“How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” ~Psalm 133:1, ESV
As 2025 draws to a close, we remember how good and pleasant it has been to gather together—in body, mission, and purpose. Through the ministry of the Church of the Brethren, we celebrate all that we have accomplished together this year. The following list gives just a glimpse of ministries that extend far beyond the numbers.
Growing as courageous disciples
Discipleship and Leadership Formation held a LEAD webinar with 76 people in attendance.
Intercultural Ministries organized 16 dynamic gatherings in partnership with agencies, speakers, and districts, bringing together more than 500 participants.
The Office of Ministry supported 24 ministers seeking advanced ministerial training and continuing education, provided training for 74 ministers at a pre-annual conference event about disability and accessibility in the church, and hosted the clergywomen’s retreat that provided a time of reflection and rest for 73 ministers.
The Ministry Assistance Fund provided financial support for 5 ministers experiencing unexpected emergency expenses.
National Older Adult Conference welcomed 502 people onsite and several more virtually.
The Part-time Pastor; Full-time Church program led in-person and virtual events for 96 pastors in total.
Youth and Young Adult Ministries hosted 3 events for 190 participants and leaders.
Loving and serving one another
Brethren Volunteer Service on-boarded 17 new volunteers and supported 43 volunteers in total throughout the year.
Children’s Disaster Services coordinated 6 response efforts with 57 volunteers serving 83 days and serving 736 children, and held 5 level one trainings with 13 trainers and 71 participants and 1 program manager training with 8 participants.
Global Mission gathered with the Global Church of the Brethren Communion 7 times virtually, hosted 9 international guests at Annual Conference, and hosted or presented at 5 equipping sessions and events.
Global Food Initiative provided 8 grants to partners in 7 different countries and 8 grants to churches in the US.
Global Response emergency disaster grants provided support to churches and partners in 10 different countries.
FaithX served at 9 locations with 165 participants from 26 congregations and 22 non-profit organizations.
Brethren Disaster Ministries' Rebuilding Program volunteers, totaling 450 at 3 locations, served 30 families for more than 60,000 hours.
Extending generosity and witness
Messenger magazine featured more than 120 writers and referenced more than 95 congregations in its pages over the course of the year.
Newsline shared 309 stories with more than 8,000 subscribers.
Office of Peacebuilding and Policy shared in leadership of at least 6 events, and convened or contributed to 9 policy working groups related to immigration, creation care, and peacemaking around the world.
Stewarding God’s blessings
Brethren Historical Library and Archives received 47 unique collections, welcomed 30 visitors, and addressed 183 inquiries.
Material Resources staff led 13 groups totaling 94 people to pack more than 1,000,000 lbs and ship over 1,600,000 lbs of kits, quilts, and medical supplies, and the ministry’s semi-truck traveled nearly 15,000 miles.
Organizational Resources partnered with 8 organizations and non-profits for the full year.
All of these things and many more have been possible through your partnership.
Please consider a year-end offering to the Church of the Brethren. Your support sustains all of our ministries. Together we continue the work of Jesus in the neighborhood.
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This email was produced by the Mission Advancement Office of the Church of the Brethren.
The Church of the Brethren is a nonprofit religious and educational organization recognized by federal and state governments. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Photos by Marissa Witkovsky-Eldred, Sharon Flaten, Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, and Kim Boardman.
© 2025
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