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SPECIAL FEATURE: Board of World Mission Annual Report Full Communion in Wilmington Researching an industrious Moravian And more!
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2013
On the cover: Forsythia flowers herald the coming of spring to Laurel Ridge in North Carolina. Photo by Mike Riess
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Researching an industrious Moravian And more!
Christ and him crucified remain our confession of faith In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love
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Special Feature: Board of World Mission 11 Sustainable Mission: 2013 Board of World Mission Annual Report Full Communion 6 Two Wilmington, N.C. churches illustrate meaning of full communion Moravian History 9 First Moravian members writing biography of accomplished former pastor.
Member, Associated Church Press
Holy Week 31 Readings guide Moravians through Holy Week Moravians in Mission 32 Adopt-a-Village at nine years 34 Transformation in Maidstone, Jamaica
Visit our website at http://www.moravian.org. Letters to the editor, address corrections, and other correspondence may be e-mailed to the magazine at pubs@mcnp.org.
April 2014
In every issue 4 Ponderings: A book reprint gets me thinking spring 37 Book Review: Brethren by Jeremiah Pearson 3
PONDERINGS
A book reprint gets me thinking spring… Should we talk about the weather?
My wife kids me that I write about the weather too often in my “Ponderings.” I’ve grown a little self-conscious about it over the years and have worked hard to ensure she has little ammo to rib me with on this score. But the winter we’ve had—not just here in Bethlehem, but in other Moravian centers like North Carolina, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the mid-Atlantic—merits a few good words and a solid “good riddance.” As I write this in early March, there are still piles of snow on the ground. On a trip to Winston-Salem last week (where I figured the weather would be warmer and I’d escape winter for a bit), we were greeted with a serious ice storm. The term “Polar Vortex” entered our everyday lexicon as the upper mid-West was plunged into sub-zero temperatures on what seemed like a weekly basis. The depths of this winter—and its determination to stick around well past its calendar ending on March 21—makes me welcome any sign of spring with open arms and a gladdened heart. And while the weather may not be cooperating, the church calendar and a recent IBOC project lead me to believe we’re getting closer. With Ash Wednesday right behind us, we’re in Lent—that holiest of seasons in the church year. For the next six and a half weeks, we prepare for the resurrection of the Lord. We prepare for the day (hopefully a sunny Sunday) when we can proclaim “The Lord is risen. The Lord is risen indeed!” Between now and then, congregations meet for special services, join in additional devotions and Bible study and reach out to their communities. One church has developed a Lent-long devotional based on the Moravian Daily Texts. Others bring in special music, songs of atonement and hope and finally celebration. For Moravians across the Northern and Southern Provinces, services for Holy Week hold special meaning and importance in their 4
(ISSN 1041-0961 USPS 362600) April Vol. 45, No. 3 Publications Agreement No. 40036408 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: OnTrac International, 121 5th Avenue NW, New Brighton, MN 55112 email: file@ontrac.com Official Journal, The Moravian Church in North America, Northern and Southern Provinces Published monthly, except bimonthly January-February and July-August issues, by the Interprovincial Board of Communication, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018. Subscription rates: $15.00 per year, U.S.A. & Canada; $18.00 per year, all other countries. Individual copies available for $3.00 each. The Moravian is sent to the families of the Moravian Church as a privilege of membership. Periodicals postage paid at Bethlehem, PA. Circulation: 17,800 Postmaster please send address changes to The Moravian, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245. Continuing The North American Moravian, The Moravian and The Wachovia Moravian. Michael Riess, Editor Renee Schoeller, Communications Assistant Arlene Clendenning, Customer Relations/Business Assistant Interprovincial Board of Communication Paul Knouse, Paul Peucker Chair Adam Pristas Jane Burcaw Richard Sides Jane Carmichael Valerie Wagner Lance Fox Jill Westbrook Gary Kniskern Design by Sandy Fay, Laughing Horse Graphics, Inc. Address all correspondence regarding articles, subscriptions, or advertising to The Moravian, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245 FAX: 610.866.9223 Phone: 610.867.0594 800.732.0591 e-mail: moravianmagazine@mcnp.org www.moravian.org Contents © 2014, Interprovincial Board of Communications, Moravian Church in North America. All rights reserved
The Moravian
faith. From Palm Sunday to Good Friday (and sometimes even into Saturday), congregations follow the final days of Jesus through the words of the Gospel writers and the songs of the church. Readings for Holy Week guides those services. Readings collects passages from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and combines them with pieces of hymns to punctuate the words. (For more on Readings for Holy Week, see page 31.) In late December, we at the IBOC began running low on the most popular edition of Readings. We currently offer three editions—the “regular” edition, with the readings and the words to the hymns; a large print edition of that; and an edition with the readings and the actual music for the hymns. Needless to say, the edition with the music in it is by far our best seller. So when we realized we were almost out (despite having tons of the other editions in stock), we needed to reprint. We were able to resurrect the computer files for the core design; however, the music was a different story. As often happens with archived computer files, the music image files were in a format that none of our machines could still read. Fortunately, in addition to being a church communicator, I am a computer pack rat. My basement is home to nearly a dozen old Apple Macintoshes from the past 20-plus years. And wouldn’t you know it, one of them still had a program that could read and convert the files! The reprints arrived successfully last week. We did make a few tweaks—fixed some graphics and an error in the pagination of the initial printing—but these new copies should feel right at home with their earlier printings. As we worked on the reprint, I had the opportunity to read through the whole book. Despite my best efforts, I have so far been unable to attend an entire week’s Holy Week services, so this was my first time all the way through. To me, it is a wonderful way to read about Jesus’s last days before his death and resurrection. The story comes alive in a spiritual way; the hymns interspersed with the readings give additional meaning and life to the words of the Gospel writers. Reading through it made me look forward to Holy Week services and Easter. And it made me realize that even in the depths of winter, the promise of Easter outlined in this book provides a ray of hope for spring and new life. As you travel the path of Lent this year, I invite you to read a copy of Readings for Holy Week even before Holy Week gets here. I think you’ll find inspiration and peace in the way the book guides us from Palm Sunday to the Resurrection. And reading it early is a reminder that spring—and new life—is on the way! Peace.
Wilmington FAVS photo by Andy Lee
FULL COMMUNION
Two Wilmington, N.C. churches illustrate meaning of full communion When the Moravian Church in America and
the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) joined in a full communion relationship in 1999, both denominations saw opportunities to work together. In February, two Wilmington, N.C. churches joined in a Joint Ministry Worship Celebration that sealed a unique relationship between two congregations—and the two denominations. At the celebration, the Rev. Rachel Connelly, an ELCA pastor and leader of Water of Life Lutheran Church, was installed as the pastor of the Covenant Moravian congregation, too. With this installation, both congregations will share a pastor, the Covenant Moravian building and many aspects of their ministries. However, although Moravians and Lutherans share some similarities in their faith traditions and organize their church year using the same Common Lectionary, the two congregations will hold separate worship services. The Rev. Rachel Connelly is pastor of the Covenant Moravian and Water of Life Lutheran congregations. 6
A growing relationship The relationship between Water of Life and Covenant Moravian has been growing for more than five years. Water of Life began renting space at Covenant Moravian for worship and ministry in the fall of 2008. During the first few years of working with Covenant, Pastor Rachel worked closely with Convenant Moravian’s pastor, the Rev. Tracy Pryor. The two pastors and congregations shared together in Lenten services, youth ministries, and Vacation Bible School. Rachel had also served as the ELCA Church Council liaison to the Moravian Church in North America, and Tracy has served as Co-Chair of the LutheranMoravian Coordinating Committee. In January 2012, Pastor Rachel became the interim pastor at Covenant when Tracy was called to serve Schoenbrunn Moravian Church in New Philadelphia, Ohio. The Covenant Moravian Board and Water of Life Lutheran Leadership Team have been meeting together every other month since August 2013 to share in conversations of asset-mapping and shared ministry. The two The Moravian
boards became united in their thoughts that the congregations could do more together than apart and sought to enter into a Joint Ministry Covenant to broaden the scope of their mission. The Joint Ministry Covenant provides opportunity for the two congregations to grow their youth and family ministry, extend their missional outreach, accelerate staff development plans, and expand music programs. The Joint Ministry Covenant proposed to call Pastor Rachel to serve as pastor to the two congregations and proposed that the congregations keep their separate identities,
boards and denominational associations. The Covenant was voted on unanimously by both churches. Celebrating Joint Ministry “We had a wonderful, Spirit-led day of Joint Ministry Worship Celebration and my installation as Pastor to Covenant Moravian Church on Sunday, Feb. 16th,” says Pastor Rachel. “The sanctuary was filled to overflowing with 187 in attendance including an eighteen-piece brass band from Raleigh Moravian Church.” (continued on next page)
Celebrating the Joint Ministry at Covenenant Moravian are Luthern pastors the Revs. Ron Rinn and Rachel Connelly, the Rev. David Guthrie, Southern Province PEC President, Sandy Collette, Water of Life Lutheran Church president and Charles Baldwin, vice-chair of Covenant Moravian. Photo by Andy Lee.
Members of both congregations join in the celebration of Joint Ministry. Photos by Don Britt.
(continued from previous page) The Reverend Ronald A. Rinn (ELCA) led the Baptismal Renewal and shared comments about the history and conversation that led to the Moravian/Lutheran Full-communion agreement, Following our Shepherd in 1999. The Rev. David Guthrie, president of the Southern Province Provincial Elders Conference, preached and installed Pastor Rachel. The Rev. Bill Milholland of Reconciliation Lutheran Church, Wilmington presided at communion, while the Rev. Judith Justice, a Moravian pastor who is retired and lives in Ocean Isle Beach, was the reader during worship. At the catered meal following worship, greetings were brought from a number of ELCA and Moravian pastors, including Rachel’s father, the Rev. James Connelly. Members of the Southern Province PEC were also present. Covenant Moravian Board vice chair Charles Baldwin, and Water of Life Leadership Team president Sandy Collette also shared a welcome and comments about the excitement that has been a part of this new Joint Ministry Venture. During the celebration, an offering of nearly $1000 was collected to support the Backpack Buddy program which is a new Joint Ministry Outreach that provides weekend meals for children at Bellamy Elementary who are considered nutritionally fragile. ■ Ad Policy for The Moravian — The Moravian accepts paid advertising that is consistent with the magazine’s objectives and editorial convictions as they are stated in the purpose and mission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication. Advertisements for activities, services and products of specific interest to members of the Moravian Church have priority. The Moravian does not accept purely editorial advertisements that advocate specific ideas or issues. Articles, columns and letters to the editor are the appropriate vehicles for the presentation of ideas and issues. The Interprovincial Board of Communication is responsible for the content and design of the magazine, including advertisements. Ad rates and specifications are available www.moravian.org.
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The Moravian
MORAVIAN HISTORY
First Moravian members writing biography of accomplished former pastor “I
consider S. Morgan Smith the pre-eminent industrialist in the history of York County. Five companies today can trace their roots to Smith, yet no one has ever written a biography about him. Why don’t you think about writing one?” Jim McClure, editor of the York Daily Record, presented this challenge to Terry Downs and Steve Nicholas, while visiting First Moravian Church in York, Pa., in 2012. McClure had come to lecture about the Moravians and the Revolutionary War, as part of First Moravian’s 260th anniversary celebration. Downs, a draftsman specializing in historic renovation, and Nicholas, a retired Moravian pastor, were serving as co-chairmen of the anniversary committee. They were chatting with McClure, when the conversation turned to the Rev. Stephen Morgan Smith, First Moravian’s pastor during the Civil War. The Rev. Smith is a fascinating character, and his life raises a number of questions beg-
ging for answers. How did a Southern boy end up as a chaplain in the Union Army? How did a student attending Moravian Theological Seminary get a call to First Moravian Church in York, when the church’s previous pastor had left when elected president of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church? What happened to Smith that he needed to leave the ministry in 1871? How did an ex-preacher, at one time so poor that he could not afford a decent roof over his head, begin a company which became the largest manufacturer of hydroelectric turbines in the world and end up as a wealthy man? (continued on next page) The Rev. Steve Nicholas, D.Min., was ordained in 1967 and retired from pastoral ministry in 2007.
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(continued from previous page) Writing a biography Over the next year, Downs and Nicholas talked about what they would need to write a biography of Smith. While Downs had portrayed Rev. Smith, with whiskers and frock coat, in a first person monologue during worship at First Moravian, they wondered if there were sufficient resources to fill out a portrait of Smith. Downs contacted Rev. Smith’s great granddaughter and was invited to examine her boxes of family papers from Smith. The Southern Province Archives in Winston-Salem, N.C. seemed a likely place to find records from the congregation in North Carolina where he worshiped. They expected to find additional records from the York and Dover, Ohio, Moravian congregations that Smith served, in the collections of the Northern Province Archives in Bethlehem, Pa. In 2013, Downs and Nicholas attended a York County Heritage Trust lecture by a retired engineer from York International (now Johnson Controls), explaining how Smith helped to found that company in 1874 and served as its first president. The Librarian at the York County Heritage Trust shared information that the Trust archives had boxes of material about Smith and the company he founded in 1890. A fascinating character Smith was born in Davie County, North Carolina, in 1839. As a young man he gave his life to Christ during a revival meeting at Macedo(continued on page 36) On the left is the stained glass chancel window at First Moravian Church,York, Pa., the caption reads, “To the the glory of God and in memory of Rev. Stephen Morgan Smith, by his wife, Emma Fahs Smith.”
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The Moravian
Sustainable Mission 2013 Annual Report
BOARD OF
WORLD MISSION of the Moravian Church • North America
...from the board chairman ing both the financial and physical resources for the Board. We have seen a shift toward more involvement by individuals; as a result, the Board has been organizing to empower the Mission work of individuals and groups. We accommodated this shift in the Antioch program; more recently, we developed a t is with great pleasure strategy within the staff that on behalf of the to partner with individuBoard of World Mission als and groups to enhance and the staff, I invite you their Mission endeavors. to share in the Mission A second shift is tostory of your church. This ward developing sustainannual report presents a able mission programs. In summary of our ongoing the past the tendency was endeavors. to establish mission con The field of Missions gregations patterned after is in the midst of several paradigm shifts. First is the the home congregations. Often the expectations of shift from DOING mission to EMPOWERING mission. these mission congregations exceed their capabilThere was a time when ity to support themselves, the Board was primarily which leads to dependeninvolved in implementing cy upon outside support. the mission work of the The entire field of church and congregants Missions is now realizing were involved in provid-
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that for mission endeavors to be effective and lasting they need to work away from dependency and become sustainable. This report will emphasize our effort toward more sustainable mission outreach. As people reaching out in mission, we are compassionate and are called to share the resources we have been given. The tension is to balance our compassion with promoting sustainable mission areas. We continue to work this delicate balance. These two paradigm shifts provide for exciting challenges as the Board of World Mission continues to be the Missions arm of the North American Moravian churches and the Unity of the Brethren. Loren Jendro, Board Chairman
Board of World Mission 2014 Board of Directors Loren Jendro, Chair* Western District, Northern Province Joe Moore, Vice Chair* Southern Province
David Geyer, Secretary* Eastern District Roman Brady Board Appointed/Youth Representative
*member of Executive Committee
...from the executive director
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or the Board of World Mission, 2013 was a year that focused on how we might work together with our global partners to promote sustainability, beginning with our leadership summit of partner provincial chairs held at Laurel Ridge in North Carolina in April. Under the guidance of former missionary and author Jean Johnson from World Mission Associates, we explored how to move from maintenance to mission, decreasing subsidies to partners for basic operations and instead sharing resources to promote leadership development and stewardship training, mission outreach and community/ economic strengthening. Sustainable mission challenges the implica-
tion that recipients are “victims” and donors are “saviors.” It is about respect for each person and using what one has to create what one needs. It is about developing models of ministry that are easily replicated in the local context and preparing capable leaders to carry on the ministry. In this issue we give a glimpse of some of the areas where the BWM is growing with our partners as we apply these principles of sustainable mission. We also provide some guidelines for our congregations because sustainable mission is just as important locally as it is globally. Foundational to all that we do is our call to share God’s love, which requires sensitivity to the context where we
Becky Frey* Eastern District
Donna Hurt Mission Society/ Southern Province
Jack Geis Southern Province Peter Green Alaska Province David Guthrie* PEC President/Southern Province
Kent Laza Unity of Brethren Shirley Louis Western District Betsy Miller* PEC President/Northern Province
are sharing that love and a willingness to create opportunities for people to respond in relation to their own abilities and resources. We on the BWM welcome hearing your own experiences and learning as we grow in promoting sustainable mission in all that we do. The Rev. Judy Ganz Executive Director
Marion Perrin Canadian District Vacant Board-Appointee Errol Connor EWI Province/Advisory Member Joel Landreth, Treasurer Advisory Member
Leadership Development
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ore than 44 churches, church groups and individuals support The Moravian Church of Western Tanzania’s orphan program through Adopt-a-Village. Nearly 3000 orphans in five parishes and 39 villages receive assistance, and more than 300 children are using scholarships provided by the program to continue their education, including 15 who are either at the university or professional schools. The children at Lake Auburn Moravian raised funds to completely
remodel the church at Mtakuja; the structure is beautifully finished. Kavale’s new church will be painted at the end of the rainy season. Churches in Nkeki and Magareza are both roofed and in use; they should be completed in early 2015. Funding from five churches in central Wisconsin purchased 64 text books for the Mkolye secondary school. Money donated to the general education account was used to construct desks and bookcases for the primary school in Kabanga; 13 additional desks have been ordered. The Sikonge Special Needs School has grown to include 52 students and four teachers. In the last year First Presbyterian Church of Durango has purchased 30 chairs, 30 classroom tables, three semicircular demonstration tables, multiple textbooks, a tape recorder, and a special
soccer ball for the blind. Money was left to furnish the new dining hall with the necessary tables, chairs and cooking utensils. A member of Central Moravian Church contributed funds to construct 12 wells and provide secondary education scholarships for the children of the Moravian “Mamas” who are providing orphan care. Evangelism of the Sukuma continues. Musa Ruben’s congregation at Utemuli numbers nearly 75; he is still actively engaged in the village of Mwamulu. Julius Ndauzi now lives in Kondi with his family. Last November, eight infants were baptized and 15 adult Sukuma joined his church, bringing the total membership to 58. Wilijons Daud’s congregation at the new Sukuma Moravian Church in Mabangwe currently has over 250 members. Drs. Bill and Peg Hoffman
(313 words) Mtajka Moravian Church in Tanzania
Mission Outreach service at a great price and they can come and go as they please; they have control over their choices. This results in real relationships between us and them. The natural order has not been set aside in the name of love, rather love and respect has been shown by abiding by their way of life. We work and he mission field is a friends we inevitably cre- play alongside our new clear manifestation of ate a wider gap of under- friends and they respect us as one of their own. what God can do through standing between us. We us. Jesus showed his give, but not what is most The power of God allows all of us to come to disciples how to live and needed: our respect. love, a completely sustain- In Mexico, Eunice and Him just as we are and able way of life that brings I strive to show our love to we must extend the same us closer to God and those others by living beside the courtesy. Growing together means trusting one anotharound us. Mixe people and treater, learning from our mis In 2014 Jesus’ way is ing them as equals. Our takes, taking ownership of still attainable. But today medical clinic charges its there exists a greater chal- patients, which shows our our accomplishments and lenge when we venture economic reality (we need failures and ultimately creinto other cultures. As to earn money to live) and ating a strong, sustainable bearers of the good news a more subtle fact which is church of believers that has the tools to keep sharwe must be careful how that the patients are ining long after the first ones we show our love to other volved and come freely. If cultures. we gave medicine away to are gone. Our relationships Today’s mission field poor villagers, who can re- will last forever; the things is much more complex and ally refuse that? The peo- we give out won’t. requires us to learn more ple in our village underPhil and Eunice Raiford about our new friends and stand that we give a great how they relate to God Phil and Eunice are memand us. Our first instinct is to help them with every resource that we have, pulling them out of their poverty and ignorance. While it shows progress for the short term, these acts of love can eventually cause a dependency to our form of love. At the heart of dependency is an inferiority complex. When we give things to our new
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Community Strengthening HUKWAFA:
Huduma kwa Watoto na Familia
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ince 2009 the Village of Gininiga in the Moravian Church Western Tanzania Province area in Tanzania has been working and organizing itself to support their children and families. With support from Likewise Ministries of BWM and HUKWAFA Board and staff the community is working to ensure children are in school
and receive appropriate nutrition and health care. In 2011, the community organized six Income Generating Groups to support this work. The income generating groups have had some success in growing and harvesting crops. There were failures as flooding destroyed one crop of beans. All the groups were not able
to manage two crops as planned, so they opted for a maize crop which produced the best harvest. There is a sense of hope and a green shoot of right relationship among them and their community. While there is still work to be done let’s keep an eye out for the sparks of hope, the tiny stars in the dark, that remind us that there is new possibility for the children and adults of Gininiga and a promise of lasting change in the community. Marion Perrin BWM Director, Likewise Ministries
Green shoots of hope and promise in the village of Gininiga
W
hile the medical work in Ahuas often focuses on dramatic medical or surgical successes, preventive medicine carries on its quieter work in the background. Yet typical is the case of 25 year old Enoc, who arrived quite sick at the Clinic four weeks ago with symptoms very suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis. When the lab confirmed the bacterium in his sputum, our next step was to turn to our Dept. of Preventive Medicine where Tomasa and Ginaina work. They contact the family, evaluate for others possibly already infected, and link with the regional Honduran health authorities. The latter then send the medication to the local Health Clinic (in this case Ahuas), and then Tomasa confirms that Enoc is taking the multiple daily pills. Tomasa notes that now just three weeks into
treatment, Enoc demonstrates renewed energy and a big smile; today he came by the office to see if he could get permission to start playing volleyball or soccer. The full tuberculosis treatment stretches out to six months. In this case timely treatment for a young man has literally saved his life; such treatment requires methodical work by our Preventive Medicine Dept. to assure the daily medications are ordered, distributed and taken appropriately. But it’s just one example of the dedicated work that goes on daily at the Ahuas Clinic. —Dr. Benno and Teresa Marx Benno and Teresa served in Ahuas from September 2012 until March 2014.
Community Strengthening
Principles of Partnership For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. Romans 1:11-12
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artnership is a covenant relationship between one or more persons who actively seek to love and serve God through a collaborative effort of mutual respect, learning, decision-making and sharing. The BWM affirms four principles that undergird these relationships: CHRIST-CENTERED – grounded in faith and the desire to serve Christ as the central reason for mission. MUTUALITY – affirming all voices at the table and recognizing the gifts that each brings. ACCOUNTABILITY – maintaining good communication and transparency in the handling of resources. SUSTAINABILITY - promoting self-reliance and the long-term viability of the mission, equipping partners to sustain their own future. Elements to consider as we promote sustainability in the sharing of our resources include: • Relative percentage—providing only a portion of the estimated cost for a project; e.g. in W. Tanzania donations for a motorcycle to help a pastor in his ministry only covered part of the cost and the congregation paid the rest as their contribution to their pastor. • Duration of support—having a time-bound agreement on the level of support, as well as mutually accepted goals and targets for self-reliance; as direct project subsidies decline over time, more resources are freed for use in new and creative initiatives with our mission partners. This is a principle the BWM is trying to apply to our new mission areas.
At our Leadership Summit in April 2013, the heads of our partner provinces signed The Laurel Ridge Agreement with BWM promoting ongoing partnership, respect and proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We also committed to work together toward sustainable ministry.
• Local-local interdependence—looking for local resources and ways for local-local partnership, as well as creating strategies that are easily reproducible in that mission context. Training from Jean Johnson, World Mission Associates, April 2013
Mission Area: Cuba
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oe Jarvis sells batteries. Batteries are his business. But in 2013 when Joe traveled to Havana, Cuba, he experienced a different type of energy: the Spirit that has kept the Moravian Church in Cuba going and growing! Joe accompanied Sam Gray at the National Conference where each of the five Moravian Districts sent ten representatives to review and ratify the Book of Order and then to elect a National Board. He met with delegates to talk about sustainable projects for supporting the ministry that takes place across the island (in eight congregations, 12 fellowships and a new outreach work in Guantanamo). During a break from the meetings, over a cup of strong Cuban coffee, Joe met a man from Mayabeque. “What do you do?” Joe asked him. The man replied, “I make batteries!” It was an instant connection, but both brothers soon found that the con-
nection was deeper than batteries. They both loved Jesus and both shared a passion for the ongoing work of the Moravian Church. Joe soon discovered that despite the barriers of language, politics and culture there were many such connections to be made – with the youth delegates and children who brought much joy to the meetings; with the dear old sister who, despite physical challenges, was able to be present at the conference; with a truck driver from Matanzas who invited him to his home for dinner, following a gathering of about 100 people for a worship service held in the garage and yard of Rev. Obed and Sister Alay Martinez. Joe’s heart was particularly touched by a visit to a hospital for severely mentally and physically challenged children. He said, “Our countries may not always see eye to eye, but the people are so
warm and caring. They don’t want us to come and do the work for them; they just want us to walk and work with them. I have never been so touched as I was by these Moravian brothers and sisters. There is such a hunger to hear the Christian message our church has to offer. And they offered so much to me in return!”
Cuban Moravians vote to approve their Book of Order
Mission Area: Peru
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irina Cancikova (at left) is a member of the Jednota Bratrska (Unitas Fratrum) in the Czech Republic – the place where the Moravian “movement” started back in the 1400s. But in 2013, after volunteering some time with the Esperanza congregation in Bethlehem, Pa., she served in one of the newest Mission Areas of the Moravian Church: Peru. Her journey took her from Liberec to London to Lima to Lambayeque! After flying across the Atlantic, and then across the continent of South America to the Pacific coast, she was met in Lima by Pastor Manuel Verástegui and his family. She was able to experience the house churches that have been established in the San Juan de Lurigancho district of that city and meet Pastor Ana Maria Huaman and her family. But Jirina’s destination was in northern Peru: the town of Lambayeque. She
lived with sister Teresa Bancallan, the president of the local Lions Club and a generous supporter of the Moravian work in the area. Jirina worked along with Walter and Monica Calle, the leaders of the Moravian work in Cruz de la Esperanza, Chiclayo and with the Valencia family (Christopher and Charito and their three musical sons), leaders of the new Moravian group, Rhemanente, also in Chiclayo. Here is what Jirina had to say about her time in Peru: “My time in Peru was amazing. It was my first experience seeing and helping a church that was basically starting. It was an adventure to pray and seek for a place to meet with Rhemanente church, and to see new children coming to Cruz de la Esperanza. I learned a lot about the culture, people, language, country and different ways God acts. I found my new family there because despite all the cultural differences we have the same Father. I will never forget those two months and I believe it wasn’t my last visit to Peru!”
Mission Area: Sierra Leone
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ome is where the heart is,” they say. If that’s so, then Donna Hurt’s home must be… the worldwide Moravian Unity! That’s certainly where her heart is. And one of her favorite homes within that Unity is Sierra Leone. Donna represented the Moravian Church Southern Province at the Unity Board meeting in 2010, where Sierra Leone was designated as a Mission Area and assigned to the Southern Province. In 2013, Donna made her third trip to Sierra Leone. She said, “The reason for our visit to the village of Ngiehun was to participate in the dedication of our Moravian Secondary School. I traveled with Steve and Claire Wilson, and Jeff Fulp—all from the Charlotte church where Mohamed and Safie Braima had been longtime members, and all still deeply involved in this new Mission Area of the Unity. This school provides the only opportunity for the youth of Ngiehun to continue their education past sixth grade. Each year it has grown, now educating 240 students, most of them Muslim.
The school is very much a part of our mission in Sierra Leone. And the mission is spreading and growing! A second Sierra Leone congregation is now active in the nearby village of Mofindor, and brother Mohamed has received yet another request to start a Moravian church in a third village. At the dedication of the school building, the Moravian choir sang, local and district officials made speeches, Rev. Steve Wilson led the dedication liturgy, the school principal and board chair offered words of appreciation, Scripture was read, prayers were offered and the ribbon was cut by the village chiefs! Donna summed up the experience: “What a joy it is to share life with the people of Ngiehun. Supporting this mission is certainly a privilege, and absolutely a blessing. “
Understanding Global Partners
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embership in the Worldwide Unity of the Moravian Church is divided into three main categories: mission areas, mission provinces and Unity provinces. Below is an explanation of the different categories and a listing of those who partner with the Board of World Mission. Mission Area – The first step on the continuum of membership in the worldwide Unity is to be designated (by the Unity Board and Unity Synod) as a Mission Area accompanied by a supervising province or mission agency. This province or agency works with the Mission Area to develop a constitution and a church structure that is consistent with the regulations of the Unity. The BWM partners with three mission areas:
Mission Province – Once a mission area has its own constitution and infrastructure that allows for leadership, regular preaching and teaching, as well as the production of devotional material in its own language, it can be designated a Mission Province of the Unity. As a Mission Province it can have its own Synod, elect a provincial board and elect bishops. The BWM partners with three mission provinces:
• Cuba – supervised by • Guyana the Southern Province in • Labrador-Newfoundland North America • The Honduras Mission • Peru – assigned directly Province (previously “trato the Board of World ditional” group) – superMission vised by the Nicaragua • Sierra Leone – supervised Province. by the Southern Province in North America.
Unity Province – In the transition from Mission to Unity Province, the province is encouraged to supply its own ministers and other church workers, have the means to support and train them, as well as support the ministries of the province, and have a strategy for moving toward this goal. The BWM partners with five Unity Provinces: • • • • •
Costa Rica the Eastern-West Indies Honduras Nicaragua Western Tanzania
Provincial leaders from around the globe met in North Carolina and Pennsylvania for the BWM Leadership Summit in April.
Mission Outreach & Engagement
“T
he Board of World Mission is a place where we put people, passion, gifts, needs, and Jesus together and are ready to deal with whatever happens.” This statement was a result of an exciting meeting where our board shared stories of finding success and energy in this work. To be “ready to deal with whatever happens” we developed the new staff role of Director of Mission Engagement to better connect with congregations and serve as a resource for them in mission. The new staff position reflects the desire of the BWM to invest in people. We are aware of the great and powerful witness that countless Moravians have been part of by serving in partnership with Moravian Disaster Response (MDR) and Moravian Volunteer Resources (MVR). Through an increased focus on mission engagement, we hope to invite even more people into this type of service, as well as to equip individuals and congregations to engage in mission and share God’s love with the world in new and exciting ways. Our commitment to mission engagement expands our role in identifying opportunities for service to making an
intentional investment of time and resources to invite, equip and engage both individuals and congregations. It is about connecting individuals and congregations to the work out there, but also with the work being done right here. Our congregations are doing good work in their local contexts. As we help connect people and ideas, a leader in one congregation can be a resource to potential leaders in another. Mission engagement means that the BWM is excited to walk with your congregation to help identify a project that matches your gifts and passions or to help those returning from a mission trip to apply their learnings to the church’s local engagement in mission. In the year ahead we will be doing our best to reach out and communicate about opportunities to engage in the mission of the Moravian Church. At the same time, do not hesitate to reach out and engage us around your needs for mission. All our work is connected through our desire to respond to God’s call. As together we respond faithfully, “whatever happens,” it is sure to be amazing. Justin Rabbach Director of Mission Engagement
Antioch: Youth in Mission
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ntioch of the Board of World Mission provides short-term mission opportunities for people 18 years of age and older who seek to serve from the foundation of their faith and a desire to follow and live in the way of Jesus. While historically Antioch has focused on college-age youth, we are expanding to offer opportunities to adults in general. The statement that one has felt “God’s call on their life” is commonly the basis that moves someone to serve. Partnerships have been cultivated with Moravians worldwide who extend an invitation to serve alongside them in ministries. Prior to service, the Antioch process requires a commitment to spiritual, theological, cultural and logistical preparation. Then, under the guidance of local leadership, Antioch participants serve in the Bronx in New York, Van Es Camp in Canada, Costa Rica, Esperanza for Bethlehem, Grenada, Honduras, Jamaica, Ray of
Would you like to create time and space for God through the discipline and discipleship of service? Please visit moravianmission.org to consider volunteer options and provide your contact information. —Jill Kolodziej, Director of Antioch
Hope in Kenya, Labrador, Nepal, Nicaragua, Peru, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. The list continues to grow as new Moravian partners identify needs that can be met through engagement with followers of Christ from outside their respective communities. In each setting the Antioch participant uses their gifts to partner in unique ways in the ministry; teaching music, playing with children and youth, leading Bible study, camp counselling, translating in an operating room, participating in worship, making bricks, tutoring students in their studies or simply being a friend. Through this active, reciprocal engagement, discipleship and leadership development happen at many levels. It is so humbling and such a privilege to hear how God has worked with and through Antioch alumni. Initially, highlights of conversations focus on differences in food, climate, social mores, travel, language, etc. However, as time passes and events of the service are processed and reflected upon, deeper realizations emerge. Questions arise concerning vocational choices, the unmet needs in one’s immediate surroundings, the disparity that exists between peoples, etc.
Five young women who served in the summer of 2013 share their thoughtful reflections:
Emma Jahnke is considering a vocation in the medical field and chose to serve at the Ahuas Clinic in Honduras. Emma trusts and knows God will take care of the details of her life. Being somewhat shy she knew she would have to push beyond her shyness in order to assimilate into the Honduran culture. She realized “when we are not in service to others, we quickly become selfish.”
Antioch: Youth in Mission Rhyssa Beckford served at Bishop Kisanji Girl’s Secondary School in Tanzania. As she became involved in the life of the school she was invited to a weekly devotion led by the girls. As they blended their different languages in song, reading scripture and prayer, she experienced the “powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in their midst.”
Grace West also served at the Bishop Kisanji School given her focus on the importance of education. The demands of her personal academic studies are challenging. During her weeks in Tanzania, she experienced God’s guidance and presence and came to a fuller realization that “God is the constant in her life.”
Rachael Seatvet felt called to serve at Camp Van Es in Canada due to her own experience with the camping ministry. She has a heart for those that are marginalized and reaches out to include all. At one particular camp she was keenly aware of and grateful for “the creation of space where respect and acceptance were key.”
Karmelle Kittlitz energetically engaged with a Moravian Fellowship in Grenada that facilitated VBS for children in the community. She was so grateful and profoundly changed by her experience in another culture among people “who love God as much as she.”
Stewardship
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he Board of World Mission (BWM) is grateful for the continued support provided by the Northern, Southern and Alaska Provinces, as well as by the Society for Promoting the Gospel, the Larger Life Foundation, Salem Congregation, the Southern Province Mission Society and the generous donations from so many for the mission of the church. The BWM staff makes every effort to be good stewards of these resources in cutting operational costs where possible. For example, four of seven staff members continue on a part-time basis. 2013 saw the financial markets continue their rebound, adding approximately $148,733 of investment gains to the unrestricted funds of the BWM. The BWM continues to support longtime partner provinces and other ministries by expending $822,242 (including $187,783 from temporarily restricted funding) in support of such ministries. The BWM is gradually decreasing block grants to traditional global partners,
expending $339,459 in 2013, which is $43,198 less than in 2012. We hope to redirect our spending with our traditional partners into areas of leadership development, community/ economic strengthening and mission outreach. In 2013, the BWM expended an additional $434,201 in support of both new initiatives and ongoing mission programs and initiatives. The accompanying schedules give a summary representation of where the BWM’s funding comes from and how it is expended in support of the worldwide mission efforts of the Moravian Church. The audited financial statements give additional information related to the financial position and results of operations on a comparative basis for both 2013 and 2012. If you would like to have a copy of the audited financial statements please contact the Bethlehem office of the BWM. —Joel Landreth Treasurer
Many thanks to 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 Board of World Mission. Design by Mike Riess, IBOC ©2013, Board of World Mission. Visit us at www.moravianmission.org.
2013 Financial Results Support and Revenue
For the year ended December 31, 2013 Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church
Northern, Southern and Alaskan Provinces Larger Life Foundation Society for Promoting the Gospel Mission Society, Southern Province Other Provincial Support General Contributions Investment Returns Total Support Utilization of Restricted Gifts Total Support and Revenue
$515,826 $18,539 $179,085 $25,000 $12,048 $82,186 $148,733 $981,417 $187,783 $1,169,200
Operating Costs
For the year ended December 31, 2013 Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church
Payroll / Benefits Assistance Grants Travel and Meetings Occupancy Costs Retired Missionary Pensions Supplies and Office Publications Professional Fees Educational Conferences Depreciation Total Operating Costs
Ministry Programs $193,822 553,789 33,457 18,998 9,815 10,335 2,026 $822,242
Admin. $185,666 33,775 31,999 27,829 10,672 8,029 2,034 17,165 $317,169
Total $379,488 553,789 67,232 50,997 27,829 20,487 10,335 8,029 4,060 17,165 $1,139,411
Partners in Mission Second-Mile Projects
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he BWM partners with many individuals and churches in mission— too many to have a space for each in this report. Read more about them on our website. We are grateful for their dedication to sharing the gospel of our Lord and ask your continued support and prayer for these ministries: • Adopt-a-Village – Drs. Bill and Peg Hoffman, Central Moravian Church • Alas de Socorro Ministry in Ahuas, Honduras – George Goff • Annie B Mission – support of a speech therapist at Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Palestine • Moravian Bible Institute in Honduras – Andrew and Amy Fields with the Reformed Church of America • Indigenous Mission Today to the Mixe in Mexico – Phil and Eunice Raiford, Friedberg Moravian Church • Mission Aviation Fellowship – Steve and Ann Marx • Moravian Monthly Ministries – youth in the Southern Province who do a variety of mission projects • Nepal Moravian Outreach – Revs. Shanti and Vani Pradhan • Ray of Hope Orphanage in Kenya – Michael and Ceci Tesh, Christ Moravian Church • Sierra Leone Mission – Mohamed and Safie Braima, Little Church on the Lane
Consider sending support toward projects beyond common ministry funding using the form at the back of this report. Donations received in excess of the amount needed will be applied to a similar project for that ministry. More information and other listings are available on our website: www.moravianmission.org
Leadership Development • Honduras Mission Province - $300 for a keyboard for its Bible Institute students. • Western Tanzania -$1,245 – one year of evangelist training at the Lusangi Moravian Bible College. • On-Line Theological Education - $700 annually for a scholarship with Laurel University for our Spanish-speaking partners.
Mission Outreach • Guyana – provide one month of radio outreach for $300. • Honduras – $732 for computer and monitor for the mission outreach in Belize; up to $5,000 for a new radio outreach program. • Peru – $700 – musical instruments for outreach in Chiclayo.
Community Strengthening • Ahuas, Honduras – $450 for two trips annually for medical management of HIV/AIDS for one person. • Western Tanzania – “Adopt-a-Village” originally requested churches to make a commitment of $1,000 annually for three years to assist orphans so they can remain in their extended families throughout the Sikonge district, but any contribution would be gratefully accepted by the Tanzanians providing for these children.
Moving Forward
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e have been walking with some of our global partners for more than 150 years. And the ministry that has been accomplished has been amazing—sharing the gospel and building the church, confronting social needs of health care and education, preparing leaders that will grow the ministry. God has truly blessed us to be a blessing. We need to maintain our commitments and relationships, even as we work with our partners to promote sustainable mission in a renewed lens of leadership development and accountability, mission outreach and community strengthening. We seek to find ways to maximize the contributions entrusted to us by our donors and congregations that will empower and create dignity for the recipient. This is not an easy road— but one BWM is committed to exploring. For example, BWM helped support workshops for pastors in Western
Tanzania to discuss stewardship principles and encourage support by local congregations of provincial endeavors. The province reports a substantial increase in giving from these efforts. They also report an increased enrollment at the Bishop Kisanji Girl’s school, partly due to the Antioch servants who have taught at the school. Through the efforts of Rev. Glenna Tasedan the Moravian Church in Labrador-Newfoundland has begun an on-line Bible study that allows members from all of its geographically-isolated churches to grow together in discipleship and BWM is working with Moravian Theological Seminary to see what additional on-
Aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
line training might be available. The Moravian Church in Honduras and the Honduras Mission Province are making significant strides toward reconciliation, and both are building their programs of theological education. We move forward in partnership with congregations and with global churches in mutually sharing and recognizing the gifts and ideas that each one brings, and finding ways to promote sustainable mission and build healthy churches that continue to share God’s love with the world. After all, this is what God’s mission is all about! -- Judy Ganz
BOARD OF
WORLD MISSION of the Moravian Church • North America BWM staff and directors are more than happy to work with your congregation on issues of mission discernment (be that local or global), equipping of teams and individuals in short-term missions, and educating about principles of sustainable mission and cross-cultural service. Justin Rabbach, our new Director of Mission Engagement will be coordinating these efforts. Contact him to explore the possibilities!
Offices:
Staff:
Board of World Mission 1021 Center St. PO Box 1245 Bethlehem, PA 18016 610.868.1732
Sheila Beaman, Admin. Assistant, Winston-Salem sheila@moravianmission.org
Board of World Mission 500 South Church St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101 336.773.1732
Jill Kolodziej, Director of Antioch jill@moravianmission.org
Judy Ganz, Executive Director judy@moravianmission.org Sam Gray, Dir. Of Intercultural Ministries & New Work sam@moravianmission.org
Barbara Ottervik, Admin. Assistant Bethlehem barbara@moravianmission.org
Web:
Justin Rabbach, Director of Mission Engagement www.moravianmission.org justin@moravianmission.org
Yes! I wish to make a financial contribution to the work of the Board of World Mission, Moravian Church in North America. I would like to donate
to the Board of World Mission for the purposes of:
q Helping where it is needed; q Helping a specific program:
100% of your donation will go directly to mission programming. Name: __________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________ City/Town: __________________ State: _____ ZIP Code: _________
q I would like to be a Friend of BWM and receive your newsletter and periodic information about mission opportunities.
q The BWM may contact me by email. My email address: _____________________ Please mail your tax-deductible donation to: The Board of World Mission, 1021 Center St., PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016 or visit us at www.moravianmission.org.
HOLY WEEK
Readings guide Moravians through Holy Week The
four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—record words and deeds of Jesus. More than a quarter of the Gospel narrative is devoted to Holy Week, from Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through his cleansing of the temple, disputes with religious leaders, teaching about the end times and Last Supper with his closest followers, to his arrest, trial and crucifixion. After a quiet Sabbath comes the story of Jesus, still bearing his wounds, being raised from the dead. Moravians have had a distinctive way of marking this week, which we in the past often called Passion Week. This is to read through the whole passion narrative from the Gospels, in a series of simple services, using a book
called Readings for Holy Week. This custom dates to the late 1700s. Scholars rightly point out the differences and distinctive emphases of the four Gospels, but for devotional purposes we use a harmony, an attempt to merge the four accounts into one. The first Moravian harmony of the Gospels was prepared by Zinzendorf before his death in 1760. The most recent American edition of Readings for Holy Week, published in 1995, uses the New Revised Standard Version. Readings for Holy Week is available from the IBOC in three different editions—regular and large print (with the Gospel readings and hymn texts only) and a music edition (which includes music for the hymns). The distinctive Moravian custom of using individual hymn stanzas is used in Holy Week, as the reading is interspersed with hymns reflecting on the narrative. The number of services and their time of day vary among congregations. Some have services on Good Friday, others do not. Some have a special lovefeast or service of music on Saturday. For many of us, accustomed to stimulation of all our senses, words alone have a limited appeal. But for others of us, who seek quiet meditation on the life of our Lord, Holy Week services are a special opportunity. For those unable to attend services, Readings may serve as a rich devotional resource. ■ Reprinted from the Mar. 28, 2010 weekly bulletin of the Moravian Church.
April 2014
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MORAVIANS IN MISSION
Adopt-a-Village at nine years The Moravian Church of Western Tanzania is our partner province. In 2001, assisted by our Board of World Mission, the province began a comprehensive AIDS program that included three components: prevention, treatment and orphan care. The first two sections were addressed immediately at the Sikonge Moravian Hospital, but it took a year to find Mama Kimwaga, the woman who took charge of orphan care. Together with three of her friends from the Sikonge Moravian Church, she enrolled 34 children from their village, and began providing them with food, clothing, medical care, school supplies and uniforms, soap and sleeping mats. From this small start the orphan program began to grow. Within four years 18 Moravian women were assisting 1700 children in 22 villages in the Sikonge District and 5 parishes in the city of Tabora. Primary school, which includes grades one through seven, is free in Tanzania, but secondary school is not. In 2005 the program expanded to include full secondary school 32
scholarships for any orphan able to pass the government’s entrance exams. Over 300 children are currently using these scholarships to continue their education, including 15 who are either at the university or professional schools. Near the end of 2005 the effort to provide for these children was becoming financially challenged. The Board of World Mission then launched Adopt-a-Village. The program was formulated with two specific goals. The first was simply to help fund orphan care; the second was to provide an opportunity for churches in North America to form a relationship with a village in our partner province by providing them with both information and pictures of their children. Adopt-a-Village has been a success on both measures; currently 44 churches, church groups and individuals have been contributing $1000 a year for at least three years to assist nearly 3000 orphans in 5 parishes and 39 villages. Remarkably, in spite of food prices that have more than doubled in the last three The Moravian
years, and the continually increasing number of students in higher education, the cost per orphan still averages less than $35, not per month, but per year! This has been possible for three reasons: first, Tanzania is an extremely poor country and the cost of living is very low. Second, the program does not provide all of the child’s support; it supplements what the extended family is able to provide. Third, no overhead expenses are charged to the program; 100% of every dollar donated goes to Tanzania where it is spent by Tanzanians for Tanzanians. In addition to providing financial support for these children, Adopt-a-Village has facilitated the development of worldwide Moravian relationships. Multiple Sunday schools in North America have exchanged pictures and letters with their partner villages in the Sikonge district. Several churches have gone still further, donating funding for wells, schools, school supplies and even church construction. Members of four congregations have visited their adopted village; others are making plans to do so this summer. The response has been impressive by any standard. At the start of 2008, medical responsibility for the prevention and treatment arms of the AIDS program, as well as the grants needed to support them, was turned over to a partnership consisting of the Moravian Church of Western Tanzania and the Sikonge district council. Orphan care, however, continues to be funded from North America. Adopt-a-Village originally requested a pledge of support for three years, but the needs of the orphans are ongoing. The vast majority of churches that originally joined the program have remained committed to these children beyond the three year mark, for which the orphans, and the Moravian “Mamas” providing their care, are extremely April 2014
grateful. Everyone engaged in this endeavor hopes that the churches currently participating will prayerfully consider renewing their support, and those that have not yet joined in this mission will contemplate doing so. A gift of any amount will be gratefully accepted and used exclusively for orphan care. These children represent the future of Tanzania. They need our help to realize their full potential and become productive citizens in their developing country. Inquiries about the Adopt-a-Village program should be sent to: William S. Hoffman, M.D., Board of World Mission/Northern Province Office, 1021 Center Street, Bethlehem, Pa. 18016-1245. ■ Bill Hoffman is a member of Central Moravian Church and leads the Adopta-Village program. He provides frequent reports on the work of the church in Tanzania, home to more than half of the Moravians worldwide.
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MORAVIANS IN MISSION
Transformation in Maidstone, Jamaica “Hello! Prescott!” I smiled and shook Mrs. Prescott’s hand, pleased that she had introduced herself, then realized I had not caught her meaning. “Praise God!” she repeated in her thick Jamaican accent, welcoming us to Nazareth Moravian Church, on the highest peak in the little village of Maidstone, Jamaica. Our mission team from Lititz Moravian Church had come at the invitation of Reverend Chrismael Martial hoping to establish a continued connection to our new sister churches in Jamaica. During our week-long visit (the second from our church), we visited churches and schools, patched roofs, extended a driveway, shared meals and fellowship Katie Grisbacher is a member of Lititz Moravian Church in Lititz, Pa. Photo above: Johnny Grisbacher shows off his carrot picks on the grounds of Transformation Ministries. 34
with new Jamaican friends, played soccer and made a lot of music. Nazareth Moravian Church is located on a 95-acre piece of land, once a coffee plantation, which was donated to the Moravian Church in the early 1800s. The Moravians set up a church and helped to start Maidstone, the first free town for former slaves. Now the property boasts a main house, the Manse, where the Pastor and his family live and host guests. Down the hill are a preschool, an elementary school, and a manufacturing building that has been out of use, but will likely soon be occupied by a juice-processing business. Up the hill is the beautiful old church where we joined the congregation for Sunday morning worship, before moving on to the pastor’s other two churches in Bath and Bethphage. Roads are rocky and narrow, with steep drops to the side and often room for only one vehicle. Drivers beep going around turns to The Moravian
alert oncoming traffic, and often have to back up to let another car pass. Fortunately, Pastor Chrismael is an excellent driver. He seems to be well-regarded by passers-by, who wave and call, “Hey, Rev!” The greenery of the area surprised me— I knew we had come to a poor region, yet I saw richness of soil and vegetation all around me…avocados, papaya, yams, lemons, guava and sugar cane. I enjoyed leafy green callaloo and soursop fruit juice, and my husband was delighted to walk to a local farm to purchase our week’s supply of fresh coffee. My son kept a log of meals that included goat stew, jerk chicken, salt-fish with beans and Festival, a slightly sweet fried bread. Sivana Martial, the pastor’s wife, confessed that the goat was one some of our group had met on their last visit! Pastor Chrismael and Sivana are on the verge of opening Transformation Ministries, a youth center where they aim to offer government-sponsored training programs. We toured the recently donated land, currently rented to local farmers, while Pastor Chrismael pointed out his vision of a missionary house, vocational building, and transformation of the existing ramshackled house into a music school. Members of our mission team who visited here in 2012 were delighted to meet again three young men whom the pastor has mentored. Their focus, strength and maturing spirituality are a wonderful testimony to what
Children at Nazareth Basic School, Maidstone, Jamaica
Boys at Inglewood Basic School get the feel of the trumpet during a school visit by the Lititz Moravian Mission Team.
(continued on page 38) Photo right: Lititz Moravian Mission Team visits the future site of Transformation Ministries.(Back) Dan Turnbull, Becky Frey, Johnny Grisbacher, Liesl Wolf, Pastor Chrismael Martial,(Middle) John Grisbacher, Amy Sue Bomberger, Leah Turnbull, Barry Frey, Madeline Grisbacher, Mandy Mastros, Katie Grisbacher, (Front) Matthew Bomberger, (taking photo) Ronni Sakamoto.
April 2014
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Biography (continued from page 10) nia Moravian Church and joined that congregation. With encouragement from his pastor, he went to Moravian Theological Seminary in 1859 to train for the ministry. In 1861, just as the Civil War started, he became the pastor at York, staying five years and marrying the organist, Emma Fahs. In 1866, he and Emma left York to serve the Moravian Church in Canal Dover, Ohio. Smith had demonstrated mechanical ability while growing up, and during his pastorate in Dover, patented a mechanical washing machine, invented to help his wife do the laundry for their six children. In 1871, a serious throat illness caused him to stop preaching, and he and his family returned to York, where he made a living selling his washing machines. A few years later, Smith and five partners formed the York Manufacturing Company, for the purpose of making washing machines and water turbine wheels. While Smith left the company after six years, York Corporation later became the largest manufacturer of commercial air conditioning in the world. He experimented further with water turbines, and received several patents for improving them, eventually forming the S. Morgan Smith Company. In the 1890s, the company combined their turbines with electric generators, and the hydroelectric industry was born. Turbines from Smith’s company generate power at the Gran Coulee Dam, Bonneville Flats, Safe Harbor Dam and in more than a dozen foreign countries. Profits from the company-owned business 36
made his heirs wealthy, but also provided the resources for numerous works of philanthropy. In 1930, his sons C. Elmer Smith and Stephen Fahs Smith donated money to construct a new sanctuary for Macedonia Moravian Church. Both sons served as Trustees for Moravian College and Theological Seminary and grandsons, Beauchamp and Burwell, served in the same capacity. Beauchamp gave the money to build Jo Smith dormitory on the campus of Moravian College. In 1959, the Smith family sold the company to Allis Chalmers, and today it continues to manufacture turbines in York as Voith Hydro. S. Morgan Smith never lost his love for his Savior and His Church, remaining an active member of First Moravian until he died in 1903. Bishop Edward Rondthaler, his seminary roommate, led his funeral at First Moravian. At each communion service, Smith donned his surplice and assisted his pastor. He served as a church trustee, and for thirty years, the superintendent of the Sunday School. He was recognized as a community leader, serving as president of the York County Sunday School Association, president of the SPCA, and a member of the school board for the city of York. Writing about his death, the York Dispatch said, “In his demeanor he was a man of warm disposition, kind nature and charitable in every sense.” Downs and Nicholas estimate that it will take about two years of research, writing and editing, before their biography of Smith, tentatively titled, “Re-inventing the wheel; from minister to manufacturer. The S. Morgan Smith story,” will be ready for publishing. They are excited to bring to members of the Moravian Church, the community of York and the wider world, this story of a life well lived. ■ The Moravian
BOOK REVIEW
Brethren by Jeremiah Pearson Incunabula Press, 2013, 510 pgs. Part of the Villeins Trilogy.
Brethren is an historical novel that tells the
story of a small group of religious radicals from the village of Kunvald who risk their lives to promote literacy and peace in the midst of the violence of the early 1500s. The Brethren are members of the Unitas Fratrum, which today is commonly called the Moravian Church. The Unitas Fratrum was the first “peace church” and pioneers in education for commoners. It is appropriate that one of the central figures of the book is a woman who is named for Christ (Kristina) since women played such an important role in the Unitas Fratrum. Intersecting the story of Katrina and her motley band of idealists are the stories of villeins (similar to serfs) from the German estate of Giebel who are led into war against the Muslims. They are led by an illiterate, scarred and cynical man named Lud whose heart is touched by the grace-filled devotion and sacrifice of Katrina as well as the genuine love of his liege lord, Sir Dietrich. The Rev. Dr. Craig Atwood is director of the Center for Moravian Studies and a professor at Moravian Theological Seminary April 2014
This is a well-written and often compelling novel. Moravians will enjoy Pearson’s description of the original Brethren, but he paints the Kunvald Brethren too much like later Swiss Anabaptists. By the time of the events in the novel, the Moravian Brethren were baptizing infants, for example. Moravians should also be aware that this is not a typical “Christian novel.” While there is no graphic sex, there are numerous references to rape and abuse. Pearson is unsparing in his depiction of the violence of the age, including torture and mutilation. This makes the loving care and courage of the Brethren stand out, but it can make for difficult reading. The only historical quibble I have with the book is that the Brethren from Kunvald all seem to speak German as their native tongue rather than Czech. They also seem to have a printing much earlier than was actually the case. However, such minor points should not distract from Pearson’s success in depicting the life of the villeins and the true nature of the “heresies” of the late Middle Ages. One of the most pleasing aspects of this book is that Pearson’s characters are not stereotypes. Each is complex, nuanced and evocative of the time period. ■ 37
Maidstone, Jamaica
(continued from page 35)
such mentorship can do for the youth here. We have all been blessed by a young man named Sanjay. He is the right-hand man to the pastor, spends a lot of time here at the Manse, and, at 21, has a heart of gold and a love for service. Sanjay is on track for a life of ministry, whether as a lay person or ordained. Because schools were in session, our first opportunity to really connect with youth came later in the week, when we came upon a group of youth gathered at the church. They were preparing a song for the funeral of a friend who had taken his own life, one of their crowd. They invited us in, especially interested in our young teens. A girl named
Felicia walked between my daughter and me, linking her arms closely with ours. She loved my daughter’s long hair and played with her braid throughout the evening. Friday, we gathered in the schoolyard for a soccer game, using a ball we had purchased made especially to withstand rough playing surfaces in third-world countries. (See www. oneworldfutbol.com for more information.) Too soon, our week was up. We said tearful goodbyes and reluctantly boarded the van back to Kingston. By now the mountain roads felt like home, and the green hills called us to return soon. Our mission team will meet soon to review, regroup and consider how we can move forward in support of Transformation Ministries. As for me, I can’t wait to get back! ■
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The Moravian
God has a PERFECT plan. Doing His work requires a
f inancial one.
F
AITH-BASED AND WHOLLY COMMITTED to the highest financial integrity, the Moravian Ministries Foundation is a one-of-a-kind resource for connecting Moravian values to charitable giving and investing. Serving church administrations, agencies, and any individual who wants to support the health and growth of Moravian ministry, the Moravian Ministries Foundation offers an array of professional services—including consultation, education, and access to quality investment vehicles for long-term financial planning. Whether managing the savings of a small church, helping steer the capital campaign of a congregation in transition, or advising an individual about the various benefits of a planned gift, the Moravian Ministries Foundation is an extraordinary and trusted steward of Moravian aspirations.
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Invest Where You Believe www.mmfa.info | 119 Brookstown Avenue, Suite 305 | Winston-Salem, NC 27101 | 888.722.7923
Periodicals Postmaster please send address changes to: The Moravian, P.O. Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245
Salemtowne residents - Bill & Carol McElveen
Energize Your Lifestyle Salemtowne is a non-profit continuing care retirement community that reflects the Moravian values of respect for the individual, hospitality, life-long learning and a love of the arts. At Salemtowne, a maintenance free lifestyle provides you the extra time to devote to your interests. We invite you to visit Salemtowne and discover a community where your passions can thrive.
Visit salemtowne.org or call (336) 767-8130