Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Intercultural consultation celebrates unity through the cross of peace
"I hope we are all looking forward to being in a sacred space...and just love each other," said Rubén Deoleo, director of Intercultural Ministries, as he welcomed participants to the Church of the Brethren's 13th Intercultural Consultation and Celebration.
It was a fitting opening to a meeting on the theme "United by the Cross of Peace" (Ephesians 2:14-22). Approximately 100 Brethren from across the US and Puerto Rico gathered April 28-30 in Mills River, N.C., hosted by His Way Church of the Brethren/Iglesia Jesucristo El Camino and Southeastern District.
On Earth Peace (OEP) offered a day and a half on peacemaking. Matt Guynn, OEP coordinator of peace witness, led several sessions with help from a team including Samuel Sarpiya, church planter in Rockford, Ill., and a nonviolence organizer for OEP; David Jehnsen, nonviolence educator from the area of Columbus, Ohio; Carol Rose, co-director for operations for Christian Peacemaker Teams; Bob Hunter of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship in Richmond, Ind.; and Kay Guyer, Manchester College student and a member of the 2011 Youth Peace Travel Team. An afternoon on mentoring and coaching in churches was given by Stan Dueck, the denomination’s director of Transforming Practices.
Each day included an evening worship service, moments for prayer, music from many different traditions, and warm fellowship during break times and meals provided by the host church and district volunteers. Concurrent Spanish-English interpretation was provided.
Throughout the weekend, speakers linked peacemaking to central themes of Christianity, in particular the love that Jesus expressed for the whole world, symbolized by the cross. General secretary Stan Noffsinger greeted the gathering, for example, with his conviction from scripture that "there are no ifs, ands, or maybes: love our neighbors as ourselves." His Way associate pastor Carol Yeazell, while listing areas of the world represented, said, "Christ’s body is all over the world. He came for each and every one of us."
Guynn characterized the OEP-led sessions as being about the "holistic peace of Christ" that "ripples out to issues in the community...issues where we challenge the situations in the world where there’s injustice and violence."
Participants shared in Bible study of the Sermon on the Mount and Acts focusing on concepts of peace, and learned about nonviolence theory including the six basic principles of Kingian nonviolence and the three levels of violence posited by Dom Helder Camara. The meeting also identified barriers to peace or "bricks in the wall of hostility," and talked about how Christ’s peace might break in. In small groups, participants shared about situations of violence and oppression, practiced listening to each other, and prayed for healing.
Each section of the OEP presentation invited responses from the group. Many focused on immigration issues, and in discussion the group identified many different types of violence suffered by immigrants: economic exploitation, targeting by gangs as well as law enforcement, anti-immigrant laws, ICE raids, deaths while crossing the border, family separations, discrimination, drug violence, immigrant children’s loss of cultural and family connections.
"How is God leading you in the midst of this? How might the love of Christ be available?" Guynn asked at one point during a session in which people listed "faces of violence" in their own communities. Some minutes later, a woman from Caimito, P.R., responded: "In the name of God, the reign of violence needs to be expelled out of human life."
Preaching for worship also addressed the theme of unity through the cross of peace. Jehnsen spoke for the opening service, saying, "We cannot participate in the violation of God’s creation." He traced the development of nonviolence theory coming out of the New Testament, the historic peace churches, and the work of Martin Luther King Jr.
Jesus came to shine "the light of love, the light of mercy, the light of truth," preached Hunter on Friday evening. "The vocation of the Christian is to shine the light" in times of darkness, he said, telling stories of nonviolent action that has shined light on situations of violence and oppression. "The gospel of peace is a revolution, and it is a place of reconciliation."
Friday’s service also included presentation of the Revelation 7:9 Diversity Award to Sonja Griffith, executive minister for Western Plains District and one of those who helped found the Intercultural Consultation. She was host pastor of the first consultation, held in 1999.
Three people spoke for the closing service celebrating ethnic diversity: Gladys Encarnación of Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren, Glen Arm, Md., who gave the message in Spanish; Timothy L. Monn, pastor of Midland (Va.) Church of the Brethren; and Founa Augustin, of the Haitian Brethren community in Miami, Fla.
Augustin and Monn, by coincidence, both rephrased the theme scripture in their own ways. "To follow the cross in unity with mutual agreement, for the sake of the love of Jesus," stated Augustin. Monn displayed his version on an overhead screen, beginning with verse 11: "Therefore, remember that you who are... Black... Hispanic... Anglo... Haitian... Korean... Native American... Pennsylvania Dutch.... You who were once separated from each other have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, he has made the many groups one.... making you all Brothers and Sisters--in Christ. You are BRETHREN!!!!"
The Intercultural Advisory Committee that organizes the consultation includes Founa Augustin, Barbara Daté, Rubén Deoleo (staff), Thomas Dowdy, Robert Jackson, Nadine Monn, Marisel Olivencia, Gilbert Romero, and Dennis Webb. Webcasts were offered on the Bethany Seminary website by a team including Enten and Mary Eller, David Sollenberger, and Larry Glick.
View recordings at www.bethanyseminary.edu/webcasts/intercultural2011. A photo album is at www.brethren.org/site/PhotoAlbumUser?AlbumID=14833&view=UserAlbum.
"I hope we are all looking forward to being in a sacred space...and just love each other," said Rubén Deoleo, director of Intercultural Ministries, as he welcomed participants to the Church of the Brethren's 13th Intercultural Consultation and Celebration.
It was a fitting opening to a meeting on the theme "United by the Cross of Peace" (Ephesians 2:14-22). Approximately 100 Brethren from across the US and Puerto Rico gathered April 28-30 in Mills River, N.C., hosted by His Way Church of the Brethren/Iglesia Jesucristo El Camino and Southeastern District.
On Earth Peace (OEP) offered a day and a half on peacemaking. Matt Guynn, OEP coordinator of peace witness, led several sessions with help from a team including Samuel Sarpiya, church planter in Rockford, Ill., and a nonviolence organizer for OEP; David Jehnsen, nonviolence educator from the area of Columbus, Ohio; Carol Rose, co-director for operations for Christian Peacemaker Teams; Bob Hunter of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship in Richmond, Ind.; and Kay Guyer, Manchester College student and a member of the 2011 Youth Peace Travel Team. An afternoon on mentoring and coaching in churches was given by Stan Dueck, the denomination’s director of Transforming Practices.
Each day included an evening worship service, moments for prayer, music from many different traditions, and warm fellowship during break times and meals provided by the host church and district volunteers. Concurrent Spanish-English interpretation was provided.
Throughout the weekend, speakers linked peacemaking to central themes of Christianity, in particular the love that Jesus expressed for the whole world, symbolized by the cross. General secretary Stan Noffsinger greeted the gathering, for example, with his conviction from scripture that "there are no ifs, ands, or maybes: love our neighbors as ourselves." His Way associate pastor Carol Yeazell, while listing areas of the world represented, said, "Christ’s body is all over the world. He came for each and every one of us."
Guynn characterized the OEP-led sessions as being about the "holistic peace of Christ" that "ripples out to issues in the community...issues where we challenge the situations in the world where there’s injustice and violence."
Participants shared in Bible study of the Sermon on the Mount and Acts focusing on concepts of peace, and learned about nonviolence theory including the six basic principles of Kingian nonviolence and the three levels of violence posited by Dom Helder Camara. The meeting also identified barriers to peace or "bricks in the wall of hostility," and talked about how Christ’s peace might break in. In small groups, participants shared about situations of violence and oppression, practiced listening to each other, and prayed for healing.
Each section of the OEP presentation invited responses from the group. Many focused on immigration issues, and in discussion the group identified many different types of violence suffered by immigrants: economic exploitation, targeting by gangs as well as law enforcement, anti-immigrant laws, ICE raids, deaths while crossing the border, family separations, discrimination, drug violence, immigrant children’s loss of cultural and family connections.
"How is God leading you in the midst of this? How might the love of Christ be available?" Guynn asked at one point during a session in which people listed "faces of violence" in their own communities. Some minutes later, a woman from Caimito, P.R., responded: "In the name of God, the reign of violence needs to be expelled out of human life."
Preaching for worship also addressed the theme of unity through the cross of peace. Jehnsen spoke for the opening service, saying, "We cannot participate in the violation of God’s creation." He traced the development of nonviolence theory coming out of the New Testament, the historic peace churches, and the work of Martin Luther King Jr.
Jesus came to shine "the light of love, the light of mercy, the light of truth," preached Hunter on Friday evening. "The vocation of the Christian is to shine the light" in times of darkness, he said, telling stories of nonviolent action that has shined light on situations of violence and oppression. "The gospel of peace is a revolution, and it is a place of reconciliation."
Friday’s service also included presentation of the Revelation 7:9 Diversity Award to Sonja Griffith, executive minister for Western Plains District and one of those who helped found the Intercultural Consultation. She was host pastor of the first consultation, held in 1999.
Three people spoke for the closing service celebrating ethnic diversity: Gladys Encarnación of Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren, Glen Arm, Md., who gave the message in Spanish; Timothy L. Monn, pastor of Midland (Va.) Church of the Brethren; and Founa Augustin, of the Haitian Brethren community in Miami, Fla.
Augustin and Monn, by coincidence, both rephrased the theme scripture in their own ways. "To follow the cross in unity with mutual agreement, for the sake of the love of Jesus," stated Augustin. Monn displayed his version on an overhead screen, beginning with verse 11: "Therefore, remember that you who are... Black... Hispanic... Anglo... Haitian... Korean... Native American... Pennsylvania Dutch.... You who were once separated from each other have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, he has made the many groups one.... making you all Brothers and Sisters--in Christ. You are BRETHREN!!!!"
The Intercultural Advisory Committee that organizes the consultation includes Founa Augustin, Barbara Daté, Rubén Deoleo (staff), Thomas Dowdy, Robert Jackson, Nadine Monn, Marisel Olivencia, Gilbert Romero, and Dennis Webb. Webcasts were offered on the Bethany Seminary website by a team including Enten and Mary Eller, David Sollenberger, and Larry Glick.
View recordings at www.bethanyseminary.edu/webcasts/intercultural2011. A photo album is at www.brethren.org/site/PhotoAlbumUser?AlbumID=14833&view=UserAlbum.
Consulta Intercultural celebra la unidad a través de la Cruz de la Paz
"Yo espero que todos estemos anticipando estar en un espacio sagrado… y que todos nos amemos," dijo Rubén Deoleo, director de Ministerios Interculturales, cuando daba la bienvenida a los participantes de la 13va Consulta y Celebración Intercultural.
Fue una apertura apropiada para la reunión del tema: "Unidos por la Cruz de la Paz" (Efesios 2:14-22). Aproximadamente 100 hermanos Brethren de los EE UU y Puerto Rico se reunieron del 28 al 30 de abril, en Mills River, Carolina del Norte, auspiciados por la Iglesia de los Hermanos/Iglesia Jesucristo el Camino y el Distrito Southeastern.
La agencia Paz en la Tierra: "On Earth Peace" (OEP) ofreció un taller de día y medio sobre asuntos de paz. Matt Guynn, coordinador de testimonios de Paz de OEP, dirigió varias sesiones con la ayuda del equipo incluyendo Samuel Sarpiya, un sembrador de iglesias de Rockford, Illinois, y un organizador pacífico de OEP; David Jehnsen, educador de no-violencia del área de Columbus, Ohio; Carol Rose, codirectora de operaciones de los equipos cristianos hacedores de paz "Christian Peacemaker Teams"; Bob Hunter de "Intervarsity Christian Fellowship" en Richmond, Indiana; y Kay Guyer, estudiante de Manchester College y miembro actual del equipo viajero de paz "2011 Youth Peace Travel Team." Una tarde de capacitación, guía y asesoramiento en las iglesias fue presentado por Stan Dueck, director de transformación de prácticas de la denominación "Director of Transforming Practices."
Cada día incluyó un servicio de culto por la noche, momentos de oración y recogimiento, música de diferentes tradiciones y una amena confraternidad durante los espacios de descanso y comidas fue proporcionado por la iglesia anfitriona y los voluntarios del distrito.
Durante todo el fin de semana, los presentadores conectaron el hacer la paz con los temas centrales del Cristianismo, en particular el amor que Jesús expresó para todo el mundo y que simbolizó con la cruz. Por ejemplo el Secretario General, Stan Noffsinger al dar la bienvenida al grupo expresó su convicción de la escritura "no hay peros, y’s o quizás: amar al prójimo como a nosotros mismos." Carol Yeazell, pastora asociada de la iglesia Jesucristo el Camino, mientras enumeraba las áreas representadas en la reunión, dijo: "El cuerpo de Cristo está en todo el mundo. El vino por todos y cada uno de nosotros."
Guynn caracterizó las sesiones dirigidas por OEP como "la Paz integral de Cristo," cuyas ondas alcanzan a la comunidad… cuestiones en las que desafiamos las situaciones en el mundo donde hay injusticia y violencia."
Los participantes compartieron, en el estudio de la Biblia, el Sermón de la Montaña y Actos enfocando en los conceptos de paz y aprendiendo acerca de la teoría de no-violencia incluyendo los seis puntos básicos principales de Kingian y los tres niveles de violencia planteados por Dom Helder Camara. La asamblea también identificó las barreras que se interponen a la paz "ladrillos en el muro de hostilidad" y habló acerca de cómo la paz de Cristo puede traspasar esa pared. En grupos pequeños, los participantes compartieron situaciones de violencia y opresión, practicaron el escuchar unos a otros, y oraron por la sanidad.
Cada sección de la presentación de OEP invitó a las respuestas del grupo. Muchos enfocaron en los asuntos de inmigración y, en la discusión, el grupo identificó los diferentes tipos de violencia que sufren los inmigrantes: explotación económica, ser el blanco de las pandillas y de las autoridades policiales, leyes anti-inmigrantes, redadas, muertes al cruzar la frontera, separación de la familia, discriminación, violencia de drogas, niños inmigrantes que pierden la cultura y la conexión con la familia.
"¿Cómo te está guiando Dios en el medio de esto? ¿Cómo el amor de Cristo está disponible?" preguntó Guynn durante una de las sesiones en la que se hacía una lista de "las caras de la violencia" en sus propias comunidades. Unos minutos después, una mujer de Caimito, Puerto Rico, respondió: "En el nombre de Dios, el reino de violencia necesita ser expulsado de la vida humana."
La predicación del culto también abordó el tema de la unidad a través de la cruz de la paz. Jehnsen habló en el servicio de apertura diciendo, "Nosotros no podemos participar en la violación de la creación de Dios." El encontró que el desarrollo de la teoría de no-violencia viene del Nuevo Testamento, las iglesias históricas de paz y el trabajo de Martin Luther King Jr.
Jesús vino para brillar "la luz del amor, la luz de la misericordia, la luz de la verdad," predicó Hunter el viernes por la noche. "La vocación del cristiano es brillar la luz" en las horas de obscuridad, dijo, contando historias de acción no-violenta que ha dado luz en situaciones de opresión y violencia. "El evangelio de paz es una revolución, y es un lugar de reconciliación."
El servicio del viernes, también incluyó la presentación de Revelación 7:9, se otorgó el premio "Diversity Award" a Sonja Griffith, Ejecutiva del Distrito Western Plains por ser una de las personas que ayudó en la formación de la Consulta Multicultural. Ella patrocinó la primera consulta en el año 1999.
Tres personas predicaron en el servicio de clausura, celebrando la diversidad étnica: Gladys Encarnación de Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren, Glen Arm, Maryland; Timothy L. Monn, pastor de Midland (Virginia) Church of the Brethren; y Founa Augustin de la comunidad Haitiana de Miami, Florida.
Augustin y Monn, coincidencialmente, expresaron el tema de la escritura de su propia manera. "Seguir la cruz en unidad, con consentimiento mutuo, por el amor de Jesús," dijo Augustin. Monn mostró su versión en la pantalla, empezando con el verso 11: "Por lo tanto, recuerden que ustedes que son… Negros…Hispanos… Anglos… Haitianos… Coreanos… Nativos Americanos… o Daneses de Pennsylvania… Vosotros, que una vez fuisteis separados unos de otros habéis sido acercados y unidos por la sangre de Cristo. Porque El mismo es nuestra paz y ha hecho de los muchos grupos uno… haciéndonos a todos Hermanos y Hermanas en Cristo. ¡Tú eres HERMANO/HERMANA BRETHREN!!!"
El comité "Intercultural Advisory Committee" que organiza la consulta incluye los siguientes miembros: Founa Augustin, Bárbara Daté, Rubén Deoleo (staff), Thomas Dowdy, Robert Jackson, Nadine Monn, Marisel Olivencia, Gilbert Romero, y Dennis Webb. Puede encontrar las grabaciones en la página web de Bethany Seminary, hechas por el equipo de Enten y Mary Eller, David Sollenberger y Larry Glick. Para ver entre a este sitio: www.bethanyseminary.edu/webcasts/intercultural2011. Fotos: www.brethren.org/site/PhotoAlbumUser?AlbumID=14833&view=UserAlbum.
(Translation by Mariana Barriga.)
"Yo espero que todos estemos anticipando estar en un espacio sagrado… y que todos nos amemos," dijo Rubén Deoleo, director de Ministerios Interculturales, cuando daba la bienvenida a los participantes de la 13va Consulta y Celebración Intercultural.
Fue una apertura apropiada para la reunión del tema: "Unidos por la Cruz de la Paz" (Efesios 2:14-22). Aproximadamente 100 hermanos Brethren de los EE UU y Puerto Rico se reunieron del 28 al 30 de abril, en Mills River, Carolina del Norte, auspiciados por la Iglesia de los Hermanos/Iglesia Jesucristo el Camino y el Distrito Southeastern.
La agencia Paz en la Tierra: "On Earth Peace" (OEP) ofreció un taller de día y medio sobre asuntos de paz. Matt Guynn, coordinador de testimonios de Paz de OEP, dirigió varias sesiones con la ayuda del equipo incluyendo Samuel Sarpiya, un sembrador de iglesias de Rockford, Illinois, y un organizador pacífico de OEP; David Jehnsen, educador de no-violencia del área de Columbus, Ohio; Carol Rose, codirectora de operaciones de los equipos cristianos hacedores de paz "Christian Peacemaker Teams"; Bob Hunter de "Intervarsity Christian Fellowship" en Richmond, Indiana; y Kay Guyer, estudiante de Manchester College y miembro actual del equipo viajero de paz "2011 Youth Peace Travel Team." Una tarde de capacitación, guía y asesoramiento en las iglesias fue presentado por Stan Dueck, director de transformación de prácticas de la denominación "Director of Transforming Practices."
Cada día incluyó un servicio de culto por la noche, momentos de oración y recogimiento, música de diferentes tradiciones y una amena confraternidad durante los espacios de descanso y comidas fue proporcionado por la iglesia anfitriona y los voluntarios del distrito.
Durante todo el fin de semana, los presentadores conectaron el hacer la paz con los temas centrales del Cristianismo, en particular el amor que Jesús expresó para todo el mundo y que simbolizó con la cruz. Por ejemplo el Secretario General, Stan Noffsinger al dar la bienvenida al grupo expresó su convicción de la escritura "no hay peros, y’s o quizás: amar al prójimo como a nosotros mismos." Carol Yeazell, pastora asociada de la iglesia Jesucristo el Camino, mientras enumeraba las áreas representadas en la reunión, dijo: "El cuerpo de Cristo está en todo el mundo. El vino por todos y cada uno de nosotros."
Guynn caracterizó las sesiones dirigidas por OEP como "la Paz integral de Cristo," cuyas ondas alcanzan a la comunidad… cuestiones en las que desafiamos las situaciones en el mundo donde hay injusticia y violencia."
Los participantes compartieron, en el estudio de la Biblia, el Sermón de la Montaña y Actos enfocando en los conceptos de paz y aprendiendo acerca de la teoría de no-violencia incluyendo los seis puntos básicos principales de Kingian y los tres niveles de violencia planteados por Dom Helder Camara. La asamblea también identificó las barreras que se interponen a la paz "ladrillos en el muro de hostilidad" y habló acerca de cómo la paz de Cristo puede traspasar esa pared. En grupos pequeños, los participantes compartieron situaciones de violencia y opresión, practicaron el escuchar unos a otros, y oraron por la sanidad.
Cada sección de la presentación de OEP invitó a las respuestas del grupo. Muchos enfocaron en los asuntos de inmigración y, en la discusión, el grupo identificó los diferentes tipos de violencia que sufren los inmigrantes: explotación económica, ser el blanco de las pandillas y de las autoridades policiales, leyes anti-inmigrantes, redadas, muertes al cruzar la frontera, separación de la familia, discriminación, violencia de drogas, niños inmigrantes que pierden la cultura y la conexión con la familia.
"¿Cómo te está guiando Dios en el medio de esto? ¿Cómo el amor de Cristo está disponible?" preguntó Guynn durante una de las sesiones en la que se hacía una lista de "las caras de la violencia" en sus propias comunidades. Unos minutos después, una mujer de Caimito, Puerto Rico, respondió: "En el nombre de Dios, el reino de violencia necesita ser expulsado de la vida humana."
La predicación del culto también abordó el tema de la unidad a través de la cruz de la paz. Jehnsen habló en el servicio de apertura diciendo, "Nosotros no podemos participar en la violación de la creación de Dios." El encontró que el desarrollo de la teoría de no-violencia viene del Nuevo Testamento, las iglesias históricas de paz y el trabajo de Martin Luther King Jr.
Jesús vino para brillar "la luz del amor, la luz de la misericordia, la luz de la verdad," predicó Hunter el viernes por la noche. "La vocación del cristiano es brillar la luz" en las horas de obscuridad, dijo, contando historias de acción no-violenta que ha dado luz en situaciones de opresión y violencia. "El evangelio de paz es una revolución, y es un lugar de reconciliación."
El servicio del viernes, también incluyó la presentación de Revelación 7:9, se otorgó el premio "Diversity Award" a Sonja Griffith, Ejecutiva del Distrito Western Plains por ser una de las personas que ayudó en la formación de la Consulta Multicultural. Ella patrocinó la primera consulta en el año 1999.
Tres personas predicaron en el servicio de clausura, celebrando la diversidad étnica: Gladys Encarnación de Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren, Glen Arm, Maryland; Timothy L. Monn, pastor de Midland (Virginia) Church of the Brethren; y Founa Augustin de la comunidad Haitiana de Miami, Florida.
Augustin y Monn, coincidencialmente, expresaron el tema de la escritura de su propia manera. "Seguir la cruz en unidad, con consentimiento mutuo, por el amor de Jesús," dijo Augustin. Monn mostró su versión en la pantalla, empezando con el verso 11: "Por lo tanto, recuerden que ustedes que son… Negros…Hispanos… Anglos… Haitianos… Coreanos… Nativos Americanos… o Daneses de Pennsylvania… Vosotros, que una vez fuisteis separados unos de otros habéis sido acercados y unidos por la sangre de Cristo. Porque El mismo es nuestra paz y ha hecho de los muchos grupos uno… haciéndonos a todos Hermanos y Hermanas en Cristo. ¡Tú eres HERMANO/HERMANA BRETHREN!!!"
El comité "Intercultural Advisory Committee" que organiza la consulta incluye los siguientes miembros: Founa Augustin, Bárbara Daté, Rubén Deoleo (staff), Thomas Dowdy, Robert Jackson, Nadine Monn, Marisel Olivencia, Gilbert Romero, y Dennis Webb. Puede encontrar las grabaciones en la página web de Bethany Seminary, hechas por el equipo de Enten y Mary Eller, David Sollenberger y Larry Glick. Para ver entre a este sitio: www.bethanyseminary.edu/webcasts/intercultural2011. Fotos: www.brethren.org/site/PhotoAlbumUser?AlbumID=14833&view=UserAlbum.
(Translation by Mariana Barriga.)
Brethren Disaster Ministries issues update on tornado, flood response.
BDM staff continue to monitor the tornadoes that plowed through Raleigh, N.C., and 18 counties on April 16. On May 6, BDM associate director Zach Wolgemuth attended the North Carolina VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) meeting in Greenville. BDM will stay involved in long-term recovery planning in that state, and at some point will decide on an area in which to set up a rebuilding project.
Brethren volunteers from Virlina and Shenandoah Districts have begun work on minor repairs such as roofing, windows, and siding in response to the Pulaski County, Va., tornadoes that struck on April 8. "As the community establishes a long term recovery group, we may be asked to help with major repairs and rebuilding work," Yount reported.
Tennessee flooding:
In Tennessee, this is the second May in a row for severe flooding. Today, the Mississippi River flooding crested around Memphis. However, the Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding project site in Tennessee is in the Nashville area, which is not threatened by the current Mississippi Valley flooding.
"As the floodwater moves downriver, the levees protecting the communities around New Orleans are in danger of being breached. BDM is now in its last few weeks of Katrina recovery work" in the New Orleans area, reported Yount this afternoon. "We’re certainly praying that these communities don’t get inundated again."
A year ago, three days of heavy rain in May 2010 dropped up to 20 inches of water on Tennessee, causing severe flooding from Nashville to Memphis and completely submerging many homes. A BDM rebuilding project based in Ashland City, northwest of Nashville, was started on January 30. A second project is set to open in just a few weeks, on June 1, in the Brentwood area just south of Nashville.
"Plans are well underway to host volunteer groups by the first full week in June at this new site," Yount reported. Volunteer groups will be housed at Harvest Fields Baptist Church on Sams Creek Road in the town of Pegram, Tenn. Site leaders for the month of June will be Steve Keim and Ken and LouElla Imhoff.
The long-running Hurricane Katrina rebuilding project in Chalmette, La., will be completed by mid-June. BDM has moved its base from a volunteer house to Camp Hope in the community of Arabi. Plans are for the former volunteer house to be brought back to family living status.
How to help:
"As always, the prayers of the Christian community for the victims and the responders are needed, welcome, and appreciated," Yount said.
"It is most helpful to make financial contributions that can be used where they are most needed," she said. She emphasized that donations of clothing or other unrequested material goods are not helpful, and that unaffiliated volunteers are not encouraged in tornado zones due to safety issues.
Donations to the work of Brethren Disaster Ministries and Children’s Disaster Services can be sent to the Emergency Disaster Fund, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 or go to www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=give_emergency_disaster_fund.
Church World Service (CWS) is appealing for Emergency Clean-Up Buckets to assist both flooded and tornado-stricken homeowners. Instructions are at www.churchworldservice.org/kits_emergency. The buckets are warehoused and distributed by the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
BDM staff continue to monitor the tornadoes that plowed through Raleigh, N.C., and 18 counties on April 16. On May 6, BDM associate director Zach Wolgemuth attended the North Carolina VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) meeting in Greenville. BDM will stay involved in long-term recovery planning in that state, and at some point will decide on an area in which to set up a rebuilding project.
Brethren volunteers from Virlina and Shenandoah Districts have begun work on minor repairs such as roofing, windows, and siding in response to the Pulaski County, Va., tornadoes that struck on April 8. "As the community establishes a long term recovery group, we may be asked to help with major repairs and rebuilding work," Yount reported.
Tennessee flooding:
In Tennessee, this is the second May in a row for severe flooding. Today, the Mississippi River flooding crested around Memphis. However, the Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding project site in Tennessee is in the Nashville area, which is not threatened by the current Mississippi Valley flooding.
"As the floodwater moves downriver, the levees protecting the communities around New Orleans are in danger of being breached. BDM is now in its last few weeks of Katrina recovery work" in the New Orleans area, reported Yount this afternoon. "We’re certainly praying that these communities don’t get inundated again."
A year ago, three days of heavy rain in May 2010 dropped up to 20 inches of water on Tennessee, causing severe flooding from Nashville to Memphis and completely submerging many homes. A BDM rebuilding project based in Ashland City, northwest of Nashville, was started on January 30. A second project is set to open in just a few weeks, on June 1, in the Brentwood area just south of Nashville.
"Plans are well underway to host volunteer groups by the first full week in June at this new site," Yount reported. Volunteer groups will be housed at Harvest Fields Baptist Church on Sams Creek Road in the town of Pegram, Tenn. Site leaders for the month of June will be Steve Keim and Ken and LouElla Imhoff.
The long-running Hurricane Katrina rebuilding project in Chalmette, La., will be completed by mid-June. BDM has moved its base from a volunteer house to Camp Hope in the community of Arabi. Plans are for the former volunteer house to be brought back to family living status.
How to help:
"As always, the prayers of the Christian community for the victims and the responders are needed, welcome, and appreciated," Yount said.
"It is most helpful to make financial contributions that can be used where they are most needed," she said. She emphasized that donations of clothing or other unrequested material goods are not helpful, and that unaffiliated volunteers are not encouraged in tornado zones due to safety issues.
Donations to the work of Brethren Disaster Ministries and Children’s Disaster Services can be sent to the Emergency Disaster Fund, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 or go to www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=give_emergency_disaster_fund.
Church World Service (CWS) is appealing for Emergency Clean-Up Buckets to assist both flooded and tornado-stricken homeowners. Instructions are at www.churchworldservice.org/kits_emergency. The buckets are warehoused and distributed by the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
CDS cares for children in Alabama, receives requests from Mississippi and Tennessee
Just as Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) is finishing a response to a devastating tornado in Tuscaloosa, Ala., new requests for services keep arriving, reports LethaJoy Martin of the CDS office.
CDS has been responding at the Belk Center Park Recreation Building shelter in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Six CDS volunteers initially arrived on April 29, and eight volunteers have served at the shelter so far. As of today, the CDS volunteers have cared for 126 child contacts.
"They did a fantastic job of getting on the child's level, listening to them, hearing how their homes were destroyed, how they had to go into a closet and were afraid," Martin wrote in an e-mail update this afternoon. "CDS volunteers are a calming presence in the midst of chaos for these children. One little boy had a very difficult time settling down, but when one of our male volunteers arrived, this little boy went right to him and calmed down. He felt safe."
The additional requests for Children's Disaster Services volunteers span a number of states affected by the recent tornado outbreak or the Mississippi River flooding, or both--from Missouri and Illinois to Tennessee and Mississippi.
In Cleveland, Tenn., which is recovering from the devastating effects of a tornado, a partner agency has requested CDS to care for children of parents coming in to a large distribution center where they can pick up necessities and items to start rebuilding their lives. "This is a different type of request for CDS and we are sending leadership to further evaluate the situation," Martin wrote.
At the request of the American Red Cross and in response to flooding in Mississippi, the program has volunteers standing by to staff CDS centers in three very large shelters in the state. The CDS teams are ready to serve when the shelters are operational.
"Children's Disaster Volunteers are wonderful!" Martin commented. "When the call goes out, they respond." For more about Children’s Disaster Services, go to www.brethren.org/cds.
Just as Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) is finishing a response to a devastating tornado in Tuscaloosa, Ala., new requests for services keep arriving, reports LethaJoy Martin of the CDS office.
CDS has been responding at the Belk Center Park Recreation Building shelter in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Six CDS volunteers initially arrived on April 29, and eight volunteers have served at the shelter so far. As of today, the CDS volunteers have cared for 126 child contacts.
"They did a fantastic job of getting on the child's level, listening to them, hearing how their homes were destroyed, how they had to go into a closet and were afraid," Martin wrote in an e-mail update this afternoon. "CDS volunteers are a calming presence in the midst of chaos for these children. One little boy had a very difficult time settling down, but when one of our male volunteers arrived, this little boy went right to him and calmed down. He felt safe."
The additional requests for Children's Disaster Services volunteers span a number of states affected by the recent tornado outbreak or the Mississippi River flooding, or both--from Missouri and Illinois to Tennessee and Mississippi.
In Cleveland, Tenn., which is recovering from the devastating effects of a tornado, a partner agency has requested CDS to care for children of parents coming in to a large distribution center where they can pick up necessities and items to start rebuilding their lives. "This is a different type of request for CDS and we are sending leadership to further evaluate the situation," Martin wrote.
At the request of the American Red Cross and in response to flooding in Mississippi, the program has volunteers standing by to staff CDS centers in three very large shelters in the state. The CDS teams are ready to serve when the shelters are operational.
"Children's Disaster Volunteers are wonderful!" Martin commented. "When the call goes out, they respond." For more about Children’s Disaster Services, go to www.brethren.org/cds.
Credits
Newsline is edited by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. Contributors to this issue of the Church of the Brethren Newsline include Mariana Barriga, LethaJoy Martin, Roy Winter, Jane Yount, and news director and editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford.
Newsline is edited by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. Contributors to this issue of the Church of the Brethren Newsline include Mariana Barriga, LethaJoy Martin, Roy Winter, Jane Yount, and news director and editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford.
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