Minute for Mission, February 27, 2014

"That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” —2 Corinthians 5:19-20
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Minute for Mission  Issue 19 February 27, 2014   Thank you for Global Mission giving! Carol Mason, coordinator of the Global Mission Advocate Network, shares her personal thanks for district conference efforts given to Global Mission. This Sunday, as I led the children's moment on Cain's question of being his brother's keeper, I talked about why we call each other brothers and sisters in the church. This is how we care for others far beyond our own families. Today I feel moved to thank again both the Virlina and Shenandoah Districts for their loving support for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria and South Sudan. Thank you for making Global Missions a priority at your district conferences. These places lie especially close to my heart. I recently heard from my Nigerian son Habila, who left Maidugari in 2010 when his mechanic's shop was burned along with the Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria church. He recently took his first trip back to Nigeria since that bombing and found that shootings are happening even at wedding receptions and on public transport. He thanked God that he arrived safely back to Cameroun where he is living as a refugee. My Sudanese daughters, who were brought out of the Kakuma refugee camp to live in the United States in an effort to stop that genocide, were in tears when we were together for Christmas because of the violence still going on in their new country. When Elizabeth first came to live with me, she had asked, "But Ma, what will they have when they win if this war kills everyone?" Now she asks, "How can there still be fighting when it is just us? How can we kill ourselves?" Thank you for supporting work that is changing the vision of a people who have known nothing but war their entire lives. Choosing peace is not easy when one has never experienced it, but it is essential to the shalom, the well-being of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for your continued prayers and support! Recent Global Mission and Service news Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fitzkee. - 25 Brethren from the Chiques (Pennsylvania) and Rockford (Illinois) congregations recently spent a week serving with brothers and sisters in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Read a reflection of a special moment of prayer on the border between the two countries. - Roy Winter, associate executive director for Brethren Disaster Ministries, recently returned from the Philippines, where he and Church of the Brethren member Peter Barlow traveled to evaluate strategies for recovery and rebuilding from Typhoon Haiyan. Read Roy's reflections here. Guests experience a hymn sing at the home of Becky and Harry Rhodes from Central Church of the Brethren. - Brethren workers Eric Miller and Ruoxia Li, who work with hospice and hospital care in Pingding, China, led a group of Chinese health care professionals as they visited elder care and hospice facilities in Virginia. The group was hosted by Church of the Brethren members Harry and Becky Rhodes. Learn more about their visit. - The Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, where Global Mission workers Robert and Linda Shank are serving in North Korea, was recently featured in a news program on BBC. The program can be seen here:www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JRtFyLiOE - The annual pastors' conference of Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) took place recently. Read about theopening worship and the address from Samuel Dante Dali, EYN president and chairman of the Ministers' Council. Photo by Zakariya Musa Service opportunity in North Korea Brethren-supported Pyongyang University of Science and Technology seeks MS+ teachers for the more than 500 undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of plant/animal biological sciences, agronomic sciences, and biotechnology/genetic engineering for the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The university also has schools of Public Health, Electrical Engineering and Computer, and Management and Finance. Spousal appointments are supported. Appointments could be short-term or for multiple semesters, which run from September to December, March to June, and July. Classes are all held in English. Furnished on-campus apartments and cafeteria meals are provided. Global Mission and Service will cover visas, transportation costs, health insurance, and some personal costs. Downtown grocery shopping and some touring services are provided. For more information, contact Dr. Robert Shank, Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, atdrarroz903@gmail.com. We are now screening for the fall semester. Prayer requests Pray for all those living in fear of and with the effects of violence. We especially lift up the people of South Sudan and Nigeria and members and leaders of Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Pray for the work and the safety of Global Mission workers Jocelyn Snyder, Athanasus Ungang, Carl and Roxane Hill, and Carol Smith. Pray for the groups traveling to Haiti this spring, for God's work to be done and strong relationships to be built. Pray for Global Mission workers Ilexene and Michaela Alphonse as they manage the many activities of the Church of the Brethren guesthouse and ministry center. Pray for people and communities affected by national court rulings in the Dominican Republic and in India. To remember these and other prayer concerns, please print and distribute the March 2014 Global Prayer Guide.
"Minute for Mission" is published by Global Mission and Service, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039 ext. 362; www.brethren.org/partners © Church of the Brethren Church of the Brethren is a non-profit religious and educational organization recognized by the Federal and State governments. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. Share this message with a friend