Title: 'Small Things, Great Love' is theme for Brethren workcamps Nov. 27, 2006 Church of the Brethren News Service Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director 800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org
'SMALL THINGS, GREAT LOVE' IS 2007 THEME FOR CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN WORKCAMP PROGRAM
Nov. 27, 2006 (Elgin, IL) -- Mother Teresa's words, "We can do no great things; only small things with great love," echoed at the Church of the Brethren National Youth Conference this past summer, and have been chosen to provide the inspiration for next summer's workcamps.
The Church of the Brethren workcamp program offers week-long service opportunities across the US and Central America for junior high youth, senior high youth, and young adults. Held in June, July, and August, the workcamps provide experiences that unite service, spiritual growth, and Brethren heritage.
The theme for 2007 draws on 2 Corinthians 9:10, "For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you."
Workcamps will be offered in 35 new and revisited locations such as Kansas City, Kan.; Camp Wilbur Stover in Idaho; Reynosa, Mexico; St. Croix, Virgin Islands; Los Angeles; and Phoenix. Six junior high workcamps, 20 senior high workcamps, one combined junior and senior high workcamp, three intergenerational workcamps, two young adult workcamps, and two combined senior high and adult workcamps will be offered.
The program hopes to draw on the excitement generated at the youth conference and is an opportunity for youth to find out what "Come and See" (the youth conference theme) is all about.
"Workcamps bring youth together to give a week of service, to go outside of their own hometown and into another community to follow Jesus' teaching of 'go and serve,' " said Travis Beam, an assistant workcamp coordinator through Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS).
The workcamp program organized by the church's Youth and Young Adult Ministries began in 1988. The number of participants has grown from 46 in 1988 to 622 in 2005. Recognizing this growing interest, the program has plans for expansion including the addition of office positions--a fulltime staff member as coordinator and additional fulltime volunteer positions. Steve Van Houten is serving as coordinator; Travis Beam, Rachel McFadden, and Amy Rhodes are assistant coordinators.
The program also is planning new offerings for coming years, such as workcamps during spring break and January term for young adults, in conjunction with the Brethren colleges; workcamp opportunities for adults in Sunday school classes and other groups, especially during non- summer seasons; and intergenerational workcamps and family workcamps.
Van Houten emphasized that workcampers must anticipate learning as much as they commit to serving. "We learn as much from the people at these places as we share with them," he said. "We're joining together and walking alongside the people in the communities."
Online registration for the workcamps begins Jan. 3, 2007, go to www.brethren.org/genbd/yya/workcamps/index.html. Promotional DVDs and a printed brochure are available on request--call 800-323- 8039 or e-mail cobworkcamps_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 800-323-8039 ext. 260 cobnews@brethren.org
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