wfn.org | Newsline: Shepherd's Spring opens new Heifer Global Village

[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

SHEPHERD'S SPRING HOLDS GRAND OPENING FOR HEIFER GLOBAL VILLAGE

(May 7, 2009) Elgin, IL -- The public is invited to the grand opening celeb ration of a new Heifer Global Village at Shepherd's Spring in Sharpsburg, M d. The celebration takes place May 9 from 2-4 p.m. Admission is free.

Shepherd's Spring is an outdoor ministry center of the Church of the Brethr en's Mid-Atlantic District, providing summer camp programs and retreat and  conference facilities. The district has worked closely with Heifer Internat ional,--a nonprofit organization originally begun by the Church of the Bret hren dedicated to ending world hunger and poverty--to bring the Heifer Glob al Village experience to Shepherd's Spring.

Through programs designed by Heifer International, the Heifer Global Villag e raises awareness of hunger and poverty by giving participants a first-han d experience of the daily struggles that people in poverty face every day t o simply feed their family a meager meal. By living the lessons of poverty  first-hand, participants come to understand the complications surrounding h unger and poverty and see their connection in creating change that brings p ossibility and hope to millions around the world.

During the grand opening celebration, visitors will take a guided tour of t he Heifer Global Village featuring homes representing Kenya, Guatemala, Moz ambique, and the Appalachian region of the US. Volunteers will offer guests  food samples, such as tortillas eaten in Guatemala, and cashews from Mozam bique. Attendees will learn about the Global Village programs and about Hei fer International's work as they meet several of the animals that Heifer pr ovides to struggling families around the world including goats, pigs, and o ther traditional farm animals.

Education has long been an important part of Heifer's mission. Heifer lives  its mission by sharing the knowledge that it has gained in 60 years of fig hting global hunger and poverty. Since 1944, when it began as the Church of  the Brethren program Heifer Project, Heifer International has provided liv estock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives  of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income.

Every gift of an animal provides benefits such as milk, eggs, wool, and fer tilizer, increasing family incomes for better housing, nutrition, health ca re, and school fees for children. Recipients then "pass on the gift" of off spring of their cows, goats and other livestock to others.

For more information about the celebration visit www.Shepherdssspring.org o r contact shepherds.spring@juno.com or 301-223-8193. For more information a bout Heifer International visit www.heifer.org or call 800-696-1918.

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 more than 125,000 members across the  United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nig eria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

># # #

>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