend and fellow writer, Bob Baker, of Elkhart, Ind. Bob wrote a short weekly feature called "If I Taught the Lesson" for the Mennonite publication "The Builder." The more I thought about Bob's feature, the more I realized I'd like to try something like it. Julie Garber, then editor of Brethren Press, sounded intrigued. She asked me what I wanted to call the feature. I hadn't given it a lot of thought, but I blurted the words, "Out of Context." The name stuck.

I do a lot of writing, but nothing is as much fun as "Out of Context." Originally the meaning of the title was my belief that out of context comes meaning. In other words, look at the context of a Bible verse and you'll have a better idea what the writer—and God—was trying to say. In the end I liked the title for itself. I was taking verses out of context and seeing where they led me.

In an interesting coincidence, both the first and the 500th "Out of Context" accompanied lessons written by Nancy Heishman. The first "Out of Context" was based on Matthew 3:4 and the odd appearance of John the Baptist. I tied the verse to the theft of part of an outdoor nativity set at the Elkhart City (Ind.) Church of the Brethren, and how pastor David Bibbee made lemonade out of lemons by putting a sign out front promoting an upcoming service with the saying "The Manger Is Empty! Find Out Why!"

The 500th meditation includes a memory of a meal shared with a poor family in Guatemala, and the reference to Melchizedek in Hebrews 5:6. The hosts of the meal were survivors of a brutal civil war and both had lost spouses who had been murdered during the conflict. Over a meal of black beans, rice, and corn tortillas in a cramped, smoke-stained kitchen, I pointed out that just as Melchizedek's lone encounter with Abraham echoed over the centuries, so our brief encounter made a lasting impression and sharpened our desire for ministry and service in the name of Jesus. That simple meal prefigured the common meal we all will share at the heavenly banquet table.

—Frank Ramirez is pastor of Everett (Pa.) Church of the Brethren and frequently writes for Brethren publications.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Sam Bowman, Ralph McFadden, Marcia Shetler, Helen Stonesifer, Walt Wiltschek, and Carol Yeazell contributed to this report.

Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.