Date: March 6, 2006 Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford V: 847/742-5100 F: 847/742-6103 E-MAIL: _CoBNews@AOL.Com_ (mailto:CoBNews@AOL.Com)
ISLAND BRETHREN CONTINUE THE WORK OF JESUS By Becky Ullom
March 6, 2006 (Elgin, IL) -- In tents, in homes, in the halls of government, and in the places forgotten by those who govern, from the mountain tops, and in the low valleys: these are just a few of the places where God is working in Puerto Rico through the Church of the Brethren.
Puerto Rico, an island slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island, is home to seven Church of the Brethren congregations as part of the denominationâs Atlantic Southeast District.
For a week in February, a group of pastors from the Church of the Brethrenâs Northern Indiana District visited all seven congregations as part of a trip coordinated by Congregational Life Team staff members Duane Grady and Carol Yeazell. The trip was designed to strengthen connections between churches in the two districts and to deepen knowledge of the ministries taking place in
Puerto Rico.
Cristo Nuestra Paz, Yahuecas: This fellowship is growing and expanding. One of their hopes is to buy additional land for a parking lot. Not only is the current lot too small, it is treacherous after rain.
Iglesia de Los Hermanos, Castaner: Pastored by General Board member Jaime Diaz, this church hopes to baptize five new members this spring. Discipleship cells are flourishing.Iglesia de Los Hermanos, Rio Prieto: This mountain-top church is building a new sanctuary to accommodate 150 people. Pastor Miguel Torres broadcasts a weekly prayer service via radio, and in past years, the congregation has hosted a regional rodeo as an evangelism tool.
Iglesia de Los Hermanos, Vega Baja: This urban church incorporates electric guitars, a keyboard, a small chorus, and even pantomiming into its ministries. Offering significant support to the pastor and to the congregation is their
23-year-old moderator.
La Casa del Amigo, Arecibo: Teeming with energy and life, this congregation meets under a tent. They hope to construct a building in order to protect members from extreme heat and rain. As an evangelism event last Christmas, the youth and young adults of this congregation performed a play about the birth of the Church of the Brethren in Puerto Rico.
Pueblo de Dios, Manati: This congregation hopes to open an after-school mentoring program as a witness to God's immense love and concern.
Segunda Iglesia Cristo Misionera, Caimito: This fellowship is deeply rooted in helping its home community. Each day, lunch is served free of charge to those in need of a meal. Additionally, people can access a doctor, dentist, psychologist, and other services through the Community Center run by the congregation.
--Becky Ullom is director of Identity and Relations for the Church of the Brethren General Board.
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_ (mailto:cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org)
***************************************************************** 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 that Newsline is cited as the source. To receive Newsline by e-mail, write _cobnews@aol.com_ (mailto:cobnews@aol.com) or call 800-323-8039 ext. 260.