Jim and Pam Hardenbrook resign from Sudan initiative.

Jim and Pam Hardenbrook have resigned from the lead team position of the Sudan mission initiative, effective April 7. The Sudan initiative is a ministry of the Global Mission Partnerships of the Church of the Brethren General Board.

The Sudan initiative is a new approach to mission by the General Board. It is a fully self-funded program, with all financial support coming through specified donations to the program and to the people serving as mission workers. The Hardenbrooks have spent the last several months traveling across the denomination raising money for their participation in the mission.

In the General Board's announcement of the resignation, the Hardenbrooks expressed gratitude for the board's financial support over the past five months of deputation and training, and the generosity of individuals, congregations, and districts who have given to the church's work in Sudan.

Jim Hardenbrook previously served as pastor of Nampa (Idaho) Church of the Brethren for 15 years, and as moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in 2005. He also was interim director of the Sudan Initiative in 2006. Pam Hardenbrook has worked as senior content developer for Axiom Inc., a technical writing company. They both hold bachelor's degrees in Bible studies from Puget Sound Christian College in Everett, Wash., and Jim Hardenbrook received a master of ministry degree from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa.

The Hardenbrooks are exploring other options for ministry.

In a related announcement from the General Board's finance office, donors to the work of the Hardenbrooks in Sudan are informed that their gifts will be retained for use by future mission workers in Sudan. The next mission workers named to go to Sudan will use the funds collected by the Hardenbrooks, and the money will not be used for any other purpose or for any other General Board program. Due to IRS regulations, the donations cannot be refunded. The announcement added that a printed note on donation envelopes gave information about this contingency to donors at the time donations were made.

Source: 3/12/2008 Newsline