| May 8, 2013 | |
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CONTENTS
New beginnings, old friends
Prayer for Pentecost
Springs of healing |
Learning to care for chickens in Honduras through a Proyecto Aldea Global project.
Pigs, fish, and honey bees are some of the animals that families are given to begin their farms.
Participants in one of PAG's farming programs in Honduras.
Photos courtesy of Proyecto Aldea Global.
| New beginnings, old friendsBy Jeff Boshart
“For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?” --Matthew 16:26
I first heard about Chet Thomas’ work in Honduras in the early 90s. I was an intern with ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) at the time, and he was serving with a small nonprofit called Proyecto Aldea Global (PAG) which translates to “Project Global Village.”
PAG’s mission was to “Empower families to reduce poverty, build just, peaceful, and productive communities based on Christian values” ( www.paghonduras.org ).Thirty years later, Chet’s passion for the work hasn’t wavered—which was especially interesting to me now as director of theGlobal Food Crisis Fund for the Church of the Brethren. As he was telling me about PAG at Mission Alive last fall, one idea led to another, and before we knew it, inspiration struck.
“Noah’s Ark—New Beginnings Project” is the newest partnership between PAG and GFCF . It will provide indigenous families in Honduras with farming supplies, bees, chickens, fish, or pigs, and training to obtain food security and small business income. The goal is that 60 families will be empowered with these resources during the first year of the project, and then pass on their animals and knowledge to 60 new families during the second year. If all goes well, the hope is that this two-year cycle will repeat.
PAG’s approach to development is holistic, and I’m especially impressed by one of their guiding principles which states that, “Development is incomplete without spiritual renewal.” This statement recognizes that humans are spiritual beings who are created with a longing to know their Creator. And while it’s true that increasing material wealth for the impoverished is part of development, it’s so much more about making sure every person knows that she or he has worth in God’s eyes.
Please be in prayer for Chet and PAG as they begin “Noah’s Ark—New Beginnings Project.” Visitwww.brethren.org/gfcf to learn more or make a gift.
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Click here to see a special video made to accompany the
Pentecost Offering on May 19.
www.brethren.org/pentecost |
A prayer for Pentecost
You who blow about us,
both gently, and in ways that annoy us,
continue to breathe new life into us.
Continue to guide, or even push us
to that which will make us,
and your world, whole.
We can handle getting our hair messed up
or our feathers ruffled by your winds,
if we know it will be for a good cause.
With each breath we take,
fill us ever so much more
with your love and all things good,
that we might be a part of helping another
breathe more easily, more calmly,
more in rhythm, with you.
In the name of Jesus,
whose every breath offered hope and peace,
Amen.
Pentecost Sunday is May 19. Find more worship resources like this prayer by Erin Matteson, atwww.brethren.org/pentecost .
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Kim Ebersole (center) and the 2013 NOAC planning committee.
Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
 Click here to see the theme video for
NOAC 2013.
Enjoying a walk around Lake Junaluska at NOAC 2011.
Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford | Springs of healingBy Kim Ebersole
May is Older Adult Month, and in honor of the occassion, here are 10 reasons why young people wish they were old enough to attend NOAC in 2013:
- Hearing renowned speakers: Phyllis Tickle, Richard Mouw, and John Paul Lederach .
- Getting up very early to raise money for theYouth Peace Travel Team by “Trekkin’ for Peace” around Lake Junaluska.
- The possibility of being part of the first three-generation family to attend NOAC together.
- Listening to the dueling pianos of Josh and Elizabeth Tindall .
- Smelling the beautiful Lake Junaluska roses.
- Waddling like penguins to avoid Canada Goose droppings by the lake.
- Participating in inspirational worship with Dava Hensley, Edward Wheeler, and Kurt Borgmann .
- Seeing Ted Swartz’s poignant performance of “Laughter is Sacred Space.”
- The infamous NOAC News Team’s “watermelon drop” from the top of Terrace Hotel .
- Partaking at ice cream socials every night!
If you asked the nearly 1,000 attendees of the Church of Brethren’s National Older Adult Conference about their top reasons for coming to NOAC, you would get a thousand different answers. But as conference coordinator, what I hear about most is the joy participants find in worshiping, learning, playing, eating, and talking together at this beloved denominational gathering. Their delight is evident in their smiles, hugs, and laughter.
We Brethren are blessed that our denomination values ministry by, for, and with people over the age of 50. Many other denominations have had to discontinue older adult ministries due to lack of funding, and very few sponsor a conference specifically for older adults. Non-Brethren who attend NOAC are impressed with the esteem the Church of the Brethren has for its older members, and young adults who have been fortunate enough to come really do say it’s one of the best events they’ve attended.
If you are age 50 or older, you already qualify for this inspiring gathering in the mountains of western North Carolina, September 2-6. Celebrate Older Adult Month by registering today!
Kim Ebersole is director of Family Life and Older Adult Ministries for the Church of the Brethren. For more NOAC information e-mail her atkebersole@brethren.org or call 847-429-4305. Registration is open now at www.brethren.org/noac !Forward to a friend
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 www.brethren.org/partners
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"We experienced the power of God as we saw the desire of our Spanish brothers and sisters to know us better and become part of the Brethren.... The motivation in me and my missionary colleagues, as well as in my brothers and sisters from Spain, inspires, touches, and makes stronger the desire to continue the work in Christ,
to whom we give the glory."
--Pastor Fausto Carrasco in a reflection featured in the April 26 edition of Minute for Mission , about his visit to the Spanish Church. Read the whole reflection here .
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 | Do you have a story about how you or your congregation practice stewardship? E-mail it to mgarcia@brethren.org !
eBrethren: stories of Brethren stewards, is produced every other week by the Church of the Brethren's donor communications team. Send feedback to mgarcia@brethren.org or call 847-742-5100 ext. 361.
Thanks for reading!
Watch for our next issue on May 22, 2013! |
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