September 2, 2005

ELGIN, Ill. – The Church of the Brethren was called to prayer for those affected by Hurricane Katrina as the situation in New Orleans seemed to fall into chaos and anarchy, survivors in other areas of the Gulf Coast waited for relief, and thousands more National Guardsmen were called in to the disaster area.

"First and foremost, keep the families and individuals in prayer, who have needs we can't even begin to fathom," said Ronald Beachley, moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. "Think of those people," he urged, "and allow the Spirit to minister through the people who are helping on the ground."

In addition to prayer, Beachley encouraged the Brethren to "contribute financially. Take up a collection," he said. "Also I encourage them to make the Gift of the Heart kits. Certainly we can do those few things right now. We can't volunteer because of the conditions of the moment," he said, calling on Brethren to remain alert to volunteer opportunities as they become available in the future.

In a new service, put in place this afternoon, donations to the Church of the Brethren General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund can now be made online at http://www.brethren.org/, click on "Responding to Hurricane Katrina." The fund supports the work of Disaster Child Care and Emergency Response/Service Ministries. Checks also may be mailed to 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 (payable to "Emergency Disaster Fund," write "Hurricane Katrina" on the memo line).

Gift of the Heart Health, Baby, School, and Kids Kits will help survivors with necessary items for personal hygiene, infant care, return to school, and play items for individuals, families, and children who have lost everything. Kits are distributed from the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor on behalf of Church World Service. For information about making Gift of the Heart Kits see http://www.churchworldservice.org/, click on "Tools, Blankets, and Kits."

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.

Church of the Brethren Newsline