Lots to Learn: Board of World Mission 2022 Annual Report

LOTS TO LEARN

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR

Thomas Baucom BWM Board Chair

Ithink I am going with M tonight, or maybe T,” I would exclaim after dinner, my mind already anticipating the subjects that would arise from that particular volume of the World Book Encyclopedia. Our family had recently received a set of the gold bound books after my grandparents lost their set in a flood and had given us the replacements. I was fascinated! Each volume offered a rapid-fire, high-level overview of topics only found together because they happen to start with the same letter.

Long before Google, Siri, or Wikipedia, the encyclopedias made me increasingly aware that there was a nearly infinite amount of facts, theories and ideas to learn and process. That time was magical for me and I cannot help but reflect on the fact that today, we have the majority of recorded human knowledge accessible to us in

real time. However, it seems that the more we learn, the more we realize what we do not know.

Growing up in the Moravian Church, I knew that education had been a core value since the founding of the church, and that Bishop John Amos Comenius is considered to be the father of modern education. Today, it is humbling to see how education and learning is at the heart of many ministries of the Board of World Mission. From the medical education of the doctors and staff at the Ahuas Clinic in Honduras to the talented teachers in classrooms in Ngiehun, Sierra Leone, I am thankful for the gift of education.

It is my hope that you will read this annual report as we celebrate the ministries of the Board of World Mission and be inspired to learn more. There truly is “lots to learn!”

The board and staff of the Board of World Mission thank the contributors who provided articles, information, photographs and other material for this year’s Annual Report.

Originally published as a special section of The Moravian Magazine, this Annual Report is also available in digital format from the BWM.

©2023, Board of World Mission. Visit us at www.moravianmission.org.

TODAY, IT IS HUMBLING TO SEE HOW EDUCATION AND LEARNING IS AT THE HEART OF MANY MINISTRIES OF THE BOARD OF WORLD MISSION.

Design by Mike Riess, IBOC

A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR

It seems children soak up knowledge and develop skills simply by experiencing the world around themselves in new—and renewed—ways. Some new experiences lead to immediate success and unbridled joy. Others (example: playing with a bee) lead to a (painful) lesson and a reminder that they still have lots to learn.

In the pages of this annual report I hope you learn a bit more about the ministries of the Board of World Mission. This year offered a chance to support our educational ministries— scholarships, conferences, training resources and so much more. Our staff was able to return to travel and make crucial in-person visits to learn about the current needs of our partners, as well as offer support and encouragement as we formalize strategic plans and direct partnership covenants.

This report offers a snapshot in time—reflecting on the seeds planted by the exploration of new oppor-

tunities for ministry, such as a new formal partnership in Northern Tanzania, a fast-paced response to the needs of Ukrainian refugees and the laying of groundwork for what could be the newest prospective Moravian mission areas in Brazil and Bolivia.

As I look back on the five years I have been Executive Director of the BWM, I can see ways in which we tried bold new things and stumbled upon opportunities that allowed certain endeavors to produce benefits far outpacing our original hopes (see the Moravian Resource Conference section of this report). Similarly, I look back and see how the informal procedures used at the beginning of a partner relationship may have led to some hurdles to overcome as we are left to play “catch up” to scale a program to a larger capacity. These are lessons to heed as we explore new prospective partnerships. So, in both our successes and our challenges…the BWM knows that we have “Lots to Learn!”

THIS REPORT OFFERS A SNAPSHOT IN TIME— REFLECTING ON THE SEEDS PLANTED BY THE EXPLORATION OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY.

Justin Rabbach BWM Executive Director

CONFERENCIA DE RECURSOS MORAVOS

In September 2022, the Board of World Mission held a “Conferencia de Recursos Moravos” (or “Moravian Resource Conference”) in Panama City, Panama.

The group brought together representatives from ten countries, with Moravian delegates representing the Ahuas Clinic; the Costa Rican, Cuban Mission, Honduras Unity, Honduras Missionand Nicaraguan Provinces; the Mission Area of Peru; and guests from prospective new areas of work in Brazil, Bolivia and a small group of Moravians worshiping in Panama.

Conference participants discussed a variety of topics, including: Unity structure, how to plan a Synod, financial administration in the church, leadership as servanthood and more. The BWM distributed physical and

digital copies of the Church Order of the Unitas Fratrum and Our Moravian Treasures and provided guidance on how to use them. The group of 45 delegates and presenters spent four days studying these topics, worshiping together and enjoying fellowship time, including a group tour of Casco Viejo and the Panama Canal’s Miraflores Locks.

This conference was a blessing after more than a year of planning, pre-meetings with delegates to share resources and reviewing responses to surveys about what topics would be most helpful to include in the gathering. Holding the conference in Spanish allowed many delegates to participate for the first time in an event with participants from the broader Moravian Unity. Conversations were held

“THIS CONFERENCE WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY IDEA, BECAUSE NOW THE WORK IN THIS REGION IS STRENGTHENED WITH INCREASED KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND TOOLS.”

Participants at the Moravian Resource Conference display their completion certificates

about the Spanish resources that were already available to be shared and what gaps we still had the opportunity to fill.

Joaquin Muro, president of the Moravian Church in Peru, described his experience this way, “This conference will really help me apply the knowledge gained in my area to have a more united and solid church to continue the work of God.”

Leo Pixley, president of the Moravian Church in Costa Rica, offered, “I have learned so many things that I can take home to help remind the people that Costa Rica is not out there alone, but is part of a big body that covers the whole world, bringing the Gospel to the people.”

“In my view, one important result of this conference will be that all who were there are now

interconnected,” said Bishop Armando Rusindo from Cuba. “And, through us, all our provinces and areas are now also interconnected. This will be tremendously powerful, especially now in the moments where we see the Moravian work in Latin America emerging so powerfully with such great potential. This conference was an extraordinary idea, because now the work in this region is strengthened with increased knowledge, training and tools. In fact, this strengthens Moravian identity and the whole of the Unity.”

The BWM sees this conference as “step #1” in a longer journey to continue the development of leaders and facilitate cross collaboration amongst all our global partners instead of functioning as a “one-way street.” The fruits of this

conference are sure to be felt around the Unity for years to come. We have already seen follow-up youth events, sharing of theological education resources and governance documents, and perhaps most importantly, the continuation of a WhatsApp group that keeps us connected even 6-plus months later through dozens of messages a day sharing joys, concerns, opportunities and challenges of delegates’ churches and communities.

The purpose of the Board of World Mission is to build relationships; it seems that this conference has done exactly that.

“THE FRUITS OF THIS CONFERENCE ARE SURE TO BE FELT AROUND THE UNITY FOR YEARS TO COME.”

Praying together at the conference in Panama.

PARTNERSHIPS IN TANZANIA

In November 2022, Justin Rabbach, BWM Executive Director, and Bishop Chris Giesler, BWM Director of Mission Engagement, traveled to Tanzania with Roberta Hoey, chair of the British Province and Unity Board, and the Rev. Jane Carter, chair of the British Mission Board. They visited the Northern and Western Provinces of the Moravian Church in Tanzania.

During the visit with the Moravian Church in Northern Tanzania (MCNT), the group enjoyed gracious hospitality, spirited worship and visits with a number of congregations, while also attending to some significant business. After a year of dialogue, a Covenant Agreement was drafted and subsequently approved by the BWM Board of Directors and the MCNT Provincial Board. This agreement formalizes a new partnership in ministry with

the goal of working closely to build a Christian witness in each of our contexts through frequent collaboration, consultation and prayer. We held a formal signing ceremony via Zoom on March 30, 2023.

As of 2021, MCNT had 26 congregations, eight outstations, 34 ordained ministers and a total membership of 5,482. They will hold their next provincial synod in November 2023, at which they hope to elect their first bishop.

In the Moravian Church in Western Tanzania (MCWT), BWM staff strengthened an existing partnership through visits to congregations, schools and other ministries, including a large medical clinic in Sikonge, where the BWM and Central Moravian Church Mission Committee have a long-standing partnership. The hospital continues to do outstanding work, providing medical care to underserved populations with services including a drop-in clinic, leprosy ward, HIV clinic, pharmacy and vaccination office, along with surgeries and other general medical care.

This visit offered valuable time with our Moravian siblings and opportunities to see the ministries that they feel called to do in their home settings. We ask for your continued prayers for this good and faithful work.

THE BWM CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH PROVINCES IN TANZANIA TO BUILD A CHRISTIAN WITNESS

Representatives from BWM and British Mission Board with Moravians in Tanzania

MORAVIAN DISASTER RESPONSE: HONDURAS

In 2022, unseasonable rains caused flooding across the Caribbean coast of Central America where the Mískito and other indigenous groups live and where the Moravian Church has been sharing Christ’s Good News since 1849. Rains that fell even during the dry season led to the loss of the bean crop early in the year and prevented the planting of rice in the spring. Flood waters which remained high into autumn destroyed the agricultural plots of families that depend on agriculture to feed themselves. Some families were forced to live on one meal of fish each day. Medical staff at the Moravian hospital in Ahuas noted increased cases of intestinal parasites and other waterborne diseases.

The BWM’s Moravian Disaster Response (MDR) mo-

bilized resources and called on partners to help. Feed the Hungry donated a container of pre-packaged food which was distributed by Moravian leaders to the area’s flood victims. A Samaritan’s Purse grant funded the purchase and distribution of medicines to villages where access to medical care is nearly nonexistent. North American donations allowed us to dis-

tribute vegetable seeds, some of them purchased from Seed Programs International. Using a grant from the Reformed Church in America, One Atta Time (a California-based aid organization) sold us water filters for use in the village of Tumtum Tara. We hope that this will be the start of a broader clean water initiative that could help to address chronic potable water problems throughout the region. With donations from North American Moravians, MDR provided bean seeds to about 500 families. Direct financial support helped flood and hurricane victims in Nicaragua and Honduras.

The Board of World Mission has continued to learn that, with broad support from generous North Americans, we are able to help some of the “least of these” in a particularly difficult time.

WHEN RAINS CAUSED MAJOR FLOODING AND CROP LOSS, BWM’S MORAVIAN DISASTER RESPONSE MOBILIZED RESOURCES AND CALLED ON PARTNERS TO HELP

MDR delivered vegetable seeds to help farmers in Honduras.

MORAVIAN DISASTER RESPONSE:

AS OF MARCH 2023, WE COLLECTED MORE THAN $500,000 FOR UKRANIAN REFUGEES. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE INDIVIDUALS, CONGREGATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO HELPED LEAD THE WAY.

Much of Moravian Disaster Response’s work happens in areas struck by natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. However, 2022 brought a disaster created entirely by human activity.

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russian armed forces attacked Ukraine, and soon after the invasion began, a mass exodus of families began fleeing for safety, often leaving fathers behind to defend their homeland. Countries surrounding Ukraine were the first to receive refugees, including Germany and the Czech Republic, where there is a significant Moravian presence.

As of March 2023, we collected more than $500,000

to support these refugees. This is nothing short of a miracle. We are grateful to the thousands of individuals, dozens of congregations from all over North America and organizations such as the Armando Rusindo Mission Foundation who helped lead the way.

Disbursements for Ukrainian refugees have

supported the following organizations:

• The European Continental Province helped to distribute funds to the many Moravian congregations in Germany, including Herrnhut, that welcomed refugee families and provided housing, food, clothes, household supplies, language classes,

Donations from North American Moravians help students in Ukraine (above) and assist in turning an old hotel in Nová Páka, Czech Republic into housing for refugees.

UKRAINE AND THE AMERICAS

spiritual nourishment and more.

• The Czech Province distributed funding to the many Czech congregations and the Moravian High School in Hejnice that is welcoming refugees.

• The Moravian congregation in Nová Paka, Czech Republic, has used these funds to renovate apartments for refugees and help a Christian Kyiv-based school set up a campus in Nová Paka. The BWM also sent funding to the original Kyiv campus of this school to support the salaries of two of their teachers.

The BWM has received many thank you notes from these teachers with messages like these:

“I really like that our school is

one big body, a big team. When you are having a hard time, the group supports you and gives you some advice. It is hard to work when the power goes out, especially in the winter when it gets dark a lot earlier, and it’s hard for the kids to see. It’s also hard when there isn’t any heat, and it gets cold in the school.”

“Thank you so much for your generous gifts to help support our teachers this year!  Life in Ukraine has been full and not easy this semester, but God remains faithful, and we thank God for your role. Please keep us in your prayers.”

Additional MDR aid

In addition to supporting Ukrainian refugees, MDR funding provided aid for hurricane relief in the wastern West Indies, Nicaragua and Honduras; tornado relief in Kentucky; earthquake relief

in Haiti; and repairs to one of the MDR tool trailers. Total disbursements from this fund in 2022 amounted to $513,112.

We are humbled by the many gifts that helped save lives and bring comfort to people in desperate need over the past year. In a very real way, this fund allows us to be the Church when it is most needed. Undesignated donations to the MDR fund give us the most flexibility in rapidly responding to emergent needs.

IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING UKRANIAN REFUGEES, MDR FUNDING PROVIDED AID FOR HURRICANE, TORNADO AND EARTHQUAKE RELIEF.

MDR funds help to repair damage from hurricanes.

GLOBAL OUTREACH

IN BRAZIL...

The Board of World Mission is currently exploring the potential for a new mission area in Brazil. In 2020, Brother Mauricio Melo reached out to the BWM from Salvador, Brazil with questions about the Moravian Church. Twoplus years of back and forth conversation deepened the desire of Mauricio to start a Moravian Church in Brazil.

In April 2022, he visited Winston-Salem where he met with Angelica Regalado Cieza to continue the discernment process about whether there could be a Moravian Church in Brazil.

Brother Justin Rabbach, BWM Executive Director, joined virtually.

In September, Br. Melo and his wife, Jucineide, joined the BWM’s Conferencia de Recursos Moravos in Panama to learn more about the Moravian Unity. Since then, Br. Melo has been meeting with a group of people to worship, share about the Moravian Church, host women’s events, offer baptisms and do evangelism.

Br. Mauricio writes:

Here in Brazil, we are in the city of Salvador, state of Bahia. Our first meeting was with four people in our living room on June 19, 2022. On June 26th we celebrated with ten brothers and sisters who were not going to any church. On July 3rd we held a meeting in the hall of the condominium where we

“SINCE THE CONFERENCE IN PANAMA, I HAVE BEEN TELLING THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT THE MORAVIAN CHURCH IS WHAT SUITS US, MAINLY BECAUSE OF WHAT IS “ESSENTIAL...’”

Delegates from Brazil and Bolivia with Unity Administrator Jørgen Bøytler in Panama.

live with 17 people. On August 7th, we started to rent the auditorium in a commercial building, with services every Sunday morning at 9 a.m. We have a time of prayer for Brazil, for Moravians around the world, for missionaries and for current prayer requests. Attendance averages around 30 people, but we often have 50 people between members and some visitors from other denominations. Our church is called: Ministry of Missions ‘Clamor Mundial’ (Global Outcry). We are waiting for your permission so that we can register as a ministry. We intend to register the trade name as “First Moravian Church of Brazil,” and the corporate name “Unitas Fratrum.”

IN BOLIVIA...

The BWM is also exploring the possibility of working with a group in Bolivia that is currently meeting twice a week. On Friday evenings, they gather to share a meal and read scripture together, and on Saturday afternoons, they meet for worship and bible study. The idea of Moravian Essentials resonates with the group and they are looking forward to a visit from the Unity and the BWM to help them discern if the

theology and mission of the Moravian Church is a good fit for all parties.

Br. Hans Frederiksen writes:

“Since the conference in Panama I have been telling the brothers that the Moravian church is what suits us, mainly because of what is “Essential.”

So there are questions on the part of the brothers and sisters about the economic support of the ministry, I have told them that we could present projects and that has also raised expectations (there are already several dreams), and on my part and my family, well, we already want to say that WE ARE MORAVIANS.”

The BWM asks for your prayers of support for these new groups and for wisdom in discernment to find God’s path for these new potential Moravian ministries.

IN PERU...

After the Conferencia de Recursos Moravos in Panama, the Board of World Mission and partners in Peru determined that it would be helpful for the BWM to hold workshops leading up to their synod in August of 2023. The BWM began holding virtual pre-synod workshops with the Peruvian Provincial Board and pastoral body. In March, Rev. Angelica Regalado Cieza and brother Rick Nelson traveled to Chiclayo, Peru to visit the Peruvians, to offer in-person workshops and visit local congregations. Unfortunately, Cyclone Yaku limited the transportation of the Peruvian leaders in Lima so the workshops were hybrid with the three Chiclayo churches meeting in person and the two Lima churches joining virtually.

BWM TRAVELLED TO CHICLAYO, PERU, TO OFFER IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS AND VISIT LOCAL CONGREGATIONS.

BWM’s Rick Nelson (left) and Angelica Regalado Cieza (right), meet with Moravians in Peru.

Education has been a Moravian core value since the founding of the Church in 1457. At the end of 2022 the Board of World Mission launched a new Education Fund,

YOUTH EDUCATION

SINCE OUR EARLIEST DAYS, MORAVIAN HAVE RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO EDUCATION.

LOTS TO LEARN:

which will continue to be a source of funding for Moravian education efforts for years to come. Learn more about our education ministries at MoravianMission.org/Education.

Since our earliest days, Moravians have recognized the importance of ensuring that everyone has access to education. The Board of World Mission supports several ministries that provide education to those who may otherwise go without, due to gender, disability, or other life circumstances. Some of the ways that we have prioritized these values over the past year include:

• Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many of our partners have emphasized that education is a top priority for refugee families who aim to avoid gaps in their children’s schooling and to maintain a sense of normalcy wherever possible. The BWM is

partnering with a school based in Kyiv, as well as the Moravian High School in Hejnice, Czech Republic, which has welcomed Ukrainian students.

• The Moravian Secondary School in Ngiehun, Sierra Leone, is a point of pride for the community, with its students achieving some of the highest grades in the country. The school particularly focuses on removing barriers to education for the girls in their community (photo above).

• Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Palestine works with people with intellectual disabilities, providing rehabilitation and training based on love,

justice and equality. The BWM provides funding for their speech therapy program, which has been successful in helping students communicate with peers, family members and their wider community, even helping some students access education outside of the rehabilitation center.

A FOCUS ON EDUCATION

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION AND CHURCH DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION

The Board of World Mission’s work is based on our calling to love God and our neighbors and to share Christ’s message the world over. We have placed an emphasis on supporting theological education to equip people to share the Gospel message, and then to engage in mission work from their own contexts. Some highlights of this work in 2022 include:

• Our Conferencia de Recursos Moravos (Moravian Resources Conference) in Panama gathered Moravians from all our Spanish-speaking partner areas to discuss history, theology, financial management and mission planning…all in Spanish!

• A new lay minister training program in Labrador addressed the recent shortage of Moravian pastors in that

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Early Moravians like Zinzendorf focused on three educational pursuits: religious topics, secular subjects and vocational training. Vocational training allows people to fill the needs of their communities while also providing for themselves and their families.

The Board of World Mission provides grants for training on a case-by-case basis; some of the 2022 recipients of these grants include:

• Dominga Henríquez Fedrick (photo at left), a medical student in Bilwi, Nicaragua, who was born at the Moravian clinic in Ahuas, Honduras, is committed to working with the medical ministry in La Mosquitia when she finishes her studies. She represents the legacy—and the future —of a 75-year-old ministry that

Mission Province. At the end of the training program, six lay ministers were commissioned (photo above).

continues to save lives and win souls for the Lamb.

• Mohamed Karim and Amara Alpha, teachers at the Moravian Secondary School Sierra Leone, were notified a few years ago that they needed to complete teaching certificates. The Board of World Mission provided the necessary funding while Karim and Alpha taught during the school year and traveled to their classes during vacation periods. They received their certificates in 2022.

WE SUPPORT THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION TO EQUIP PEOPLE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE, AND THEN TO ENGAGE IN MISSION WORK FROM THEIR OWN CONTEXTS.

IN 2022, BWM VOCATIONAL TRAINING GRANTS HELPED PEOPLE TRAIN AS TEACHERS AND DOCTORS FOR COMMUNITIES IN NEED.

CUBA SYNOD

In February, the Cuban Mission Province held their provincial synod in the city of Havana. The synod elected their second bishop, the Rev. Obed Martinez, and also elected a new provincial board, with Rev. Tania Sanchez Fonseca being reelected as provincial president. Please pray for Brother Martinez, the provincial board and all of our brothers and sisters in the Moravian Mission Province of Cuba as they continue to serve God.

Justin Rabbach, Angelica Regalado Cieza and Sylvie Hauser represented the Board of World Mission at the synod and were blessed to spend time with provincial leaders and delegates both in meetings and in fellowship time. Besides elections and legislation, highlights of the gathering included worship

with joyful singing and dancing, summer camp planning and a special Valentine’s Day celebration.

In preparation for this synod, the Board of World Mission offered virtual pre-synod workshops with the Cuban provincial board and church leadership. These workshops followed up on topics discussed at the 2022

Conferencia de Recursos

Moravos in Panama and shared information about synodal processes and elections, as well as financial reporting and presenting provincial budgets. Church leaders had the opportunity to ask questions about the Book of Order and normal procedures of synod. We are currently also providing these workshops to the Moravian Church in Peru, who will hold their national conference in August.

IN ADDITION TO SENDING REPRESENTATIVES TO CUBA, THE BOARD OF WORLD MISSION OFFERED PRE-SYNOD WORKSHOPS TO PREPARE THE CUBAN PROVINCIAL BOARD AND CHURCH LEADERSHIP.

Cuba Synod delegates pray for newly elected bishop Obed Martinez.

COSTA RICA

This update on the Moravian Church in Costa Rica was written by Brother Will Cuthbert, a lay leader in the church who attended the Moravian Resource Conference in Panama. September 2022 will always be considered a turning point for our Moravian Churches in Central America, and especially in Costa Rica. The Moravian Resources Conference was an extraordinary plan by the BWM that offered different workshops on themes that are very important for the survival and good functioning of the different areas in our churches.

For Costa Rica, it has been a true blessing. We had the opportunity to meet other Moravian Church leaders in the region and the workshops helped us organize our ideas and look towards the future and unity of our church.

Our response to the conference was immediately positive, so we extended an invitation to Br. David Sommers, who has been blessed with great talent, to visit Costa Rica and offer a workshop to help our youth understand and interpret the Bible through art. He gave a terrific presentation on the theme of the Parable of the Sower. This event was held in

December of 2022 in two different Costa Rican churches and it was a great blessing. Several young people were so inspired that they gave their lives to our Lord Jesus. The BWM sponsored this project, covering Br. David’s travel expenses and the workshop materials.

Looking ahead to December 2023, we are planning an international bible study. It will be a two-day

camp for young people and leaders to gather and praise God. The bible workshops will help our youth on their daily walk with God.

May God bless each member of the BWM. They are doing wonderful work for the Lord and the vision they have for the present and future of the worldwide church is making a positive impact on Moravians all over the world. God bless you all.

FOR COSTA RICA, IT WAS A TRUE BLESSING...THE WORKSHOPS HELPED US ORGANIZE OUR IDEAS AND LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE AND UNITY OF OUR CHURCH

(Top) David Sommers leads a youth workshop in Costa Rica. (Left) Will Cuthbert and Leopold Pixley sing during the resource conference in Panama.

NEW LEADERSHIP IN LABRADOR

BWM HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE MISSION PROVINCE IN LABRADOR SINCE 1980. TODAY, THEY’RE HELPING DEVELOP AND TRAIN LOCAL LEADERSHIP FOR MINISTRY.

The BWM has worked closely with the Mission Province in Labrador since 1980, and is currently facilitating the development and training of local leadership for ministry.

Realizing the shortage of active lay ministers in Labrador, their 2021 provincial synod called for the training of new church leaders.

Bishops Paul Graf and Chris Giesler, who attended the synod, agreed to coordinate the training along with Rev. Jason Andersen. In January of 2022, the training began with six sisters and brothers using the book Our Moravian Treasures: A Manual for Theological Education in the Unitas Fratrum as the textbook for the course. The group met for ten sessions, studying Moravian history, heritage and practice, and received instruction on the meaning and administration

of sacraments, pastoral care, bible study and preaching skills, conflict resolution and church administration.

In August 2022, Bishops Paul and Chris traveled to Labrador to commission these new lay ministers in their congregations. While there, the bishops also had the chance to visit the chapel servants and lay ministers in Nain and Makkovik.

In addition to these new lay pastors, we are excited that McKinley and Darlene Winters of the Hopedale congregation are continuing their seminary studies via distance learning at Queens College in St. Johns, Newfoundland, and Moravian

Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pa. They plan to complete their studies in 2024, when they will be ready for ordination.

Bishops Paul Graf and Chris Giesler (center) with Moravians in Labrador.

GROWING IN SIERRA LEONE

The Mission Area of Sierra Leone has continued to grow under the leadership of its Provincial Acolyte, Sister Safiatu Braima, with the support of the Mission Committee of the Little Church on the Lane in Charlotte, N.C.

In addition to their congregations, the Moravian Secondary School is still expanding with a current enrollment of over 900 students! The National Board Examinations for the region were held there, bringing high recognition to the school and village, and students of the Secondary School continue to earn some of the highest test scores in the country.

Sister Safie has also organized and empowered the women in her village.

Each of the nearly 90 women participants have contributed some funding to allow the group to establish a bank account. Women now have the opportunity to present ideas for new business ventures; the fund then makes loans to the selected women, who agree to return 10 percent of the loan back to the fund each month. This program enables women to start small

businesses, such as selling rice at town markets. It is doing amazing things in the lives of local women and the community as a whole.

The BWM thanks the members of the Sierra Leone Mission Committee who work tirelessly to support this mission effort and keep us all informed about their progress.

IN ADDITION TO SIERRA LEONE’S GROWING CONGREGATIONS, THE MORAVIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL THERE IS STILL EXPANDING, WITH A CURRENT ENROLLMENT OF OVER 900 STUDENTS.

MISSION CAMPS

The BWM has long been part of the thriving mission camp program at Laurel Ridge, which brings youth groups from throughout the Southern Province to the camp to do mission projects at the homes of local people in need. They typically hold four week-long camps, allowing congregations and other groups to pick the dates that best fit their schedules.

THE BOARD OF WORLD MISSION HAS EXPANDED THE MISSION CAMP CONCEPT TO INCLUDE LAUREL RIDGE, MT. MORRIS AND CAMP HOPE

In 2021, the BWM expanded this concept to the Mt. Morris Camp and Retreat Center in Wisconsin and in 2022, we added the Hope Conference and Renewal Center in New Jersey. In both of these settings, volunteers of all ages are invited to spend the week at camp and help prepare the facilities for the coming summer camp and conference season.

The BWM will continue to help support these programs at all three camps. We encourage interested volunteers to go to MoravianMission.org/ServiceCamp/ to learn more about the Mt. Morris and Camp Hope opportunities and to visit the Laurel Ridge website to learn more about their mission camp.

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOARD OF WORLD MISSION?

Follow us on social media and see updates on our website!

Website: MoravianMission.org

Facebook: Board of World Mission

Instagram: @moravianboardofworldmission

TikTok: @boardofworldmission

Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter!

Contact Sylvie Hauser, Director of Communications and Development, at sylvie@ moravianmission.org or (920)495-8995 if you would like to receive the quarterly newsletter. You can also find the sign-up link at the bottom of our website.

Contact us about engagement opportunities!

If you are feeling called to engage in mission, we would love to tell you about current opportunities and dream up new possibilities together. We also want to hear about and support the good work that you are already doing! Contact Rt. Rev. Chris Giesler, Director of Mission Engagement, at chris@moravianmission.org or (610)868-1732. You can also nominate individuals, congregations, or other Moravian groups for mission service awards at MoravianMission. org/Awards.

Did you know that the Board of World Mission provides weekly preaching resources?

Become a recurring giver to receive quarterly postcards!

Go to MoravianMission. org/Give, click the big green button, enter your donation information, and then select “Setup automated giving” at the bottom of the form. Choose any giving level and frequency, and we will send you a postcard each quarter with a photo and a meaningful story. Thank you for supporting the ministries of the Board of World Mission.

The BWM’s preaching resources provide a mission reflection from Bishop Chris Giesler on one of the assigned lectionary texts each Sunday throughout the church year; we post the resources in advance so that clergy can use these resources to prepare sermons. Lay members may also enjoy incorporating the reflections into their devotional time! Learn more at MoravianMission.org/Preaching-Resources.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Since joining the Board of World Mission as the administrative assistant in July 2022, I have had the privilege of being a part of the behind-the-scenes action that makes our mission work possible. While photos of projects and partner visits are shared broadly, a lot goes on behind the scenes in the office to ensure that our work is successful.

If you were to visit me in our office in Bethlehem, Pa., you would most likely find me behind the computer, carefully entering and tracking donations. We make sure each donation is used for its intended purpose. The generosity that

I am blessed to witness on a daily basis is truly heartwarming. The donations received in the mail are often accompanied by heartfelt letters which are filled with Christian love and encouragement.

Each financial gift we receive allows the BWM to grow our impact and allows our global partners to dream bigger and be even more creative as we accompany them in this work. The list of new project ideas being discerned, funded and completed is ever changing. Please visit our website at moravianmission.org/ give to learn more about our work and how you can help.

WORDS OF THANKS

In 2022, the BWM staff saw the departure of two of its members:

We are deeply grateful for Sister Jill Kolodziej’s 12 years of faithful service to God’s mission through her work as the BWM’s director of Mission Service.

Jill began her work with the Board of World Mission in 2010 and, since then, engaged individuals in cross-cultural service across the worldwide

Unity by collaborating between servants and site hosts as well as coordinating servants’ cultural, ecclesial, spiritual and logistical preparation. A celebration of her ministry led to the creation of a list of more than 200 folks who Jill helped equip and send “out” in mission. The impact she had on so many lives by offering the opportunity to live out faith in an active way cannot be measured. Thank you, Jill, for your faithful service!

Additionally, we wish to thank Elizabeth Thiele for the time she spent serving as the BWM’s administrative assistant. We are very grateful

that Elizabeth jumped in with both feet during a busy year: her time with the BWM included hurricane relief projects, the Ahuas Clinic’s 75th anniversary and work to support Ukrainian refugees during the early stages of the BWM’s response. She brought passion and energy to her work in keeping the BWM running smoothly. We wish her all the best as she begins the next chapter of her career.

Thank you, Elizabeth!

“...A LOT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE OFFICE TO ENSURE OUR WORK IS SUCCESSFUL...”

2022 BWM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Thomas Baucom, Chair*

Board Appointed, Southern Province

Joe Jarvis, Finance Committee Chair*

Southern Province

Taylor Wickert, Executive Committee Secretary*

Western District, Northern Province

Betsy Miller*

PEC President, Northern Province

Dan Miller, Vice Chair/ Mission Engagement Committee Chair*

Board Appointed, Eastern District

Clifford Jimmie

Alaska Prov. Board President

Arthur Coolidge

Alaska Province, Advisory Member

Sue Koenig

Eastern District, Northern Province

Andrea Peart-DeFlaviis

Eastern District, Northern Province

Lisa Pampe, Mission Outreach Committee Chair

Western District, Northern Province

Trina Holmberg

Canadian District, Northern Province

Dion Christopher

Southern Province

Neil Routh*

PEC President, Southern Province

Cynthia Campbell

Mission Society of the Southern Province

Jeremy Francis

EWI Province, Advisory Member

Charmane Daley

Jamaica, Advisory Member

David Miller

Unity of the Brethren

Rex Knowlton Treasurer, Advisory Member

* member of Executive Committee

Board of World Mission board and staff members at their semi-annual meeting in fall 2022.

2022 BWM FINANCIAL REPORT

The Board of World Mission (BWM) is grateful for the continued support provided for the ministries and mission work of the North American Moravian Church. The accompanying graphic outlines where the contributions for our efforts

Support and Revenue

For the year ended December 31, 2022 (unaudited) Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church

are gathered and how these funds are used to support our mission.

Much of the support of the BWM comes from the Northern and Southern Provinces. This reflects, in part, a portion of each congregation’s weekly giving. Collectively, this accounts for 38 percent of the income entrusted to us for 2022. The Society for Promoting the Gospel provides 15 percent; the Southern Province Mission Society and the Larger Life Foundation each provided 2 percent. Various unrestricted gifts and specifically designated contributions accounted for another 8 percent of our 2022 support.

Investment returns were hit hard this year, and given an unrealized loss, our unrestricted funds did not contribute to our operating revenue, but detracted 30 percent this year. Our investments are held for the long-term and like many other agencies and individuals in 2022, we felt the harsh impact of a brutal market this fiscal year. Thanks to many past supporters we have established several restricted funds which were used to support 4 percent of our ministry this year.

Southern, Alaska Provinces

for Promoting the Gospel

Exchange accounts (which are donations for a specific outreach/ministry which BWM oversees or to which we act as a conduit to distribute funds) are excluded from the Income Statement but represent a significant part of our mission work, particularly through the efforts involving the Ahuas Clinic in Honduras and through our Moravian Disaster Response (MDR) Fund. We distributed over $430,000 in 2022 through the MDR including $288,000 going to support ministry in response to the war in Ukraine. Our ongoing support of the Ahaus Clinic in Honduras accounted for exchange distributions of $152,000.

Seventy-eight percent of our 2022 expenditures were applied directly to our ministry. This includes funds providing assistance to many of our brothers and sisters in need as well as extensive onsite ministry provided by our missionary staff and volunteers. The assistance takes many forms as described more fully throughout this report, often including medical management, technology assistance, orphan support, training and a host of other crucial activities, mostly with international global partners.

The general administrative effort which accounts for 15 percent of the expenditures is run through both the Northern and Southern Province with the consistent goal to minimize this expense in order to maximize the work in the field. Travel and in person meetings are up this year as we emerged from pandemic restrictions and accounts for 6 percent of our expenses while Publications and Communications account for 1 percent.

Expenditures

Triggered by the poor market this year we ran a deficit, offsetting in part our surplus from last year. Additional details can be obtained once the 2022 audited financial statements are complete. For more information or a copy of the audited financial statements, please contact Sue Adams (sue@ moravianmission.org) or me (rex@moravianmission. org) in the BWM Bethlehem office. Thank you for your support of this important outreach.

—Rex Knowlton, Treasurer

For the year ended December 31, 2022 Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church

LET’S CONNECT!

See our latest updates at www.MoravianMission.org. Please contact sylvie@moravianmission.org if you would like to receive our quarterly newsletter, or sign up at the bottom of our website.

And be sure to follow us on Facebook (Board of World Mission), Instagram (@moravianboardofworldmission)and TikTok (@boardofworldmission).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE BOARD OF WORLD MISSION

In order to truly make an impact and grow ministries around the world, the Board of World Mission counts on our generous and committed donors to expand the capacity of our ministries.

Those in the US can send checks to: Board of World Mission 1021 Center Street Bethlehem, PA 18018. You may also make your donation online at http:// moravianmission.org/give/.

Canadians can send checks to: Moravian Church in Canada 600 Acadia Drive SE Calgary, AB T2J 0B8 Interac e-Transfer donations may be sent to treasurer@ moravian.ca. In the comments section, please include your name and address to receive a tax receipt.

THE BOARD OF WORLD MISSION STAFF IS HAPPY TO HELP YOU ENGAGE FURTHER WITH OUR WORK

BWM Staff (l to r): Angelica Regalado Cieza, Chris Giesler, Sylvie Hauser, Sue Adams, Justin Rabbach and Rex Knowlton

Justin Rabbach

Executive Director justin@moravianmission.org

Sue Adams, Admin. Assistant sue@moravianmission.org

Rt. Rev. Chris Giesler, Director of Mission Engagement chris@moravianmission.org

Sylvie Hauser, Director of Communications and Development sylvie@moravianmission.org

Rev. Angelica Regalado Cieza Director of Mission Outreach angelica@moravianmission.org

Rex Knowlton, Treasurer rex@moravianmission.org

Rick Nelson Mission Consultant rthornel2003@yahoo.com