Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service -- Jan. 17, 2008 Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director 800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org
FALFURRIAS HOLDS CELEBRATION OF 60th ANNIVERSARY OF BRETHREN VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECT
(Jan. 17, 2008) Elgin, IL -- The year 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of a Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) project in Falfurrias, Texas.
Falfurrias Church of the Brethren is holding a celebration of the anniversary on March 8-9. The congregation is inviting former BVS workers, former church members, and friends of the community.
More than 140 BVS volunteers served in Falfurrias between 1948-68. The volunteers helped to build the Falfurrias Church and various farm buildings, and either built or improved the homes of many low-income families in the community.
"Most importantly, BVS volunteers created an atmosphere of goodwill and service, and demonstrated God's love in daily practical acts," said the invitation from pastor Stanley Bittinger. "The Falfurrias community was changed and improved by the Christian witness of the BVS volunteers. Many hundreds of Falfurrias residents were uplifted."
The celebration will include opportunities to meet former volunteers, church members, and old friends, as well as time to share stories and memories, look at pictures, and eat and fellowship. A written history of the work of BVS in Falfurrias will be available, along with pictures of volunteers and directors for the project, and updates of the results of some of the work BVS did in the community.
Brethren Volunteer Service is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren, 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 almost 130,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.
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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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