GOT BLEACH? The Necessary Pantry needs our help. Approximately 125 bottles of bleach are required each month to meet the needs of those that rely on the pantry for supplements. Many of us are blessed to have a different cleaner for every part of the house. People utilizing the pantry often need to stretch a single bottle of bleach for laundry, household cleaning and other uses. An empty bottle of bleach has been placed in the narthex. As you are able, please fill the bottle with any loose change or bills. Donations will be used at the end of the month to purchase bleach for the pantry.

FOOD PANTRY

Thank you to those who continue to donate items for the Food Pantry. Our congregation donated 60 items in May that helped serve 114 families (223 people) and 162 items in June.

Brethren in Mission around the world

Nigeria

Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN), the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, is the largest national body of Church of the Brethren in the world, with over 180,000 members. The energy and vitality of the membership has resulted in active evangelism and church planting efforts within Nigeria and recently to other neighboring countries.

A key body within the life of the Nigerian church has been the ZME, or Women’s Fellowship. Most married women become members, and its active programs and presence are seen by many as “the backbone of the church.” ZME choirs are highly visible in congregations and are a central part of worship. Youth programs and numerous other ministries are also active in EYN.

To support the leadership needs of a growing church, pastoral training has been a continuing challenge, as 10-15 new congregations are formed annually. Invitations to the US church to send teachers for key assignments become areas for meaningful partnering in ministry:

· Kulp Bible College, near Mubi, the major training institution for Nigerian church leadership;

· The church-sponsored Comprehensive Secondary School, based on the west end of the KBC and EYN headquarters property; and

· Hillcrest School in Jos, a K-12 school started by the Church of the Brethren and now run by a consortium of missions, providing American-style education for the children of mission workers throughout West Africa and others seeking this educational preparation.

Additionally, leadership development grants from Global Mission Partnerships support over 200 people annually as they prepare for pastoral ministry, graduating 60-70 persons each year for service in the church. The Theological Education by Extension (TEE) program trains over 1,500 people annually in basic Christian education, and results in a more biblically grounded laity as well as prompting some graduates to consider pastoral ministry.

Active programs of wells, health care, and schools- which were central mission ventures since the beginning of mission work in Nigeria in 1923- have been handed over to the Nigerian church for direction and implementation. The Mason Technical School joined with a number of these ministries as the church adapted an integrated community development approach. These church outreach ministries continue to assist communities in some of the more isolated areas of northeast Nigeria.

An annual workcamp builds strong relationships between the Nigerian and US churches. The church in the US also provides staff and financial support through the Core Ministries Fund.

The Brethren Disaster Relief Fund is the 2^nd Mile Offering for August. When disaster strikes, Church of the Brethren Disaster Response provides volunteers to clean up debris and to repair or rebuild homes for disaster survivors who lack sufficient resources to hire a contractor or other paid labor. The presence of these volunteer work teams helps to ease the trauma that is felt in the aftermath of a disaster. If you’ve always wanted to help after a disaster but were/are unable to physically help, this is your chance to help with a monetary donation. Do your part and contribute to this important cause!

Family of the Week Highlighted

In case you haven’t noticed, we are highlighting a family of the week. We are focusing on ways to uplift each family through whatever means God leads you be it through cards, prayers, phone calls, emails, or anything else creative that you might have in mind. Use the mailboxes in the library or send it through the mail. It’s nice to know that your church family is praying for you through that particular week.

CAMP MACK NEWS

ON THE WAY CAMPAIGN UPDATE:

Commitment total: $410,665.58

Gifts received to date: $293,583.49

Capital gifts from churches to date: $64,107.99

COOKIES, COOKIES, AND MORE COOKIES!

A group from our church family met on Saturday, July 24 in the fellowship hall to bake cookies for Camp Mack. Camp had made a plea to the churches for cookie donations to help finish out the scheduled summer camps. The fire that destroyed Becker, unfortunately destroyed their kitchen. With the 1,300 cookies that the group baked, and cookies that other members baked at home, we donated over 1,500 cookies. Great job everyone.

BACKPACKS

We purchased 40 backpacks and school supplies for North Liberty Elementary School again this year. If you would like to help cover the cost of the items, you can place a donation in the offering plate and earmark it backpacks or school supplies.