Church of the Brethren in Brazil holds fourth Annual Conference.

Igreja da Irmandade (Church of the Brethren in Brazil) celebrated its fourth Annual Conference Nov. 13-14, 2004, focusing on Jesus' words, "My peace I leave you" (John 14:27). More than 50 people participated, with representation from every congregation and fellowship.

It was evident throughout the conference that business was secondary to worship and fellowship, reported Greg Davidson Laszakovits, a General Board representative in Brazil. Worship, jointly led by national directors Marcos and Suely Inhauser, was filled with meaningful sermons, joyous congregational singing, and testimonies from congregants, he said. Sermons were delivered by pastors who considered various aspects of peace in the holistic sense of "shalom," preaching on peace of and through Jesus the Christ, social and political peace and discipleship, and peace in the congregation and community.

Much like Annual Conferences in the US, the Brazilian conference gave members from different congregations a chance to reunite with brothers and sisters and meet new ones, as well as share stories of their lives and congregations. The sharing was highlighted by testimonies by congregants from all of the congregations, which were peppered throughout the conference. A member of the Indiatuba congregation shared that she "looked 40 years for a church like this. It's been a blessing in my life." A member of the Campinas congregation explained how she came to know the about her congregation via Marcos Inhauser's weekly column in the city newspaper, tackling religious and cultural topics. Through these columns she learned about a congregation that was doing things in a different way, became interested, and eventually a member.

The highlight of the conference was celebration of new life in Christ in four baptisms. After pastor Nelson Gervonni of the Indiatuba congregation baptized and welcomed the new members into the church, he exclaimed, "Nothing gives me greater joy in pastoring!"

A light-hearted but intentional emphasis on community was punctuated in worship, communal meals, and afternoons to simply be together. Soccer games, swimming, playing with children, and a lot of conversation were shared. Marcos Inhauser underscored the importance of times to build community in the conference journal. "We need to be together, to talk, to open our hearts, to understand the scriptures, in order to be a body, a community," he wrote.

The motto of Igreja da Irmandade, "A different kind of church doing things differently," was reflected throughout the conference as the church shed the weight of business to celebrate new life in Christ, invigorating worship, and meaningful fellowship as nothing less than body of Christ.

Source: 12/31/2004 Newsline