March 30, 2006

ELGIN, IL – Disaster Child Care, a ministry of the Church of the Brethren, celebrated a successful training workshop in March, co-sponsored by Shenandoah District of the Church of the Brethren and Montezuma Church of the Brethren in Dayton, Va.

The Level I Disaster Child Care (DCC) Training Workshop on March 10-11, was organized by Patricia Black. It "was a huge success with 21 persons participating," said Helen Stonesifer, coordinator of the program. Leadership for the workshop was provided by Patricia Ronk of Roanoke, Va., and Donna Uhlig of New Enterprise, Pa. Both currently "wear several hats" with DCC, Stonesifer said.

Taking part in Disaster Child Care "is something I feel very personally and spiritually about," said Carol Yowell, a mother of three, who participated in the training. "I've been wanting to do this for some time now." Once the participants successfully complete the DCC certification process, they will be equipped to serve children affected by disaster.

Stonesifer and DCC volunteers Jean Myers and Donald and Barbara Weaver also participated in a Camp Noah training in Minneapolis, Minn. Camp Noah is a week long, faith-based day camp offered for elementary-age children and youth who have experienced disaster. The curriculum is based upon the Old Testament story of Noah's Ark and the flood.

"Hearing this story and comparing themselves to it gives the children the platform to talk about the various phases and emotions of their own disaster experience," Stonesifer reported. "Camp Noah and the Disaster Child Care program have the same interests at heart when it comes to helping children cope with disaster."

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