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Brethren Mission Fund

MISSION STATEMENT

 “With the salvation of souls around the world as its chief aim, the Brethren Mission Fund provides a channel through the Brethren Revival Fellowship to help resource sound Brethren mission work or Brethren workers wherever the gospel of Jesus Christ is being presented.”

BMF News

Christina Lehigh

Serving with Proclaim Aviation Ministry. Christina is currently on loan as an aircraft maintenance instructor at the School of Mission Aviation Technology (SMAT)

FAA Licenses or Certificates:
  • Airframe and Powerplant Technician, 2020.
  • Private Pilot, 2020.
  • Commercial Pilot with Instrument Rating.
  • Airplane Single Engine Land, 2021.
Links:
  • www.proclaimaviation.org
  • https://smat.edu/
See More

The Last Sheaf BME

The Last Sheaf Building Materials Exchange provides exposure and connection with the community of Lisbon while offering a variety of new, used, and salvaged building materials, tools, and supplies at greatly reduced prices.

Why "The Last Sheaf?"

When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 24:19 (NKJV)

Links:

  • https://lastsheafbme.org/
See More

Dwayne and Kim Fahnestock

Serving with I58 Global, a non-profit, para- church organization serving refugees in Greece and Germany. 

“Through daily tasks including housing allocation, education, and social care, we have the opportunity to work with refugees to provide basic relief, build relationships, respect their humanity, and offer hope for a new start.” (i58global.org)

Links:

    • i58global.org
See More

Venezuela CoB Annual Conference

   The Church of the Brethren in Venezuela planned their 3rd Annual Conference, from March 13-18, 2024 in the city of Cucuta, Columbia.  The conference was to include classes on leadership training and Brethren identity and was the culmination of a Pastor and Theological Training event.  They anticipated about 130 leaders to attend.  Speakers included Bob Kettering and Eric Miller.  The cost of the event was about $20,000 and they made formal requests for financial assistance to the BMF, Brethren World Mission group and the CoB Global Mission group.  After some discussion, the BMF committee agreed to contribute $6,000 toward the event.  

Pat and Karen Myers

The Brethren Mission Fund has been supporting Pat and Karen Myers since February 1999.  Pat and Karen are now members of the New Fairview Church in York, PA.  They served for 18 1/2 years at the Missionary Training College in New Zealand where they served through World Evangelization for Christ (WEC).  However, they are now serving a three year term in the Philippines where they are setting up a mission training school, similar to what they had in New Zealand.  They are serving through International Mission Mobilisation (IMM), whose parent organization is World Evangelization for Christ (WEC).  The BMF committee has decided to keep their level of support at $9,000 for the coming year.  

Links:

    • https://wec-usa.org/

Carissa Myers

   Carrisa Myers is a member of Trinity Brethren Fellowship, Waynesboro, PA, and daughter of Shawn and Teressa Myers.  Carrisa is participating in a short-term mission trip to Kenya, Africa from June 3 – July3, 2024 with Love Africa Mission organization.  She is working with children at orphanages, helping with Bible School and assisting with widows in the community.  The committee reviewed the request and agreed to contribute a one-time gift of $600 toward this work.  

Links:

    • https://www.loveafricamission.org/

Pray

  • That the Church of the Brethren would seek to obey Christ and fulfill the Great Commission.
  • For the missionaries that the Brethren Mission Fund is supporting.

More Prayer Requests

  1. That the Church of the Brethren would seek to obey Christ and fulfill the Great Commission.
  2. For the missionaries that the Brethren Mission Fund is supporting. ​
  3. That the BMF committee will have wisdom in responding to requests. ​
  4. For those people who are serving Christ in areas where there is open opposition to the Gospel. ​Pray for their safety and effectiveness. ​
  5. That there would be coordinated mission efforts during this time of unrest in the CoB. ​
  6. That the COVID-19 pandemic would be stopped, that lives would be saved and people would come to Christ.​
More Prayer Requests

History:

The Brethren Mission Fund has been in existence for over 25-years. In 1998 the BRF decided that it was necessary to create a fund to help stimulate and support sound mission development in the Church of the Brethren. Originally the fund was limited to Brethren mission work or Brethren mission workers. But in 2019, the scope of the fund was broadened, “To allow for consideration, supporting evangelical-minded people who essentially support the historical values of the Brethren as outlined on the Brethren Card but are not official members of the Church of the Brethren.”   

  

The seed money for the BMF came from an offering that was taken at the BRF General Meeting on September 12, 1998, where $4,266 was raised. Since then, an additional $2,435,241 has been contributed to the fund (as of the fall of 2023). About 2/3 of that came from churches, and about 1/3 from individuals. 

 

Over the past 25-years, $2,055,455 has been distributed from the fund (as of the fall of 2023) to support missionaries and mission projects on (5) continents and in (40) countries. About 50% of the monies have gone to support (48) long-term missionaries (those serving 2+ years). About 30% has gone to support Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry programs. The balance has gone to support projects, short-term mission trips and work camps.   

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Christina Lehigh

Serving with Proclaim Aviation Ministry, Christina is currently on loan as an aircraft maintenance instructor at the School of Mission Aviation Technology (SMAT).

FAA Licenses or Certificates:
  • Airframe and Powerplant Technician, 2020.
  • Private Pilot, 2020.
  • Commercial Pilot with Instrument Rating.
  • Airplane Single Engine Land, 2021.

Links:

  • www.proclaimaviation.org
  • https://smat.edu/

Highlights & Horizons

A Day in the Life of SMAT

What does a day in the life of SMAT look like? That’s hard to say, because there is no “average” day, but here is a peek at what you might see if you came for a visit. The students arrive for class at 7am – some bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, others dragging themselves in looking very sleepy. Some days start off with several hours of lecture/theory in the classroom, other days they go straight out to the lab/shop area to practically apply the things they learn in the classroom. Throughout the course of the year, the students work on every single aspect of an aircraft. From riveting to welding, sewing fabric covering and painting to removing and re-installing wings, troubleshooting hydraulic and electrical problems to overhauling an engine, cleaning corrosion off surfaces to taxiing aircraft–touching ever part of the aircraft nose to tail, top to bottom.

When I’m not in the classroom or lab instructing our students, you’ll most likely find me buried in lesson planning, scouring manuals for the most recent information, researching the best real-world scenarios, and preparing airplanes and equipment which may possibly include introducing curious faults for them to develop their troubleshooting skills. At 3:30 the school day is officially over for the students, but many stay later to work on extra projects or finish up labs. It is a thrill to watch the students learn and grow in the very fast-paced learning environment.
Group of Students

These are the majority of our students who graduated this past year and many of them are on a path into missions. I feel so honored and undeserving to have had a little part in these students lives and see them spreading out all over the world to take the love of Jesus to those who have never heard.

Horizons.

As of now, my plan for the future is to continue on at SMAT as a maintenance instructor, however I pray that I will always remain open to God’s leading and stay in a state of “planning to stay, ready and willing to go whenever God may direct next”. I have recently been challenged by James 4:13-14. My prayers is that I would fully value each moment, take full advantage of present opportunities, and be fully invested wherever I am right now and keep taking one exciting year at a time! I am also praising God that I am nearly at 100% of partnership commitments! Thank you to each one of you who continue to faithfully partner with me as I remain in ministry at SMAT. You are having an impact on our students that is flowing around the world!
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In 2023, Brethren Maine Missions (BMM) purchased the Building Materials Exchange.  The Last Sheaf Building Materials Exchange provides exposure and connection with the community of Lisbon while offering a variety of new, used, and salvaged building materials, tools, and supplies at greatly reduced prices.

Why “The Last Sheaf?”

The Last Sheaf is a reference from the Bible where God says:

When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 24:19 (NKJV)

Links:

  • https://lastsheafbme.org/

Highlights:

   GOD is faithful! The sun shines and GOD is with us, the rain comes down and GOD is with us.

 

   Since we’ve taken ownership of the Last Sheaf BME, we’ve made roof repairs, insulated the ceiling, repaired walls, etc. There were times it felt like every step we took there was another thing to fix. 

 

   We have two people on staff (Craig Keeney and Peter Bucher) assisted by a tremendous team of volunteers. We work together to make repairs, do pricing and inventory work, assist customers and more.  Interacting with and helping customers is the highlight of our day. People come with material needs; they need product to build or repair their home. People come with spiritual and emotional needs, as well. We purpose to get to know the individuals who come through our doors in order to share hope, truth, and love.

 

   One individual who had visited the Last Sheaf a couple of times was loud, large, and in charge. He had a “Goliath” personality. He made me quake in my boots a little (maybe a lot). His language was at times not appropriate anywhere, but especially not in a public place. One day he was standing right beside me and was about to speak that which I did not want to hear.  In a very quiet voice, I called him by name and before I could say any more, he apologized and said, “You are right. I shouldn’t be talking like that.”  Then he launched into a spiritual conversation with me. I was totally taken off guard by the change. He has been a different person ever since. Now he is more like a “David” personality. I now look forward to opportunities to speak with him.

 

   Donations of products/materials as well as finances are always appreciated, but the prayers of the saints are as vital a need to the work at the Last Sheaf, as anything.

Just as in biblical times the last sheaves of grain from a harvest were to be left behind to benefit the needy, we are taking leftover building materials, tools, and supplies and making them available at greatly reduced prices to those in need.

Our Mission:

Our mission is to benefit low-income homeowners, and to reduce waste in the environment by repurposing surplus building materials, enabling low income homeowners to better maintain their homes.

Dwayne and Kim Fahnestock

Serving with I58 Global, a non-profit, para- church organization serving refugees in Greece and Germany. 

“Through daily tasks including housing allocation, education, and social care, we have the opportunity to work with refugees to provide basic relief, build relationships, respect their humanity, and offer hope for a new start.” (i58global.org)

Links:

  • i58global.org

I58 Global

I58 Global is a non-profit, para-church organization serving refugees in Greece and Germany. They are committed to equipping volunteers to provide relief and hope to displaced people groups. We served in Germany.  Germany currently hosts over a million refugees and thousands of asylum seekers.  Many refugees whom i58 served in Greece continued to Germany, and in some cases have been able to reconnect with volunteers there!

 

In Germany, where we served, there are two community centers, one in Neustadt and one in Taunestein. The centers are open three to four days per week. During that time, i58 facilitates sports, games, and German classes. Volunteers serve coffee, chai and biscuits to the refugees.

 

Although we spent some time at the community centers, our role was primarily team support.  We mentored young adults, babysat, helped with food prep, maintenance and  spent time in the community centers with refugees.

Dwayne spent one day a week in the Neustadt peace house interacting with refugees.  Another day was spent traveling several hours on public transportation to meet with one of the long term team members to mentor.  The rest of the week Dwayne met with several other people locally, miscellaneous tasks like bicycle maintenance and housing maintenance and just spending time with the team.

 

I, Kim, helped with grocery shopping, met with several of the short term staff girls every week for mentoring and encouragement, kept our household running doing laundry, and cleaning etc., and spent time with the team playing games and interacting and made some food.

Wyatt spent several days a week at the Neustadt community center playing games with 3 boys who came who were about his age. They did not understand each other but used a language app. The game UNO seems universal and there is no need to understand language.

 

Learning to navigate a different culture in a 9 week time period was challenging but good for us. We were grateful to be able to bless the team and we ourselves learned so much and gained new friendships we will always treasure. Gods hand was in the details as He led us there and provided for us to go. We are so grateful we had this opportunity and experience.

THE BOOK OF DANIEL

Captivity… Dreams… Rulers… Fire… Lions… Prayers… Kingdoms. From a dedicated youth to a faithful sage, Daniel’s life stands as an example to follow.  Yet beyond his personal life, God gifted Daniel with a message of future events.  Though difficult to grasp, these events would shape the world for the coming Messiah and the Second Coming of Christ as King.

STUDIES IN LUKE

Luke presents a warmly personal and historically accurate account of Jesus as “the Son of Man.” This course will survey the Third Gospel, with emphasis on the unique events, miracles, and parables of Jesus found in it.

HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

This class will provide a broad overview of general church history. We will then focus on the Anabaptist and Pietist movements, especially as they relate to the formation and development of the Brethren groups. This is a two-part class. Plan to take both parts.

ONE FOUNDATION

This course is intended to lay down a measure in a world where truth is slippery and often subject to interpretation. Where “Christian Values” become a political slogan, and “good people” are our allies despite their faulty core beliefs. Where Facebook “friends” post memes about the power of God, despite a lifestyle that is anything but Godly. In the process we often fight among ourselves, doing Satan’s work for him. The purpose of this course is to lay the measure of Jesus Christ against the cults, religions, and worship in our contemporary world.

THE APOCRYPHA

While Protestant translations of the Bible contain 66 books, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches recognize additional canonical books as well.  Where did these books, collectively known as the Apocrypha, come from and why aren’t they part of our Bible?  How reliable are they, and what value is there in studying them?

STUDIES IN 1 AND 2 PETER

The goal of this class is to acquire a firm grasp of the teachings and themes of these two general epistles. Peter covers topics from salvation and suffering to spiritual deception and the return of Christ. These letters are packed with warnings and encouragements for Christian living.

THE GREAT I AM’S OF CHRIST

A detailed study of Jesus Christ and His relationship to the “I Am” metaphors in John’s gospel. Why did Jesus describe himself in these terms? How do they relate to each other? We will look at spiritual and practical applications to further our Christian growth.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES: AN AMERICAN CULT

Have you ever been visited by someone who said they wanted to study the Bible with you so that you might discover the truth together?  Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to have much in common with evangelical Christians, and they seem to be well versed in the scriptures.  But what do they really believe and how can we effectively witness to those who have been ensnared by this false religion?

THE BOOK OF HOSEA

While we may consider Hosea as one of the minor prophets, his message vividly illustrates the major doctrine in all Scriptures.  The theme of God’s unconditional love is magnified and extended beyond those deserving it.  God expresses tender words towards His erring people inviting them to turn from sin to reconciliation with Him.

CHURCH LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION

This course will look at basic principles and polity of leading the local church. We will examine the balance between upholding a spiritually focused organism of ministry and cultivating proper order for effective organization. Practical applications will be emphasized. This is a two-part class. Plan to take both parts.

STATEMENT OF CONDUCT

The Brethren Bible Institute believes in the discipline of the whole person (spirit, soul, and body). We will aim to train students not only about how to study the Bible in a systematic way (2 Timothy 2:15), but also how to live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:12). God calls Christians to the highest of character when He commands us to be holy (1 Peter 1:15), and holiness requires discipline.

Indulgence in the use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, drugs, profanity, and gambling are forbidden at BBI. Objectionable literature will be prohibited. Students are asked not to use the college pool during the Institute. Each student must be thoughtful, and respect the rights of others at all times, especially during study and rest periods.

A friendly social group intermingling of students between class periods, and at general school activities is encouraged. Each student should enjoy the friendship of the entire group. At all times, highest standards of social conduct between men and women must be maintained. This means that all forms of unbecoming behavior and unseemly familiarities will be forbidden.

Personal appearance and grooming tell much about one's character. Students are expected to be dressed in good taste. In an attempt to maintain Scriptural expressions of simplicity, modesty, and nonconformity, the following regulations shall be observed while attending BBI.

MEN should be neatly attired and groomed at all times. Fashion extremes and the wearing of jewelry should be avoided on campus. The hair should not fall over the shirt-collar when standing, nor should it cover the ears.

WOMEN should wear skirts cut full enough and of sufficient length to at least come to the knees when standing and sitting. Form-fitting, transparent, low-neckline, or sleeveless clothing will not be acceptable. Slacks and culottes are permitted only for recreation and then only when worn under a skirt of sufficient length. Wearing jewelry should be avoided on campus. Long hair for women is encouraged and all Church of the Brethren girls (and others with like convictions) shall be veiled on campus.

The Institute reserves the right to dismiss any student whose attitude and behavior is not in harmony with the ideals of the School, or whose presence undermines the general welfare of the School, even if there is no specific breach of conduct.

The Brethren Bible Institute is intended to provide sound Bible teaching and wholesome Christian fellowship for all who desire it. The Bible School Committee worked hard and long at the task of arriving at standards, which will be pleasing to the Lord. It is not always easy to know just where the line should be drawn and we do not claim perfection. No doubt certain standards seem too strict for some and too loose for others. If you are one who does not share all these convictions, we hope you will agree to adjust to them for the School period, for the sake of those who do. We are confident that the blessings received will far outweigh any sacrifice you may have to make. If you have a special problem or question, please write to us about it. To be accepted as a student at BBI, you will need to sign a statement indicating that you will cooperate with the standards of the School.