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Date: May 26, 2005
Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100 F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL: CoBNews@AOL.Com

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN	NEWSLINE
May 26, 2005

GROWING FAITHFUL DISCIPLES RESOURCE NOW  AVAILABLE TO CONGREGATIONS

May 26, 2005 (Elgin, IL) -- A new Church of  the Brethren resource
for congregations, called "Growing Faithful Disciples,"  has been
distributed to districts following a two-year pilot run in  Middle
Pennsylvania District. The resource on CD is by a broad range  of
writers, including many Brethren, and was developed jointly by
staff of  Middle Pennsylvania and Congregational Life Team (CLT)
Ministries of the  Church of the Brethren General Board.

The resource is available to  Brethren congregations at no cost.
"Each district may choose to distribute  and supplement the
material...in the fashion that best serves specific needs  and
interests," reports Jan Glass King, CLT coordinator for Area 1.  

Developed from an idea birthed at a Middle Pennsylvania  District
Conference, CLT staff responded by creating and compiling  resources
to help shape and strengthen faithful discipleship. Designed  around
four areas of discipleship--worship, community, stewardship  of
God's grace, and missions/outreach--the material includes  Bible
studies, resources for children and youth, small group	studies,
tools for implementation, and hands-on approaches  for
congregations.

"We feel this material, written by a broad spectrum  of Anabaptist
writers, has some unique distinctions which sets it apart  from
other commercially published resources," King said. "Because
faithful  discipleship is an ongoing process, we developed this
resource to be a guide	for a balanced approach to teaching and
modeling faithful living within the  community."

Each unit includes a historical perspective, Anabaptist in  nature.
Congregational process pieces address topics such as worship  teams,
creating safe spaces in a congregation, building and  maintaining
small groups, spiritual gifts discernment, the purpose and  vision
of congregations, and the "missional church" approach.	Resources
include music for congregations and choirs, Internet  resources,
ways to be involved in mission, and resources for inviting  and
welcoming new people. Spiritual formation pieces explore  prayer,
spiritual disciplines, mentor-driven ministry, and  children's
resources. Writers include current and former faculty at  Bethany
Theological Seminary, Brethren pastors, and General Board  staff,
among others.

"Growing Faithful Disciples was not written to be  a quick fix but
has the potential to be the beginning of an examination  of
congregational faithfulness in responding to the question: `How are
we  doing at fulfilling the purpose for which Christ calls us?'"
King said. For a  preview of the resource call 888-411-4275, or
e-mail	jking_gb@brethren.org.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian  denomination committed to
continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply,  and to living
out its faith in community. The denomination is based in  the
Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the  three
Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its 300th anniversary  in
2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the United States	and
Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Brazil,  the
Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nigeria.

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For more  information contact:

Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
Director of News  Services
Church of the Brethren General Board
1451 Dundee Ave.
Elgin,	IL 60120
847-742-5100 ext.  260
cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org

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The  Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl
Brumbaugh-Cayford,  director of news services for the Church of the
Brethren General Board.  Newsline stories may be reprinted provided
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