Moravian Magazine • Issue 2, 2020

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In this issue: Board of World Mission Annual Report Why I Sing A Pilgrimage for Racial Justice Sunday Morning Food Donations ...and more!

A CENTURY

OF GRANTING

LARGER

LIFE TO MORAVIAN

MINISTRIES

In 1920, a group of dedicated Moravians established an endowment fund for Northern Province Moravian congregations and agencies.

In its 100 years of service, the Larger Life Foundation has distributed more then $13 million to a broad range of Moravian ministries.

Your gift to the Larger Life Foundation helps many ministries and agencies. Through your generosity, we can have far-reaching impact on the life of the Moravian Church.

To learn more about our century of granting Larger Life to Moravian ministries, visit www.largerlifefoundation.org

Larger Life

Foundation

MORAVIAN CHURCH NORTHERN PROVINCE

The world’s oldest daily devotional that’s new every morning!

The 2021 edition of The Moravian Daily Texts continues a 290-year-long tradition of offering an inspirational connection to the Holy Scriptures every day.

Each entry in this beloved daily devotional includes “watchwords”—Old and New Testament verses to accompany readers throughout the day—combined with beautiful hymn texts and heartfelt prayers selected and written by Moravians across North America.

The Moravian Daily Texts 2021 begins shipping in Nov. 2020, but you can preorder yours online now at store.moravian.org. Order

by Aug. 13, 2020 and receive a 10% discount!

Learn more at store.moravian.org 2

The Moravian

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34 SPECIAL FEATURE Our Lamb has conquered.

Let us follow Him. In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love God Creates. God Redeems.

God Sustains.

We Respond in Faith, Love and Hope.

11 Joy to the World: The Board of World Mission

Annual Report 2019

Moravians Music 6

Why I Sing

Racial Justice 8

A pilgrimage for racial justice

Moravian Foundations 31 Moving ministries forward, together:

The 2019 Impact Statement of the Moravian Ministries

Foundation in America

In Our Congregations 34 Sunday morning food donations at Konnoak Moravian

Moravian Writings 36 In the name of Jesus

And more...

Visit our website at 4 Ponderings: https://www.moravian.org.

38 Official Provincial Elders’ News, Obituaries Letters to the editor, address corrections, and other correspondence may be e-mailed to the editorial staff at moravianmagazine@mcnp.org.

Issue No. 2 • 2020

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PONDERINGS

(ISSN 1041-0961 USPS 362600) Originally intended as April 2020, Vol. 51, No. 2 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

There’s still much to do…

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have to admit, this Ponderings was very difficult for me to write. I’ve started it – and done the computer equivalent of crumpling it up and tossing it in the trash – at least a dozen times. It’s been tough to get The Moravian back on track, and trying to write about what’s been happening over the past few months led me in many different directions. There has been much to do – and deal with – during this time…and there is still much to do.

Like many, I’ve been overwhelmed by the enormity of the times in which we live. In March, a novel coronavirus stormed onto our shores, infecting millions and killing more than 100,000 and counting. The disease’s virulence and unpredictability, and our inability to protect against it, caused the closure of schools, business and churches. Unemployment skyrocketed, the economy was hit hard, and terms like “social distancing” and “ventilator” and “contact tracing” became part of our everyday lexicon.

For all of us, this pandemic robbed many of us of our ability to congregate.

Worshiping together in our churches, singing our hymns and gathering for Bible studies or community events all became unsafe. Memorial services for those who died became private affairs. We were required to be physically distant during the holiest time of our church year – Holy Week and Easter. Only now, after nearly three months, are we considering coming back together in our churches.

But, while we’ve been physically apart, it doesn’t mean we’ve been spiritually distant. I’ve been truly amazed at the dedication, creativity and resourcefulness of Moravians everywhere in rising to the challenge this pandemic created.

Soon, pastors were becoming video stars. Bible studies and board meetings moved to virtual meeting rooms. Church services went online. Congregations began using new methods to connect with their members. And members found ways to continue serving their communities through food drives, mask-making, supporting local essential workers and many other ways of assisting those most affected by the pandemic.

My agency, the Interprovincial Board of Communication, focused on providing resources and materials for congregations to use in preparing alternative worship services. We’ve found ways to offer liturgies, music and recordings from the Moravian Book of Worship and other sources (and in the process became an reluctant authority on copyright and licensing). The staff of the IBOC has also continued to focus on filling orders, answering questions, providing resources, maintaining our online presence and preparing the 2021 Moravian Daily Texts.

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Published eight times per year: Jan/ Feb, April, May, June/July, August, Sept./ Oct., November and December, 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: 16,000 Postmaster please send address changes to The Moravian, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018.

Continuing The North American Moravian, The Moravian and The Wachovia Moravian.

Michael Riess, Editor Susan Kiefner, Communications Assistant Jill Bruckart, Customer Relations/Business Assistant Interprovincial Board of Communication Ginny Tobiassen, chair Terri Bischoff, Peggy Carter, Margaret Couch, Paul Knouse, Kat Lehman, Amy Linville, Dan Miller, Valerie Bean Wagner.

Design by Michael Riess, IBOC. Address all correspondence regarding articles, subscriptions, or advertising to The Moravian, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 FAX: 610.866.9223 Phone: 610.867.0594 800.732.0591 e-mail: moravianmagazine@mcnp.org www.moravian.org Contents © 2020, Interprovincial Board of Communications, Moravian Church in America.

All rights reserved

The Moravian

In partnership with Moravian Church Without Walls (MCWW), we’ve helped provide online services on Sundays for those whose congregations don’t have an online presence, while providing a central list of those churches who are holding virtual Sunday services. And in conjunction with MCWW and the Southern Province Board of Cooperative Ministries (BCM), we hosted Readings for Holy Week services and provided resources for churches who wanted to hold their own virtual opportunities, including audio recordings and printed materials.

I’m in awe of the work of Moravian agencies: the BCM, who provided a plethora of resources and materials on many aspects of dealing with COVID-19; the Board of World Mission, which offered grants to churches to enable alternative worship and communication; the Moravian Music Foundation, which found ways to keep music as part of our worship; and the Moravian Ministries Foundation in America, whose Giving Portal and investment management have helped many congregations. And throughout, the Provincial Elders’ Conferences and district boards provided guidance and leadership.

At the same time, our local Moravian ministries and agencies continued to make a positive impact in all that they do, overcoming many challenges brought on by COVID-19. (I could keep going – and will in future issues of The Moravian!)

Then, while our nation was reeling from the challenges brought on by COVID-19, a tragedy on the streets of Minneapolis brought a renewed and powerful focus on racial injustice to communities large and small. While both the Northern and Southern Provinces were already working on initiatives to address racial issues based on legislation from the Synods of 2018 (see story on page 8), the events in May have placed additional emphasis on helping to find answers.

There are a number of Moravian congregations in the Minneapolis area; several of our pastors who are working on racial justice issues live within miles of where George Floyd was killed. In the weeks that followed that tragic event, many pastors spoke on the topic in impassioned sermons, or participated in peaceful demonstrations decrying issues of race, inequality and violence. Online Issue No. 2 • 2020

and in upcoming issues of The Moravian, we’ll be looking to provide additional news and resources on this difficult issue.

As I write this, I’ve been working from various rooms in my house for more than ten weeks.

I haven’t visited my home church since March (although I have participated in church services every Sunday since we’ve been in our stay-at-home order, thanks to MCWW). Yet, I have much to be thankful for: my family and I are healthy, we continue to work, we’ve been fortunate to not be directly affected by the disease, and we’ve been very busy in a time when many were sidelined.

I admit it took some time to make this new routine work for me. It’s only been in the past few weeks that I’ve been able to shift my focus back to some of my more traditional yet important IBOC work – like The Moravian magazine.

There’s yet much to do as we seek to live into the “new normal.” Churches will be navigating the difficult task of returning to worshiping together.

Many of our friends and relatives will be struggling to find work or return to school. And across the land, coming to grips with—and taking action to address —racial inequality will be part of living out our faith.

Know that The Moravian will be documenting and sharing those efforts going forward. In the coming issues, we’ll share many of the stories of creativity and hope that have resonated through the Moravian world during 2020. See page 35 for information on sharing your story.

In this issue, we feature the Board of World Mission Annual Report (the publication of which is a BWM/IBOC partnership); reflections on singing and the power of Jesus; a pilgrimage for racial injustice that serves as a pilot for all Northern Province clergy in 2021; an update on the Moravian Ministries Foundation; and the story of how one church turned Sunday worship into a food drive (or is it the other way around?) As always, I appreciate your comments, questions and ideas.

It’s good to be back, but there’s still much to do.

Peace,

Mike Riess, Editor 5

MORAVIAN MUSIC

Why I Sing During the Moravian Church Without Wallshosted online service on June 7, the Rev. Dr. Nola Reed Knouse shared this sermon. To view the service, visit www.moravian.org.

W

hat does a Moravian Music Sunday sermon look like when I can’t tell you to get together and sing out in the congregation, no matter whether or not you can carry a tune in a bucket? My usual Moravian Music Sunday message – one I’ve adapted and preached in a couple dozen churches over the last 25 years or so – goes something like this: worship is an odd activity. Where else do we gather and sit, mostly in neat rows of people, all looking forward? Maybe at a concert or a lecture.

Where else do we all sing together? Maybe “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at the 7th-inning stretch.

Where else do we sit respectfully and listen to someone talk for 15 or 20 minutes, or even longer, and not applaud as for a political speech or guest lecture? Where else is the transmission of 6

money from my wallet to a plate or basket a sacred act? Yes, worship is an odd thing.

Where we are now, though, is a very odd place in itself. All of these trappings of worship have turned out to be dangerous to our health, and more importantly, to the health of the most vulnerable among us. We’ve known that a handshake or a hug can carry disease as well as affection. Passing an offering plate; holding a hymnal that someone else held earlier this morning; even passing out a bulletin – those may transmit a deadly virus. Singing together, it turns out, is a particularly efficient way of transmitting the virus. One by one, the things that we’ve come to think of as the hallmarks, the very essence, of our worship, are being stripped away – first, in early March, handshakes and hugs. Then the thought of passing something down a pew – whenever we do get together again in person.

And now, even singing.

So what’s left of our worship? What’s left is – Jesus. It’s the Jesus who we claim as the reason for all those activities; the Jesus who calls us to The Moravian

At left: Moravians singing during at a Southern Province service in 2017. Below: Nola Knouse conducts the band during an Easter sunrise service in Winston-Salem. Singing and playing today look much different, at least for now.

love one another, who tells us that this is how people will know we are his disciples, if we love one another – and so we hug and shake hands and give each other a kiss on the cheek.

It’s the Jesus whom we worship, as both testaments call us to do, praising God with songs and prayers – and so we produce hymnals and bulletins with songs and words to help us to praise Jesus together.

It’s the Jesus who calls some to be pastors and teachers and musicians to aid in our worship; who calls us to care for others by giving food, shelter, hospitality, clothing – and so we receive our offerings as part of worship, to support those pastors and teachers and musicians, to combine our resources to provide for the needs of others, to support the buildings we use for worship and service and learning and ministry.

All of our worship practices, then, are outgrowths of how we’ve heard Jesus’ words over the centuries. But when we can’t do the things we’ve always done, in the ways we’ve always done them – and remember, “always” is pretty much a matter of our own memory and spans our own lifetime, not centuries – what’s left is…Jesus.

The Jesus who says to us, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

The Jesus who promises that the Father will send another Advocate, a Helper, who will be with us forever.

The Jesus who will not leave us orphaned but who will continually – continually – reveal himself to us.

So why have we always sung together, any-

Issue No. 2 • 2020

way? Singing helps us remember the words.

How did you learn the alphabet?

Singing reaches into our hearts in ways that words alone cannot. Think about those with advanced dementia who cannot remember their own name or recognize even those they’ve most loved; but who can remember a song or hymn.

Singing deepens our fellowship, our community with one another. Think about college fight songs and alma maters, national anthems, the songs we sing in smaller groups, the camp songs that even years later bring back that strong sense of unity we shared with our fellow campers.

Singing expresses and forms our faith.

When you sing something over and over again, for all those reasons, it sinks deep into your heart and soul, the very depths of your being.

Brothers and Sisters, our music has been a tool for us. It’s never been an “essential” of our faith; even though we’ve considered it an essential part of our worship. It’s not an essential for our salvation, like the good will of God our Father, the saving work of Christ, the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Singing doesn’t stand alongside our response to God’s works like our faith, our love, our hope. Singing has been for us, for over 500 years, a way of expressing and strengthening our faith, our love, our hope.

What’s left when you take away our singing together, our hugs and handshakes, our passing offering plates and bulletins and hymnals?

What’s left when we can’t do coffee fellowship and potluck suppers the way we’ve always done them? What’s left is the one thing needful – the One whom we worship; the One who does not leave us orphaned; the One whose Spirit dwells within each of us and among us, whether we are in the same physical location or many miles apart. What’s left is Jesus, our first love, and the very ground of our being. May it be so! n 7

RACIAL JUSTICE

T

A pilgrimage for racial justice

his past January, 19 people from across the Northern Province of our Moravian Church gathered in a conference center in Montgomery, Alabama, for a pilgrimage toward racial justice and healing. This pilgrimage, put together by the Provincial Racial Justice Team, served as the trial run for a very similar opportunity to be offered to all active clergy under call or appointment, approved ministerial candidates, and retired clergy from the Northern Province who are able to attend. Originally slated for this September (and postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic), the Racial Justice Team expects to bring 100 people together for this pilgrimage.

The seed for this effort was planted at the 2018 Provincial Synod of the Northern Province with the passage of legislation calling for the elimination of racism (institutional, systemic and personal). This legislation called for the Provincial Elders’ Conference to “require

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all pastors, licensed ministers and candidates for ordination to receive anti-racism training.”

(2018 4th Partial Report Church and Society Committee: Elimination of Racism: Institutional, Systemic and Personal).

In the summer of 2019, Marian Boyle-Rohloff, Mark Breland, Sue Koenig, Betsy Miller and Hermann Weinlick attended the annual meeting of Churches United in Christ in Montgomery, Alabama, a part of which included experiencing historic sites and museums that tell the story of slavery and racism in our nation. It was a spiritual and transformative event, leading those who attended to wonder if this experience could be offered to all of our clergy.

The Racial Justice Team, which had been meeting since January 2019, started planning for an all-clergy pilgrimage, including plans for the ‘test-run’ that occurred in January 2020. The purpose of this pilgrimage was to learn about and to discover the history of racism in our de-

The Moravian

Below left: Pilgrimage attendees visit Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Ala. At right, top and center: scenes from the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. At bottom: the Rev. Dr. Catherine Meeks talks with Moravian clergy. Photos by Hopeton Clennon.

nomination and in the United States. We were honest about our own history as a church and our complicity with slavery. The Rev. Dr. Frank Crouch, Dean of Moravian Theological Seminary, was moved to emotion as he read the diaries of some of the slaves owned by Moravians.

One of our white bishops, who had begun to do ancestry work, read from the list of property that his family owned; among the animals and farm machinery was “a young Negro slave girl.”

We invited Dr. Catherine Meeks, a speaker steeped in racial justice work in the Episcopal Church, to guide us. Dr. Meeks interwove her spirituality and personal stories with her extensive lifelong academic, community and church work to dismantle racism. Moravian clergy of color shared stories of racism they have faced in their day to day lives.

Over the course of the three full days together we confronted “whiteness” and the legacy of “white supremacy” which still governs much of our institutional life in the United States. Our hotel overlooked a beautiful fountain in the middle of Dexter Avenue which led up to Capitol Hill past the Dexter Ave Baptist Church were Martin Luther King, Jr., served. We learned that the site of this fountain originally was a very busy trading block where slaves were bought and sold.

We attended various museums and historical sites, then made our way from Montgomery to Selma, the reverse of the journey made by Martin Luther King, Jr., and 25,000 others on the Selma to Montgomery March in the spring of 1965 demanding equal voting rights for African-Americans. We crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge on a bright sunny day; the same bridge where the first attempt at this peaceful march began and ended with bloodshed and violence enacted by the white authorities. An unexpected coincidence allowed the 19 of us entrance into

(Continued on next page) Issue No. 2 • 2020

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Pilgrimage

(Continued from previous page) the Brown Chapel in Selma where this march was conceived, organized and originated. The current pastor invited us in and assured us of that fact that his church was still leading the march from salvation to freedom.

In Montgomery, we visited the Dexter Ave. Baptist Church where tours are offered by a woman named Wanda. Wanda speaks with the authority, passion and faith of a preacher. She led us into Martin Luther King, Jr.’s office and showed us his 8 x 10 simply-framed picture on the wall of pastors that have served the church.

She invited us into the sanctuary of the still active church, and we gingerly took turns standing in the pulpit. She sang with us and preached the love and hope she embodied.

All of these experiences were memorable, but the Legacy Museum and Lynching Memorial (National Memorial for Peace and Justice) were profoundly moving and informative. This museum and memorial were created by the Equal Justice Initiative, the story of which is told in the current movie, “Just Mercy.” Many of us came into the pilgrimage having read the book of the same name and having seen the movie.

This museum makes the compelling case that slavery is not dead and gone; it has evolved into mass incarceration. One of every three black boys born today will more than likely face some time in prison or jail. First and foremost, this staggering number is not about choices made by any one individual; it is about choices made 10

collectively and repeatedly in our legislative process. Transformation begs to happen.

On the wall of the Lynching Memorial, where more than 800 six-foot boxes of corten steel hang symbolizing the more than 5,000 black men, women and children who have been lynched throughout the United States, are written these words: We will remember…

With hope because hopelessness is the enemy of justice.

With courage because peace requires

bravery.

With persistence because justice is a

constant struggle With faith because we will overcome.

On September 14-17, 2021, Northern Province ministers will make their way south to Atlanta, Georgia, from Alberta, Canada to Washington, D.C. and everywhere in between for a pilgrimage toward racial justice and healing. We covet the prayers of our congregations over these coming months as we make preparations for this pilgrimage toward racial justice and healing. n The Rev. Dr. Amy Gohdes-Luhman is pastor of Waconia Moravian Church in Waconia, Minn.

She is a member of the Northern Province Racial Justice Team. On May 31, Amy deliverd a sermon discussing the events surrounding the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, not far from her home, as part of a Moravian Church Without Walls Sunday service. See the service recording at www.moravian.org./2020/05/mcwwservices/ The Moravian

Joy

TO THE

WORLD

BOARD OF WORLD MISSION ANNUAL REPORT 2019

FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN in a class, lecture, or even a church service and found your mind starting to wander? It is sometimes a momentary and sincere reflection on an idea or a word; however, it can also be a sign of your fatigue or lack of focus. I wish I was more aligned with the former but honestly, I identify

more with the latter. We all have so many responsibilities and things we want to do that blocking them out can be extremely difficult.

like it was Christmas Day. A pretty drowsy congregation was collectively energized and activated by this jolt of joyous melody.

When Justin and I were discussing the theme for this annual report and he mentioned “Joy to the World,” I instantly recalled being at a conference in Waspam, Nicaragua. We were leading a mission conference at a church and it had been going on for several hours. It was hot and the large lunch of rice and beans was beginning to drive most of the attendees towards a nap.

I must have also started to wander in my thoughts when I heard the pastor exclaim, “Everyone stand up and sing “Joy to the World”. Instantly, the entire church stood straight up and began to belt the words

As I sit and write these words, the world is currently dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are all experiencing changes to our daily lives and our minds all too often wander to anxious thought.

It is my hope that as you read the words that follow and see the examples of peace, hope, and love in the world that we will all be like those congregants in Waspam that day. We will be energized and activated by the joy all around us as we embark in missions together.

What joyous melody will we sing together? l

2019 BOARD OF WORLD MISSION Thomas Baucom, Chair* Board-Appointed, Southern Province

David Geyer, Vice-Chair* Eastern District, Northern Province

Becky Turnbull, Secretary* Eastern District, Northern Province

Joe Jarvis Left to right: Lisa Pampe, Dan Miller, Taylor Wickert, Thomas Baucom, Alina Ricardo, Justin Rabbach, Becky Turnbull, Betsy Miller, Donna Gordon, Tommy Cole, Sheila Beaman, Sam Gray, Hilda Regalado, Rex Knowlton, Deb Swanson, Joe Jarvis, Chris Giesler, Jill Kolodziej and Dave Geyer.

Southern Province

Note: I wrote the words below in early March, before the full extent of the impact of the pandemic were known. I have chosen not to adapt the words, as I feel they are still an important reflection on our work in 2019. Additionally, as global partners have reached out to us for support and guidance, I have felt our relationships strengthen and deepen. More now than ever, it is important for the BWM to offer “Joy to the World”… and to remember our faith is a light, shining even in the darkest hours.

THE YEARLY WATCHWORD for the Board of World Mission (BWM) guides our work and helps keep our daily details focused on the overarching call throughout scripture to be a part of God’s mission.

This year, the watchword for the BWM is from John 16:24 – “Ask and you shall receive so your joy may be complete.”

As the BWM staff thought about the many things that bring us JOY in

Clifford Jimmie Alaska Province

Tommy Cole*

PEC, Southern Province

Hilda Regalado

Southern Province

David Miller

our work, we could think of no better theme for this year’s annual report than “Joy to the World.” The song by this title instantly brings to mind a very specific time of year, yet, the message of the song, the proclamation of the coming of our Lord, certainly is timely any day of the year.

An annual report can be viewed the same way.

Each year around the same time, we hope to put together a message that shares the impact and importance of the work of the BWM. But, it is the year round, day in and day out work that makes the celebration of this work in this way so special.

For each Mission Grant, we could share a story for each step of the process: the application, the global partner leadership endorsement, the review by the Mission Outreach Committee, the staff administration of the international wire-transfer, the individual who oversaw program implementation and reported

back, and the individuals and community who benefited from the program.

In order to see the joy on many faces throughout this report, it took a COMPLETE team effort.

Thank you for your support of the BWM as we live out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, which is just another way of saying, thank you for helping us bring JOY TO THE WORLD! l

Taylor Wickert

Alina Ricardo*

Donna Gordon

Errol Connor

Betsy Miller*

Phyllis Smith-Seymour

Western District, Northern Province Canadian District, Northern Province

Unity of the Brethren

PEC President, Northern Province

Lisa Pampe

Dan Miller

Western District, Northern Province

FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Board Appointed, Northern Province

Southern Province Mission Society EWI Province, Advisory Member Jamaica, Advisory Member

Rex Knowlton

Treasurer, Advisory Member * member of Executive Committee

MISSION OUTREACH Note: The COVID-19 Pandemic delayed the publishing of this report, and, as of printing, we add this note to the report below to share that BWM staff remains in contact with all global partners. We have responded with emergency funding to help provide access to food, water and transportation, as well as capital needed to sustain several sustainable projects in a difficult time.

Additionally, in June 2020, Rt. Rev. Sam Gray, who had served as Director of Mission Outreach for BWM, accepted the call to serve as pastor of New Philadelphia Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. We thank Sam for his 14 years of service on the staff and the tremendous work he did to further the spread of the Gospel in word and deed. We wish him well in the next stage of his ministry as he continues his call to mission in a new way.

IN 2019 WE STRENGTHENED our partnership with Little Church on the Lane and worked together in the ongoing development of the Sierra Leone Mission Area. There are now five Moravian congregations in Sierra Leone.

They were represented at the first National Confer-

ence of the Sierra Leone Mission Area. The Moravian Secondary School (that now has over 500 students) was recognized by the Sierra Leone government as a government-assisted school.

We worked together with leaders in the Peru Mission Area to focus on sharing the good news with people in the Amazon Moravian District and outreach efforts in Chiclayo and Lima. Two people from the Amazon, along with leaders from six Moravian congregations and ministries, took part in leadership development courses offered in partnership with Moravian Theological Seminary.

These classes were also offered to pastors and leaders in the Cuba Mission Province, with 14 men and women from all across the island in attendance.

The BWM Executive Director and the Director of Mission Engagement visited the Labrador Mission Province where, despite some weather-related challenges, they were able to renew our partnership and plan some upcoming opportunities for pastoral and lay leadership trainings. l —Sam Gray

GLOBAL PARTNERS BWM’S WATCHWORD, “Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete” (John 16:24), is found in a passage where Jesus speaks of the joy and pain of childbirth. When we join with our partners in ministry around the world, seeking to allow Christ to be born in us today, we share our mutual joys and we bear our mutual burdens.

At the Synod of the Eastern West Indies Province, much of the focus was outward (Tortola, Grenada, Haiti, evangelism efforts) while continuing to address the ongoing pain and suffering resulting from hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The Costa Rica Province celebrated another Youth and Congregational Mission Conference, following up on a conference in 2018, both

of these led by BWM staff members.

We continue to work with the Honduras Unity Province in supporting the medical ministry of the Ahuas Clinic and the Infant Feeding Program in nearby communities.

Mission Grants have helped to strengthen the efforts of both the Honduras Unity Province and the Honduras Mission Province. These grants have also helped our partners in the Moravian Church in Western Tanzania to continue sharing the good news among Sukuma people and expand the facilities of the Tabora Medical Dispensary.

We are walking with the Moravian Church in Nicaragua through a period of conflict and division. We

ask for continued prayers that the God of hope might bring joy and peace to all of our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters.

A major focus has been on leadership development.

We have carried out or facilitated the translation of important Moravian documents (Church Order of the Unitas Fratrum; The Ground of the Unity; The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living) into Spanish and/ or Miskitu, and continue to work in partnership with Moravian Theological Seminary on the development and production of leadership development courses that can be offered throughout the Moravian Worldwide Unity. l

Joy

TO THE

WORLD

ANTIOCH/MISSION SERVICE AS THE DIRECTOR OF MISSION SERVICE, I have the privilege of hearing of the joy that volunteers experience as they live out their faith through service.

We find hope through the joy-filled reflections and photographs from several of the eighty-six faithful servants who responded to God’s call in 2019.

Here are reflections from three places where service occurred in 2019: JAMAICA: “During our nightly devotions, we realized that mission work is done in many forms-painting houses, providing financial support for materials, playing dominoes or soccer, or building personal relationships with our brothers and sisters in other ways. In Jamaica, this is all

done in God’s love and the joy is multiplied. Knowing that mission work can at times be easy and at times take searching deep within your soul to give a bit more of yourself to fit the needs of another’s culture, we felt rewarded and fulfilled at the end of each day’s experience.”

CUBA: “The opportunity to be part of Camp Cuba was such a gift in so many ways, especially with regard to the relationships that developed. The Eastern District partnered with the Board of World Mission in this cross-cultural, leadership training camp ministry, and relational community ministry outreach. It was a privilege to experience the greater Moravian Church through our shared faith

and ministries.”

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: “St. John is a beautiful place with wonderful people; relationships are more important than fences being built; God always has us under His wing. The residents of St. John were grateful even with all that was lost to Hurricane Maria and the slow rebuilding of their church.”

With the inspiration of these stories of living in relationship with God and each other, may our experience of faith take us places that open our hearts, minds and souls to God’s enduring presence. l ­—Jill Kolodziej

MISSION ENGAGEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF MY LIFE, I have learned that the people who seem the most selfish also happen to be the most unhappy.

Conversely, the folks that I know to be genuinely happy are the ones who most keenly look out for others.

I have observed the same to be true for congregations as well. Congregations that are concerned most for their own needs are often unhappy places, while those engaged with their neighbors near and far tend to be more joyful.

Jesus lived this truth himself. Wherever he went, he was continually engaged with those around him and, as a result, knew what needs were present.

Examples are easy to find: a blind man on the side of the road, 5,000 (or more) hungry people, a woman hemorrhaging, a sick child, grieving sisters of a deceased brother, just to

name a few. To paraphrase John 3:16 we might say, “For God so loved the world that he gave us his son so that he might be fully engaged in the world.”

As the Director of Mission Engagement for the Board of World Mission, it is my honor to help congregations to be more engaged with and in mission to the world around them. In the past year, it has been my pleasure to be able to preach at mission-emphasis Sundays in congregations such as Cannan, Central, Home, Raleigh, Newfoundland, Watertown, Wisconsin Rapids, and Calvary (Allentown). It has been a joy to help lead programming at Mission Camp at Laurel Ridge, lead the program on the history of Moravian Missions at the Young Adult Convo in St. Thomas and St. John, and to provide the program for the Union Cross congrega-

tion at its annual retreat.

I have done training for groups about to set out on mission trips to places such as Honduras, Tortola, St. Thomas, St. John and Nepal. I have seen a lot of joy AND a lot of passion!

As your congregation seeks to be more joyfully engaged in your local or global neighborhood, how can I help you? l —Chris Giesler

Joy

TO THE

WORLD

MORAVIAN DISASTER RESPONSE (MDR)

WE WISH THAT EVERY DAY would bring good weather, perfect health and safe neighborhoods. But our world is full of unpredictability and sometimes disasters come.

Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and disease are part of the fabric of this world.

Each time a child of God suffers, the body of Christ (the Church) is called to reach out in Jesus’ name to assist.

The Moravian Disaster Response (MDR) Fund is supported by congregations and members of the Moravian congregations who respond to our appeals when our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are suffering.

In the past year, we have helped to fund hurricane relief efforts in St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, the Bahamas, flood relief to Malawi, and support following a devastating fire in the Moravian Village of Wupperthal, South Africa. Closer to home, we have helped to support four mission team trips to help with rebuilding efforts following the hurricanes in

Wilmington and Burgaw, N.C., and sent funding to provide relief following the fires in California.

As this report was being written, the Board of World Mission extended $13,500 in grants to 58 North American congregations and agencies to help with unexpected expenses in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many congregations used these funds to purchase Zoom subscriptions and computer upgrades to help them put their worship services online.

Others have used the grants to cover added mailing costs or to bolster food pantry stocks for neighbors in need.

This work would not be possible without the generosity of congregations and individuals being compassionate givers to the MDR Fund. We continue to ask for your support because these disasters will only continue.

We ask that your gifts be made to the fund itself, and not to a specific area, so that we can mobilize funds to where they are most needed at the moment. l

A SAVINGS FUND IS CRUCIAL WHEN DISASTER STRIKES As we have all learned, emergencies happen. Most of them happen quickly and without warning. The Board of World Mission’s Moravian Disaster Relief Fund is trying to prepare in advance for disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other unplanned events. When we have funds in our account, we

are able to respond quickly to our partners when they need our support the most.

Would you consider a recurring donation to the Board of World Mission to help us be prepared for the next disaster? Please visit www.moravianmission.org/ give for further information on how you can become a donor.

SNIPPETS OF

Joy

THE BWM WATCHWORD FOR THIS YEAR is John 16:24 “Ask and you shall receive so your joy may be complete.”

Your joy would probably be much more complete if you would have the opportunity to meet some of the people referenced in this report face to face. So, we share with you these joyful faces and these “snippets of joy” from around the world:

▲ the faces of Raleigh Moravians as they explored ways of being in partnership with Moravians in Costa Rica

▼ the faces of students at Leadership Development courses in Cuba, Peru and Sierra Leone as they learned about their rich heritage and extended family as Moravians in the Worldwide Unity

▲ the faces of participants at the National Conference in Sierra Leone when they elected their first steering committee (and broke into joyful song and dance!)

▼ the faces of mothers whose infants are being fed and nourished by the Infant Feeding Program

▲ the faces of women in the Honduras Mission Province taking part in a conference and joining together in joyful worship each evening ▼ the faces of children at Ray of Hope in Kenya, taking part in Vacation Bible School activities

▲ the faces of participants at the National Conference in Peru when delegates from the newly formed Amazon District spoke and sang in Aguaruna ▼ the faces of Costa Rican Moravians taking part in a conference and discerning new ways to be involved in God’s mission in the world

▼ the faces of preschool children in Nepal when they meet teachers and volunteers from other parts of the world

▲ the faces of victims of disasters as they see their brothers and sisters reaching out to ▼ the faces of children learning support them and be keyboard skills at Estamos present with them Unidos Ministries in Winston-Salem

MISSION GRANTS BWM OFFERS MISSION GRANTS for the areas of leadership development, mission outreach, and economic strengthening. Grants have been disbursed for projects such as an evangelistic outreach ministry among Sukuma people in Tanzania, a motorcycle for the Ahuas Clinic in Honduras, a “chalupa” riverboat and motor for the Amazon Region of Peru, leadership capacity-building in Western Tanzania, the sale of gasoline and diesel in Honduras, a health dispensary in Western Tanzania, construction of the superintendent’s house in Honduras, and more... a few of these grants are highlighted on these pages.

SIERRA LEONE We read in Acts chapter 1 that Jesus told his followers that they would be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Acts chapter 8 tells the story of one of those witnesses, Philip.

When he shared the good news in Samaria, there was “great joy” (Acts 8:8).

The Sierra Leone Mission Committee recognized that there are still many “Sa-

marias” (neglected or marginalized areas) where the good news can bring great joy.

And now, there is technology available that might have made Philip’s task easier. The SLMC received a grant for the purchase of electronic equipment (electric generator, P.A. system, projectors, etc.) in order to bring the gospel (and joy!) to more villages in eastern Sierra Leone.

HONDURAS MISSION PROVINCE Sister Lucila Wood envisioned a gathering of women where they could learn about social transformation and improving quality of life in addition to acquiring practical skills in sewing, baking, crafts and other ways of supplementing their support. She applied for a grant that was used to help transport 70 women to the town of Paptalaya and to purchase materials for the conference. Local women housed and fed the participants to help lower the cost of this important conference.

HONDURAS UNITY PROVINCE In 2019, the BWM funded the third year of a four year scholarship for Brother Hiloy Ramirez Lopez of the Honduran Unity Province. The BWM supports this scholarship as one step being taken to strengthen leadership and theological training in La Mosquitia, the rural area of Honduras where most of the Moravians in that country reside. When Hiloy completes his training, he will be able to assist in the training of pastors in a Moravian context closer to many students’ homes. This will help to increase the number of students who can afford the time and travel commitments to be trained as ordained leaders in the church.

PERU What do guinea pigs, a photography studio, a river boat, a laundromat and dairy products distribution all have in common? They are some of the projects that have been supported through Mission Grants in the Peru Mission Area.

Brother Joaquín Muro, president of the Peru Mission Area, decided to use his skills to start a sustainable source of income for his congregation in the city of Zaña. Guinea pigs (“cuy”) are considered a delicacy in Peru. Brother Muro had a small tract of land available and applied for a grant to purchase materials for cages (which he built) and for enough male and female “cuy” to get the project going.

And his investment is multiplying!

Brandon Lee Valencia has an important ministry in a marginalized suburb of Chiclayo, Peru, called “Ciudad de Dios” (City of God). He works with children in an after-school and weekend program, teaching them about Jesus and providing a safe and fun place for them to gather to sing, play games, learn and enjoy snacks provided by the local congregation. Brother Brandon applied for a Mission Grant that he used to set up a photography and videography studio. He charges a reasonable fee for producing videos and photo packages of weddings, birthdays, baptisms, new babies, etc. In this way, he is able to support himself and his ministry and also give a portion of the proceeds to the church.

Joy

TO THE

WORLD

INTERNING WITH THE BOARD OF WORLD MISSION MATT SPIES

KYRA TESSMANN

This summer, I had the privilege of being the Disaster Response intern for the BWM. I spent most of my summer in the mountains of Laurel Ridge assisting with four weeks of mission camp. Mission camp is a week-long opportunity to give back to the community in a meaningful way. Our time was spent painting walls, building decks, patching roofs, and repairing homes in a number of ways. However, the real impact mission camp has made is creating relationships with homeowners.

I started my BWM internship hoping to learn more about nonprofits and to find the next step in my career.

While I did learn a lot, and I loved creating a fundraising plan to grow the Mission Grants fund, the biggest takeaway from my experience was the relationships I that developed along the way. I loved meeting, networking and learning from speakers and participants alike at the Moravian Women’s Conference in North Carolina. I was there to help fundraise at the BWM merchandise booth, but I got to bond with, and be inspired by, all the participants.

In addition to my time at Laurel Ridge, I spent a few days in Lumberton and Wilmington, N.C., assisting with different disaster relief projects resulting from the latest hurricane. In both places, I was able to meet other Moravians from North Carolina and Sturgeon Bay, Wis. The greatest part of this opportunity with the BWM has definitely been the relationships I have made. This internship has truly made me feel more connected in the Moravian community.

Another highlight was co-leading the Camp Cuba 2019 Mission Group. Even almost a year later after laughing and singing with the kids and leaders in that church camp, I still chat with my Cuban family almost weekly, and I cannot wait to return. I’m forever grateful for those opportunities that turned into friendships.

THOUGHTS FROM OUR STAFF

DEB SWANSON

Executive Assistant

REX KNOWLTON Treasurer

Within the staff of the BWM, the task performed by the Treasurer falls into the category of mending, not casting, of the nets as we go fishing around the world. The tasks performed include: keeping the books, processing of payroll, maintaining insurance coverage, paying our obligations accurately and timely, and doing so within the realm of acceptable accounting principles. I also network with our partners while managing our international wire transfers.

It is a privilege and a pleasure to work with the board, staff and our various partners providing support around the world.

SHEILA BEAMAN

Administrative Assistant We greatly rejoice for the many mission opportunities in which the Southern Province Mission office had involvement. There were great opportunities to learn in 2019…about Cuba at the Mission Awareness Dinner, about the Ray of Hope Orphanage at the Mission Lovefeast, about Alaska at a salmon bake. It is a joy to help support volunteers who take part in mission work, and then to help set up events where they can tell the stories about their work.

“The Lord has done it this very day, let us rejoice.”

Psalm 118

As I celebrate my fifth anniversary with the BWM this year, I am honored to be a part of this group of dedicated people who are committed to making a difference with others in this world while sharing God’s word.

In 2019, BWM added an online fundraising tool to make it easier for folks to support the work that we do. This tool, Tithe.ly, is a cloud-based funds collection application that allows our supporters to donate funds in a variety of ways. It also provides reports, alerts and donation tracking. Donors now have the option of donating on a recurring basis to help support the Board of World Mission and/or their favorite Mission Area. Please visit moravianmission.org/ give to sign up!

Joy

TO THE

WORLD

PERU NATIONAL CONFERENCE THE PERU MORAVIAN MISSION AREA was formally organized in 2012 and held its first National Conference in 2015. In 2019, the second National Conference was planned by the Mission Area Board (elected at the first National Conference) and fraternal delegates from the Board of World Mission and the Northern Province were invited to attend. The conference took place in Chiclayo, Peru.

There were delegates from the original four congregations (two in Lima and two in Chiclayo). We also joyfully welcomed delegates from a newly incorporated congregation, Zaña; four delegates from the newly organized Amazon District; and representatives from outreach ministries in Chiclayo and Lima.

Joy

TO THE

WORLD

Each morning began with devotions followed by a workshop or training for the pastors and delegates in attendance. Throughout the day, plenary sessions were held in which reports from the congregations and ministries were presented.

A highlight of these reports was when one of the delegates from the Amazon District spoke (in Aguaruna, with Spanish translation) on the work of the Moravian Church in villages on the Marañon River. There

were also reports on the present state of the projects supported by BWM Mission Grants.

Each evening, the Conference delegates took part in joyful worship services that were open to the general public. During one of those worship services, there was a graduation ceremony for students who completed their theological studies through the online program of Dunamis International Ministries, founded and conducted by the outgoing president of the Peru Mission Area, the Rev. Christopher Valencia.

The closing worship time served as the installation service for the newly elected Mission Area Board. Brother Joaquín Muro was elected president of the Mission Area. In his acceptance remarks, he emphasized his commitment to the outreach work in the Amazon District. That commitment was reinforced when, on the day after the conference, he traveled to the Amazon with BWM and Northern Province representatives... and decided to stay for a whole week! l

PSALM 30:11 SAYS, “You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.”

Throughout 2019, many of us continued to mourn the passing of our dear brother, the Rev. Mohamed Braima. God used Brother Braima and Sister Safiatu Braima in wonderful ways to plant, nurture and cultivate the Sierra Leone Moravian Mission Area. Sister Safie was accompanied in her grief by countless souls touched by Brother Mohamed’s ministry, and she courageously continues to carry out the work that she and her husband had begun.

At the First National Conference of the Sierra Leone Mission Area, “mourning” was literally turned into “dancing.” When the first official board (called the Sierra Leone Mission Area Steering Committee) was elected, all of the confer-

ence delegates jumped up and began singing... and dancing! This was a recognition of God’s faithfulness to all generations, or, as Brother Mohamed often reminded everyone, “God is good... all the time!”

Five delegates from each of the five Moravian congregations, two delegates from the Moravian Secondary School, and Provincial acolyte, Sister Safie Braima, were joined by fraternal delegates from the Board of World Mission, the Sierra Leone Mission Committee, the Southern Province, and the Worldwide Unity. The fraternal delegates helped the Sierra Leone Moravians understand and appreciate the global context of the church in Sierra Leone.

Each of the five congregations reported on the present state of their ministries. The principal of the Moravian Secondary School spoke of the “good

SIERRA LEONE NATIONAL CONFERENCE problems” that the institution is facing because of increased enrollment (now more than 500 students) and the challenge of maintaining “quality” as well as “quantity.” Sister Safie summarized the story of God’s faithfulness in the past and looked forward to how God will continue to work in new ways (and through more people) in the future.

Much discussion took place concerning issues related to the ongoing development of the Mission Area.

The election of the Steering Committee was the high point of the Conference as the delegates rejoiced (in song and dance!) to see God’s faithfulness in continuing to call men and women to carry out the work that God began in them. l

AHUAS CLINIC IN HONDURAS This report was submitted in Spanish by Ted Riven, director of the Ahuas Clinic and translated by BWM staff for inclusion in this publication.

is required for surgery in cities such as San Pedro Sula or Tegucigalpa. Thanks to our Heavenly Father and the surgeon on site, we have helped many men with this issue.

THE CLINIC WAS FOUNDED on June 16, 1946, by missionaries and doctors from the United States of America through the Moravian Church. The purpose was to help people with limited financial resources and help this area with a medical center since there was no center for medical care, so the clinic is defined as a nonprofit center, supporting the general population who do not have resources for supporting their basic needs for subsistence.

The clinic provides care for 10 patients with HIV / AIDS who visit the hospital in Puerto Lempira. The clinic covers the round-trip expenses for their medical care with the help of funds sent from the Board of World Mission for special patients needing CD4 evaluation every six months.

Since its foundation, the clinic has been operating with donations and subsidies sent by the BWM. Without such assistance, this medical center, that is of great importance for the restoration of many patients who come for their medical assistance, would cease to exist.

In La Mosquitia, there have been many cases of prostate issues among male patients. Almost 80,000 Lempiras ($3,200)

The clinic does face challenges. For example, because of the remote location of our facility, we always need to purchase medicines at an early date and hope our careful calculations are correct so they will arrive on time and keep the clinic properly supplied.

Despite challenges, in 2019, the Ahuas Clinic saw nearly 3,500 patients. This included 171 births, 324 surgeries and nearly 6,400 lab tests.

Thank you for the ongoing support of this medical work and ministry. l

MISSION IN WESTERN TANZANIA THE MORAVIAN CHURCH OF WESTERN TANZANIA’S orphan care initiative is now in its twentieth year. Thirty-three “Moravian Mamas” provide these children with food, clothing, medical care and scholarships for those pursuing education beyond secondary school.

Adopt a Village, launched by the Board of World Mission in 2006, provides most of the financial support for these children.

Due to significant decreases in contributions, no new orphans have been enrolled for the last two years. The number of participants has dropped to 2,800 from its zenith of 3,200 in 2017.

Forty-one sacks of maize, each weighing 70 pounds, were purchased and sent to the ten village orphan centers last May. The “Mamas” also distribute clothing donated by Moravian Academy.

The new church in Mazinge, the sixteenth built since 2000, has been roofed. It is now fully functional and is used each Sunday. The small Sukuma congregation at Mwasavanga began roofing their new church last July with

funding provided by the Society for the Promotion of the Gospel.

The sixteenth new well was completed last year at the village of Usipilo.

Fifteen new students joined the Special Needs School, which registers blind, deaf, or “slow learner” children. Total enrollment is now 96, fifteen of whom are albinos.

A two-year program at the Lusangi Bible School educates assistant pastors for the Moravian Church.

Three students in each year are receiving total support from the Parker Scholarship Fund.

The Sikonge Moravian Church is continuing its evangelism of the Sukuma, many of whom have never heard the name of Jesus.

A total of 38 adults and 47 children are attending services in the villages of Igulula and Mwasavanga each Sunday.

All of the above programs and projects have been funded by churches or individuals from North America. l

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.

SUPPORT AND REVENUE For the year ended December 31, 2019 Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church Northern, Southern, Alaska Provinces Larger Life Foundation

$480,925 $26,398

Society for Promoting the Gospel

$196,590

Mission Society, Southern Province

$25,000

Other Provincial Support

$37,690

Investment Returns w/o Donor Restriction

$307,524

Investment Returns with Donor Restriction

$177,545

Contributions w/o Donor Restriction

$103,916

Contributions with Donor Restriction

$197,266

Total Support and Revenue Contributions w/o Donor Restriction

$1,552,854

Northern, Southern and Alaskan Provincial support remains the foundation of our funding, this year providing over 30% of our total. Our investments provided stronger than usual returns. Donor restricted investments provided over 11% of total support and those without restrictions almost 20%.

Contributions from a variety of sources, such as individual donors, account for over 12% with donor restriction, and another over 6% without restriction. The Society for Promoting the Gospel supported over 12% of our total income this year with the Larger Life Foundation, other Provincial support and the Southern Mission Society providing over 5% of the total. All of these contributions allow us to present our programs on behalf of all Moravians across the globe.

Contributions with Donor Restriction

Investment Returns with Donor Restriction

Northern, Southern, Alaska Provinces

Investment Returns w/o Donor Restriction Society for Promoting the Gospel

Joy

TO THE

WORLD

Larger Life Foundation Other Provincial Support

Southern Province Mission Society

We are extremely grateful for our partnership with the Moravian Ministries Foundation as they, and Wells Fargo, assist with our ability to get the needed funds in other countries. Each month, we send from three to 15 wire-transfers to all corners of the globe, often with challenges, in order to support our mission. This year, we released wires to 19 different countries using 28 unique wire templates.

Our disbursements, depicted in the graphic, include our expenses and releases from our exchange accounts. Exchanges, or support for a specific outreach for which the BWM acts as a conduit for passage, represent another significant part of our mission work.

The direct program costs include much of the effort of our front-line staff as they travel to various global communities. Our historic partners, as well as many areas being served through our Mission Grant program, comprise the 19 countries reached financially this year. With natural disasters occurring both abroad and in United States, our support has also served people domestically. The MDR RV, which hosted mission teams onsite for disasters, was stationed in three different areas of the U.S. at different times this year.

Every effort is made to keep our administrative cost as low as possible, this year being under twenty percent.

For additional information or a copy of the audited financial statements, please contact Deb Swanson or myself at the Bethlehem office of the BWM. Thank you for your support of this important outreach.

—Rex Knowlton, Treasurer

EXPENDITURES

For the year ended December 31, 2019 Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church Direct Program Costs Partner Province Support

$499,235

Mission Programs/Initiatives

465,291

Support and Administration Total Expenditures

$239,874 $1,204,400

Partner Province Support Mission Programs/Initiatives

Support & Administration

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. Design by Mike Riess, IBOC ©2020, Board of World Mission.

Visit us at www.moravianmission.org.

BOARD OF

WORLD MISSION of the Moravian Church • North America Board of World Mission staff and directors engage you to take part in the common mission of the BWM: Mission Outreach—using our gifts to support ministries with our partners around the world.

OFFICES:

STAFF:

Board of World Mission 1021 Center St. Bethlehem, PA 18018 610.868.1732

Sheila Beaman, Administrative Asst., Winston-Salem sbeaman@mcsp.org or sheila@moravianmission.org Chris Giesler, Director of Mission Engagement chris@moravianmission.org Jill Kolodziej, Director of Mission Service jill@moravianmission.org Rex Knowlton, Accountant/Treasurer rex@moravianmission.org Justin Rabbach, Executive Director justin@moravianmission.org Deb Swanson, Executive Asst., Bethlehem deb@mcnp.org or deb@moravianmission.org

Board of World Mission 500 S. Church St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101 336.773.1732

WEB: www.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: _____________________ Checks must be made payable to "Board of World Mission."

Please mail your tax-deductible donation to: The Board of World Mission, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 or visit us at www.moravianmission.org to donate online.

MORAVIAN FOUNDATIONS

Moving ministries forward, together: The 2019 Impact Statement of the Moravian Ministries Foundation in America

E

ach year, the Moravian Ministries Foundation in America shares a report on their impact in the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church in America.

“Our goal is to help individuals, churches and agencies grow and sustain the ministries that are central to our Moravian faith,” said Chris Spaugh, president and CEO of the Moravian Ministries Foundation in America (MMFA).

“Moravians give generously and thoughtfully as individuals and also collectively in response to God’s call. We are proud to report the impact of the collective portion of our Moravian financial response through MMFA during 2019.”

Financial Status As of December 31, 2019, Moravians like you have $170,749,955.57 under investment through MMFA­—the largest amount in the foundation’s 22-year history. These assets represent your collective endowments, trusts, scholarship funds, donor-advised funds, gift annuities, pensions and various other invest-

ment accounts -- all invested for the glory and furtherment of the kingdom of our Chief Elder, Jesus Christ.

Endowed and donor-advised funds managed by MMFA generated more than a half million dollars in distributions to ministry in 2019.

Half of these distributions were issued to Moravian congregations in the United States to support the ongoing work of individual, local churches. Global mission work received 23 percent of the funds from your planned gifts.

These gifts funded mostly Moravian global ministries through the Board of World Mission, Unity Women’s Desk, Armando Rusindo Ministry Foundation and others.

You also gave generously to support U.S. educational institutions and issue scholarships, which accounted for 12 percent of the funds from your planned gifts. Seven percent went to institutions devoted to the preservation of Moravian archives, music and history. Your gifts to Moravian camps in the U.S. accounted for 8 percent of the funds.

(Continued on next page)

Moravians participate in a “Celebrate Stewardship” session at East Hills Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pa.

Issue No. 2 • 2020

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MMFA 2019

(Continued from previous page) Stewardship Services MMFA is able to provide Stewardship Services to Moravian congregations and communities of faith at no charge because of the generosity of your fellow Moravian investors. The goals of these services are to shape leaders, educate believers and help develop holistic and sustainable stewardship ministries.

In 2019 we worked with 10 congregations on things such as: • Developing a stewardship belief statement • Inviting people to look at how they give of their time, talent, treasure and testimony in new ways, and vision for the steward they’d like to be • Creating materials such as bulletin inserts, letters and newsletter articles • Hosting two “Celebrate Stewardship!” conferences (one in Winston-Salem, one in Bethlehem) for pastors and lay leaders. 61 attendees representing 29 congregations were invited to consider, “What would God have me do with all that God has entrusted to me?” We also offered a “mini version” in southern Wisconsin, which had 12 attendees.

Finally, MMFA’s partnerships with the Ecumenical Stewardship Center and Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University provided valuable resources and savings to clergy, lay people and congregations.

Investment Management Moravian investors like you have entrusted to MMFA’s management 79 annuities and seven split interest trusts. Last year, five new church/ agency investors put money in the Moravian Common Fund. Collectively, investors deposited more than $3.5 million of additional funds into the Common Fund in 2019.

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We have now been with Abbot Downing for just over one year. Our relationship is still developing and we are working to fully build out our investment holdings per their strategic recommendations. They are delivering unmatched service and responsiveness to the needs of our congregations and agencies, and are allowing us opportunities that we have never had in the past. This partnership makes more pooled investment options available to our churches through the Common Fund at a lower cost than any church would have on its own.

Planned Giving MMFA entered a new partnership with PG Calc for Planned Giving content and functionality in August 2019. This relationship enriches the content and tools available to you through MMFA’s website to explain planned giving options. You can more easily identify your best giving options and use online calculators to help estimate your possible returns, deductions, etc. A new online will-planning guide helps you organize information about your assets and planned gifts to Moravian congregations and ministries.

This functionality required no incremental expenditure because MMFA did not renew its contract for similar services with Crescendo when that contract expired in July.

We have also refreshed our gift planning options for congregations and agencies and encourage all Moravians to reach out to us for more information.

The Moravian

Online Giving Infrastructure In August 2019, MMFA launched the Moravian Giving Portal to provide online giving infrastructure to Moravian congregations and agencies who invest in the Moravian Common Fund and did not already have this functionality. Only about one in four congregations already had its own online giving platform.

Online giving fosters planned, monthly giving, which is more reliable and more generous than those collected physically via the offering plate. It also helps congregations capture more gifts in memory of, honor of and in lieu of flowers from afar. It’s also easier to make online contributions to existing funds managed by MMFA. Total 2019 gifts through the Giving Portal, since its introduction in August 2019, were $17,884.00. The backend processing for this new functionality came with our partnership with Blackbaud, our core financial management platform.

Field Of Interest Funds & Grants As part of the Giving Portal development, MMFA established a new category of funds. Field of Interest Funds help Moravian donors of all means support Moravian ministry in a general way, based on their passions. For example, if you want your gifts to alleviate hunger in our communities, you can give to the Hunger & Thirst Field of Interest Fund. You don’t need to know which Moravian agencies and ministries can fulfill these needs, how they will use the funds, or how they will measure success.

Instead, these ministries apply for grants to deliver services. A Grant Advisory Team reviews the applications, makes grant recommendations, and takes care of the due diligence and follow-up. New Field of Interest Funds include the Hunger & Thirst Fund, the Clothing Fund, the Health & Healing Fund, the Prison Ministry Fund, and the Housing & Shelter Fund. 2019 gifts to these new Field of Interest Funds in 2019 totaled $8,112.58.

Issue No. 2 • 2020

In 2020, MMFA is making its first ever direct grants to Moravian ministries from Field of Interest Funds. MMFA made $6,500 in grants to 13 ministries in February 2020 and more are expected in July.

A Look Ahead In early 2020, MMFA partnered with Five Wishes to provide Moravians with the tools to create their advance directive/living wills at no cost to them.

This spring, we will be moving our electronic newsletter platform from Constant Contact to Blackbaud to better align communication with church records. This will also increase efficiency since we will now consolidate what has been two different databases into one.

We are planning to launch a new Resources Page on mmfa.info in 2020, which will make it easier for you to find helpful tools.

The Resources Page will contain articles, photos, presentations and support materials for church staff, lay leaders and pastors, as well as provide links to MMFA third-party partners, such as Five Wishes, the Ecumenical Stewardship Center and Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.

MMFA will offer stewardship content at this year’s lay leader conference at Mt. Morris in November. Stay tuned for more information!

MMFA will also expand our social media presence to include Instagram. Look for us and follow us there!

MMFA will continue to serve and develop the donors we already have with increased focus in 2020 while meeting the needs of all current and future Moravians. Please call us to help with stewardship, church/agency investment management or your individual planning needs today. n Vince Holbrook is director of communications and marketing for the Moravian Ministries Foundation in America.

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IN OUR CONGREGATIONS

Sunday Morning Food Collections at Konnoak Hills The Rev. John D. Rights, pastor of Konnoak Hills Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., shared this illustration of how his congregation responded during the deepest days of the stay-at-home orders surrounding COVID-19 .

How will we as a congregation stay connected while complying with stay-at-home orders? During these months of distancing, what can we do to maintain the weekly rhythm of Sunday? In these days of pandemic disruption, what difference can we make as Christ continues his call for us to be neighbors?

For the Konnoak Hills congregation in Winston-Salem, the answers to these questions converge in a weekly food collection for the Sunnyside Ministry of the Moravian Church. At 10:00 each Sunday morning, the church bell rings over the neighborhood. For t h e next two hours, members, friends and neighbors drive in bags and boxes of groceries during our customary Sunday school and worship times.

This was our weekly worship. A bulletin is offered with announcements and a brief, printed message.

Some weeks, a ten34

person-six-feet-apart band plays. Other weeks, we hear very nice guitar music and songs.

Each week, we collect an offering of food averaging 400 pounds pulled from car trunks, pickup beds and backseats. Oak Grove Moravian, Come and Worship, Bethania Moravian, Calvary Moravian, and Konnoak Hills United Methodist Congregations have also contributed. Some people pass monetary gifts through a window. A Moravian couple in Pennsylvania heard about the collections and paid forward a government stimulus check by mail.

The zip code shared by Sunnyside Ministry and Konnoak Hills falls within North Carolina’s fifth most economically depressed urban area. In these weeks, food requests increased by more than 70 percent at Sunnyside. Our donations join with others to provide 250 family food orders a week.

It’s especially uplifting to see how our neighbors respond: “Let us know what you’ll need.

We’ll try to pick up some more things at the store this week.”

“We used to be members at another church, but we don’t go anywhere now. We come here on Christmas The Moravian

Eve with my mother-in-law. We’re coming to see you.”

“Thanks for doing this. Are you going to ring the church bell on Easter morning?”

We rang the bell on Easter morning.

During the Great Depression, Gardner Taylor served as the pastor of a small, rural church in Louisiana. A single light bulb hanging from the ceiling illuminated the sanctuary.

One night, in the middle of his sermon, the electricity failed. The room went pitch black.

Taylor fumbled around, not really knowing what to do.

“Preach on, preacher! The shout came from the back of the room. Preach on! We can still see Jesus in the dark!”

In the darkness of these days, someone described what we’re doing as “preaching without

words.” Within the parameters of stay-at-home orders, we have lost neither our ability nor our desire to “preach on.” So we “preach,” and we pray, and we believe, and we stay connected as best we can, because that’s what we do. Even in the darkness, we still see Jesus and preach on, using words if necessary. n

Share your story!

During the spring of 2020, we’ve seen an astounding variety of creative, caring, spiritfilled efforts from Moravians across the U.S. and Canada. Online worship and outreach, feeding those in need, caring for and supporting those on the front lines, standing up against injustices and reimagining our church lives are just a few of the ways Moravians have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and racial unrest in our country.

Now, it’s time to tell your story. In our upcoming issues of The Moravian, we want Issue No. 2 • 2020

to share the story of how you, your congregations, your families and your communities have responded during the first half of 2020.

We’re looking for articles, images and reflections that celebrate and honor the Moravian efforts both big and small, while sharing ideas and best practices with others.

To learn more about how to share your story, visit www.moravian.org, e-mail moravianmagazine@mcnp.org, or write to The Moravian, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018.

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MORAVIAN WRITINGS

In the Name of Jesus

A

fter two months of a pandemic, the world seems to have embraced a common realization that we are not ultimately in control of life. It’s a hard lesson to learn, and when I watch society, I get the feeling that we are still resisting this truth. There is nothing we would like more than to return to “normal”; at least the normal we would choose. It is safe to say there’s a lot of praying going on in many languages and traditions with hopes that our heart-felt cries will achieve our desired results. In our earnestness ,we may even offer our prayers “in the name of Jesus.”

Why not?! Jesus told us, “I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Father might be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). Unfortunately, I haven’t always received the desired response which begs the question, “Was he serious, or do I simply not understand what he meant?”

I remember having a conversation with an Anglican colleague about prayer. He confessed that he refuses to end his prayers with “In the name of Jesus,” because for many, it has become the way to ensure that your prayer carries more weight and has power to influence a divine outcome. His attitude caused me to ponder, “What does this phrase actually mean?

What was Jesus inviting us into?”

The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible states that in Hebrew culture, both Old and New Testaments, names are more than a label to identify a person. Your name holds your character and nature. Speaking a person’s name doesn’t simply get their attention, it invokes their very essence; their whole being, body, mind and spirit. Knowing and speaking 36

The Moravian

someone’s name is the beginning of communion; an invitation to a meaningful relationship of mutual respect and union.

Genesis 2:20 says that God brought the animals before Adam to see what he would name them. Adam named the animals not to assign them a nature and character but to honor the relationship he had with them, the nature and character he witnessed in them. This speaks to his union with—not to his power over— creation.

The change of character and nature of persons found in the Bible is often expressed in the change of their name. Simon confessed that Jesus was the Messiah and Jesus changed his name to Peter, the rock on which he would build his church (Matthew 16:18). Saul, the oppressor of Christians, became Paul, the great evangelist, after his encounter with the risen Christ (Acts 9). Let’s not forget Abram, Sarai and Jacob, among others.

To truly know someone’s name is to know them intimately. Like Adam and the animals, Jesus understood the nature of God. The full nature and disclosure of God is revealed in Jesus Christ. In John 17:26, we hear Jesus speaking to God: “I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

The name of Jesus is synonymous with the name of God because he reveals the true nature of God. To “believe in the name of Jesus” (a phrase only used in 1 John 3:23) is to believe in the nature of God as expressed in human life. To take the Lord’s name in vain is to use God’s (Jesus’) name in ways inconsistent with God’s nature. I wonder how many times I’ve (we’ve) used God’s/Jesus’ name with a self-righteous, vengeful heart (in vain).

Look up verses that refer to Jesus’ name and notice how these insights influence the meaning of the passage. For example, “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, Issue No. 2 • 2020

(my nature, my values, my heart) there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20); or, “Whoever welcomes these little children in my name (my compassion, my sense of union) welcomes me” (Mark 9:37).

To pray in the name of Jesus is to pray in the nature of, with the heart of, holding the values and world view of Jesus. If we truly surrender our will to God, we pray in union with, and as, Jesus Christ. It doesn’t give our words special authority but invites our intention to be in the nature of Jesus; to align our words with Jesus’ heart. Believing that there is “power in the name” doesn’t mean we can use Jesus’ name to insure our desired outcome. It means there is power in the nature of divine love, mercy, forgiveness, patience, hope, and compassion to change our minds, hearts and lives for the glory of God. We aren’t the first people to experience a pandemic and we won’t be the last. But like all others before us and those who will follow, we have reason to pray; pray in the divine love, mercy, forgiveness, patience, hope, compassion…in the name of Jesus Christ, and we will witness the glory of God in all of creation.

“I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that my Father may be glorified in the Son.” —John 14:13

Rev. Rick Beck is a retired Moravian pastor, having served in team ministry with his wife, Wendy, in all three districts of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church in America. Rick is currently offering spiritual direction through the FCJ Christian Life Centre in Calgary, Alberta, where he also trains and supervises spiritual directors. He also consults with churches wishing to establish spiritual direction groups in their congregations. This piece originally appeared on the Southern Province Board of Cooperative Ministries’ Spotlight Blog.

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OFFICIAL PROVINCIAL ELDERS’ NEWS Nazareth, Pennsylvania

NORTHERN PROVINCE Watchwords In December 2019, members of the Provincial Board of the European Continental Province met in Herrnhut, the birthplace of our renewed Moravian Church, and drew watchwords for the Unity Board, Unity Provinces, Mission Provinces, Unity Undertakings and New Mission work.

The Northern Province watchword from February is: “The Lord God helps me; therefore, I have not been disgraced.” Isaiah 50:7

Calgary, Alberta Brother Matthew Gillard, who has been serving as pastor for Heimtal Moravian Church, Edmonton, Alberta, has accepted the call to serve as pastor for Good Shepherd Community Moravian Church, Calgary, Alberta. Brother Gillard was installed into his new work May 3, 2020.

Brother Derek French, who has been serving as pastor for East Hills Moravian Church, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has accepted the call to serve as pastor for Nazareth Moravian Church, Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Brother French was installed into his new work June 21, 2020.

Elizabeth D. Miller Provincial Elders’ Conference

SOUTHERN PROVINCE Winston-Salem, N.C. The Rt. Rev. Sam Gray has accepted a call to become pastor of New Philadelphia Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. Since 2004, Sam has served as the Director of Mission Outreach with the North American Board of World Mission. Prior to his service at BWM, Sam served as pastor at New Hope Moravian, Miami, FL, 1996 - 2004. A service of installation was held June 28, 2020; Sam began this new ministry July 1, 2020.

David Guthrie Provincial Elders’ Conference

OBITUARIES The Rev. Harold Miller, Jr.

Mrs. Sue Southern White

Harold Daniel Miller, Jr., passed into the more immediate presence of the Lord May 2, 2020, at Forsyth Medical Center, at the age of 72.

Dan grew up in Winston-Salem, attended RJ Reynolds High School, graduated Wake Forest University, and earned an M Div. degree at Duke Divinity School. He was ordained June 18, 1969, at New Philadelphia Moravian Church by Bishop George Higgins, and served as pastor of the Mt. Bethel and Willow Hill congregations in Cana, Va.. Dan continued studies at Radford University and UNC-Chapel Hill, and worked for more than 15 years as a child psychologist for Davidson County Mental Health.

A private graveside service was held Sunday, May 10, 2020. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Sue Southern White, wife of the late Rev. Keith White, passed into the more immediate presence of her Savior at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice, April 6, 2020, at the age of 73.

Sue grew up in the Winston-Salem area, and had a 42-year career in insurance with the Phoenix Company, Winston-Salem. She married Keith in 1991, who at the time was a pastor in the Baptist church.

She joined in Keith’s ministry as he became a Moravian pastor, serving the Bethesda, Enterprise and Advent (Winston-Salem)congregations before his untimely death in 2013 Sue continued as an active member of Advent, taught a women’s Sunday school class, and participated in Women’s Fellowship.

Due to the coronavirus, a family graveside service was conducted at Advent, led by the Rev. Dr. Tim Sapp and Pastor David Berrier. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

The Moravian

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OBITUARIES The Rev. Dr. William W. Matz

Mrs. Dorothy Scilley

Brother William W. Matz died June 11, 2020, at Bethlehem, Pa., at age 93.

Born January 3, 1927, in Bethlehem, he was the son of William and Anna (Wismer) Matz.

Brother Matz attended public schools in Bethlehem, graduated from Moravian College in 1950, received a Master of Divinity from Moravian Theological Seminary in 1953, and a Master of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1955. He did residency studies for Ph.D. at Temple University and received a Doctor of Ministry from Drew University. He was ordained a Deacon in the Moravian ministry January 21, 1955, and consecrated a Presbyter, August 13, 1961.

He was united in marriage to Mary Jane Dill on January 8, 1955, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Havertown, Pa. Together they served pastorates in New York (New Hartford), New Jersey (Palmyra), Ohio (Sharon), and Pennsylvania (Lititz, Edgeboro).

Br. Matz served as Dean of Moravian Theological Seminary (1971-1988) and was a member of the Eastern District Executive Board (1970-1978). He entered retirement June 15, 1991 and served as interim pastor of several area churches following his retirement.

Brother Matz is survived by his sons, William, Jr., and Randall; four grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary, on July 31, 2013.

Memorial services will be held at a time yet to be determined. Memorial gifts are welcomed for East Hills Moravian Church, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and/or Moravian Theological Seminary.

Sister Dorothy Marie (Libricz) Scilley died at Fargo, North Dakota, April 25, 2020, at age 84. She was born June 15, 1935, in Bethlehem, Pa., a daughter of Stephen and Theresa (Doncsecz) Libricz.

Sister Scilley was united in marriage to Brother George R. Scilley on September 27, 1958, at the Old Chapel, Bethlehem, Pa. She served alongside her husband in pastorates in Wisconsin (Freedom) and Michigan (Daggett-Menominee) before joining with him in chaplaincy service for the U.S. Army.

Daughter, Sarah, and one grandson survive Sister Scilley. She was predeceased by her husband, George, on December 21, 2014.

Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery, next to Brother George, in the Chaplain’s Section.

Memorials were gratefully received for Doctors Without Borders.

Issue No. 2 • 2020

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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Periodicals

119 Brookstown Ave., Suite 305, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Laura Watson, Director of Stewardship Services 336-725-2589 lwatson@mmfa.info

2/24/20 12:15 PM

mmfa.info

Responding to God’s love through stewardship is a life-long journey. But there’s no reason to walk alone. Faithful stewards are formed through experience and study. Your Moravian Ministries Foundation in America helps laity and leadership learn best practices for holistic, year-round stewardship from our collective Moravian experience, structured processes, and educational resources from ecuminical partners. Ask about our workshops for individual congregations and regional conferences.

Learning stewardship, together.

Postmaster please send address changes to: The Moravian, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018

Issue 2 • 2020