wfn.org | Newsline: Brethren grants support ecumenical build in Iowa, assistance in Cambodia, India, Haiti

[CoBNews <CoBNews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl Brumbau gh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

BRETHREN GRANTS SUPPORT ECUMENICAL BUILD IN IOWA, ASSISTANCE TO CAMBODIA, I NDIA, HAITI

(Dec. 18, 2009) Elgin, IL -- Recent grants from two Church of the Brethren  funds--the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) and the Global Food Crisis Fund (G FCF)--total $40,200. The grants support an ecumenical rebuilding project in  Iowa, reconstruction and food relief in Cambodia, work at the Rural Servic e Center in India, and a children's program in Haiti.

An EDF grant of $25,000 will support a rebuilding project in Cedar Rapids,  Iowa, scheduled for April 12-May 21. The need for rebuilding of homes conti nues more than a year after severe flooding affected the state in June 2008 .

Brethren Disaster Ministries is joining with Church World Service and other  denominations in an ecumenical rebuilding effort. Brethren Disaster Minist ries will take a lead role in the project by committing additional staff an d volunteer time. The Brethren grant will purchase building materials, tool s, and supplies, and undergird volunteer support, travel expenses for addit ional project leadership, and equipment.

The Church of the Brethren Northern Plains District reports that the projec t will involve working through two local programs: the Linn Area Long Term  Recovery Coalition and Block by Block. Several people from the district par ticipated in a planning meeting on Nov. 16-17 in Cedar Rapids, including Di ck and Karen Williams, district disaster response coordinators; Jim Goodric h, pastor of Cedar Rapids Brethren/Baptist Church; and Tim Button-Harrison,  district executive. Also present was Zach Wolgamuth, associate director of  Brethren Disaster Ministries.

In other grants from the church's Global Food Crisis Fund, $7,500 has been  given to Church World Service (CWS) for reconstruction in Cambodia followin g a typhoon in September, in addition to a $15,000 grant from the EDF made  in October; $5,000 will assist the Rural Service Center at Ankleshwar, Indi a, which has connections with the Church of the Brethren; and $2,700 has go ne to a children's educational agriculture program in Haiti, "Coordination  des Enfants pour le Progrès Agricole et Educationnel de Bombardopolis." T he program provides children the opportunity of working in school vegetable  gardens in return for having their school fees paid in part or in full.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing 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 t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 125,000 members across the Unit ed 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
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org