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Date: June 10, 2005
Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100 F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL: _CoBNews@AOL.Com_ (mailto:CoBNews@AOL.Com) 
 

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN NEWSLINE
June 10, 2005
 
Harrisburg First Church of the Brethren works with other churches against  
drug, gang violence.
 
June 10, 2005 (Elgin, IL) -- Pastors at First Church of the Brethren in  
Harrisburg, Pa., recently received "a touching letter" from a young man who
used  
to attend the Hispanic congregation at the church, located in the South 
Allison  Hill neighborhood. 
 
The letter was written from prison. Repentant for his involvement in gangs  
and drugs after he read news reports of prayer vigils for peace by pastors of
 
the South Allison Hill churches, the young man expressed gratitude for
efforts 
 of those taking a stand. The vigils were begun after shooting deaths on a 
nearby	street corner.
 
Knowing that people are praying for peace in the neighborhood where his  
infant daughter lives with her grandmother touched the writer's life to the 
point 
that he wants to become a counselor for those still involved in gangs,	said 
Belita Mitchell, First church pastor.
 
That change in one young man is emblematic of the kind of transformation  she

is seeing in the neighborhood because of the combined prayers for peace,  
Mitchell said. "It's just another way in which the vigils have touched the  
community."
 
The area has seen an increase in police activity and at least three drug  
busts since the vigils began five months ago. "The Patriot News" reported
that  
the busts broke the grip of the gang that reportedly has had control of South
 
Allison Hill since the mid- to late-1990s. Members of the gang that were  
involved in the drug busts were as young as 10 or 11, the newspaper said.
 
In addition, police officers have asked if they can surveil an alley  
adjacent to the church, where drug deals have been frequent, said Mitchell.
She  said 
she is receiving the news of more police activity "as an answer to prayer,  
giving God praise and glory."
 
Because of the changes that are beginning to be seen in the neighborhood,  
the weekly prayer vigils are being held monthly at different church locations
in 
 the community. The first monthly vigil was hosted May 3 by First Harrisburg 
in  its parking lot. The second was held June 7 at the Peace Garden at the 
Capitol  City Church. "Moving to different locations in the community is 
increasing the	awareness among residents and widening the circle of
influence," 
Mitchell said.	"I anticipate continued strong support and increased evidence
of 
God's  faithfulness."
 
The neighborhood churches also plan ecumenical outdoor rallies for the	
summer that will combine evangelism with the continued work for peace on the 

streets, and neighborhood prayer walking by church leaders. Mitchell said the
 
events will "let the community know...we are praying on their behalf."
 
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.
 
# # #
 
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. 
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