Atlantic Southeast holds conference despite hurricanes.

Despite massive hurricane damage to the state of Florida over the last six weeks, Atlantic Southeast District held its 80th district conference Oct. 8-9. "Nothing could daunt the good spirits of participants," reported Nancy Cruz, district ministry staff for the General Board, and a member of the district. The multi-cultural membership of the district was celebrated as many attended from the district's Haitian and Puerto Rican churches.

The conference was held at Sebring (Fla.) Church of the Brethren, with the theme, "Strangers No More." The location of the conference was changed twice before actually taking place in Sebring, due to construction issues at the Sebring church and loss of utilities at Lorida (Fla.) Church of the Brethren because of the storms.

The conference moderator was Berwyn Oltman, former district executive and pastor in the district. The speaker for a seminar and the opening worship service was Jeff Wright, executive director of the Center for Anabaptist Leadership in Pasadena, Calif., and executive minister of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Mennonite Church.

Business was highlighted by the acceptance of "La Casa del Amigo" as a new church fellowship in Arecibo, P.R. Hector Perez was elected as moderator-elect and John Mueller was re-elected as chair of the District Board through 2007.

A special feature of the conference was a Pie Auction that raised over $1,400 to benefit the work of the Church Development Council. Several pies brought over $200 each, and a hat and t-shirt worn for disaster clean-up by the district executive's husband, Robert Beach, brought $140.

Source: 10/29/2004 Newsline
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