The Bridge - Spring 2023

BRIDGE

NYAC 2023 Theme Reflection: “I'm Not Done With You”

BY MEGHAN KNIGHT

“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” -Jeremiah 18:6 NLT

The clay is in the potter’s hand. We are the clay; God is the potter. Though the potter in Jeremiah 18 crushed the jar into a lump of clay, God watched. God was not ready for the potter to start over. But if you need to start over, God will have you in His hand. God is not done with us, and never will be done with us. God continually works through us and in us so that not only will we live, but we will also be able to do His work and be a golden light to the world.

This year at Young Adult Conference, we will learn more about active peacemaking, speaking the truth in love, and caring for creation – which are just a few of an infinite amount of positive impacts God wants us to have on the world. All these things are what God is calling each one of us to do. First, we need to open our hearts to God and God’s work in us. Then we will be able to do the work that He is calling us to do. We need to be the clay and let God be the potter of our lives. Even in the moments where we feel completely broken, let God in to pick up the broken pieces and fill in the cracks!

MEET THE

Young Adult Steering Committee

WHAT HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR FAITH JOURNEY?

Important parts of my faith journey are all interconnected to one another. The starting point began when I started to value my mental health and my self-worth. I have struggled with my mental health all throughout middle school, high school, and now in college. I was facing battles within my head, and felt as if I was completely alone. I had reached rock bottom during my freshman year at Elizabethtown College. I was not in a safe environment, which led to me developing harmful coping mechanisms to deal with my mental health. I was empty, and continued to be empty for a while after that time. It wasn’t until I started reading God’s word, going to therapy, and surrounding myself with an amazing support group that I started to get better. Another important part of my faith journey was when I applied to work at my local summer camp–Shepherd’s Spring. It was an amazing experience that allowed me to work on myself, and spend more time in the world God created. I was able to form some of the closest and most supportive friends I have ever had. It was at camp that I was finally able to feel my worth and value within this world that God created. Finally, in 2022 I took a leap of faith and submitted to the speech contest that the National Youth Conference had. I submitted a speech focused on my mental health struggle coinciding with my faith journey, and was chosen as one of the speakers. It was an

amazing experience that I would not trade for anything. These moments all aided me to understand that I have value and a purpose that is rooted within my faith in God.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW TO GROW YOUR FAITH?

To grow within my faith, I am spending more time reading my Bible, and journaling with God. I am also growing in my faith by being mindful of my actions so that they reflect God and his character. Doing that has aided in the overwhelming sense of peace and love that allows me to keep growing in my faith.

WHY IS THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IMPORTANT TO YOU?

The Church of the Brethren is important to me as a place that represents home. There is this sense of peace, love, and acceptance that surrounds Brethren heritage and reminds me of being within a family or a home. Knowing that I am loved and accepted for who I am within the Church of the Brethren is a motivating, and welcoming feeling.

WHERE DO YOU SEE GOD IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?

I see God in my friends with the support they give me, and the support they give one another. I see God in the sunrises and sunsets that I get to experience while walking to class, studying in my dorm, or working out in the gym.

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURES? WHY?

One of my favorite scriptures is Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, and do not be discouraged, for the Lord your god is with you wherever you go.” I love this scripture since I relate to it a lot. God is calling out to Joshua telling him not to be afraid, or discouraged. I get discouraged a lot in life, and knowing that God has already aided someone who has the same feelings and emotions I have, brings me a sense of comfort.

WHAT HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR FAITH JOURNEY?

One of the most important parts of my faith journey has been the presence of mentors in my life. They have taught me so much and have really helped me when I am struggling with my faith. Another important part of my faith journey was a trip this past summer to Turkey and Greece. Being able to see places mentioned in the Bible and read stories from those places helped the Bible come to life and give the Bible deeper meaning.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW TO GROW YOUR FAITH?

I am setting aside time everyday where I spend time in scripture and in prayer. It is super easy as a busy college student to put off spending time with God, and I am every guilty of this. This semester I am intentionally putting space in my schedule where I can grow in my relationship and talk with God.

WHY IS THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IMPORTANT TO YOU?

Having grown up in the Church of the Brethren, it has always been a part of my life. However, I continue to stay involved in the Church of the Brethren because their views on nonviolence and living a simple life resonate with me. I think it is important to live out these values, and I think the COB is effective in how they practice these values.

WHERE DO YOU SEE GOD IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?

The place I see God the most is in creation. I spend a good bit of time outside walking around campus and I often find myself smiling when I see a squirrel scamper off with food, or when I have a chance to hammock by a creek and listen to the wind a water. It reminds me that God is always around me. I find great peace in being outside in nature whether it is on a hike, hammocking, or even just doing homework outside. I also find a lot of peace in journaling and reflecting at the end of each day. As for finding joy, I love to read and cross stitch with a good cup of tea (Chai is one of my favorites).

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURES? WHY?

My favorite scripture is always changing, though currently it is Hebrew 4:14-16. I had to memorize this for one of my college classes last semester and it has really stuck with me since. It reminds me that I am never alone and never misunderstood because I have a relationship with Christ. This has been a huge source of comfort in recent months and continues to sustain me during trials I face.

WHAT HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR FAITH JOURNEY?

There have been many important parts to my faith journey. I would say the most important parts have been my travel overseas because I was able to get out of the US and experience what life was like and to see how God was at work in different places. At each stop in my journey, whether it would be as I moved through various levels of school or simply different parts of my life, I continue to see God shaping and forming with nudges and feelings as I move through life. Through all of this, prayer, discernment, and having space with God have been very important in my faith journey.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW TO GROW YOUR FAITH?

The biggest thing I am doing is providing space for God in my life each day - whether that is a time of silence or just being with my own thoughts on a run or shooting baskets. Allowing the Spirit to infiltrate my life is certainly something I am focusing on right now.

WHY IS THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IMPORTANT TO YOU?

The Church of the Brethren is important to me for a number of reasons. I love our pietistic theology of embodying Jesus and the person he was. I appreciate our peace witness as that has been a strong focal point of our theology. Most important though, I appreciate the small and close denomination that we have and the many friends and colleagues that I have been able develop relationships with over the years.

WHERE DO YOU SEE GOD IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?

I enjoy being outside and simply observing God’s beauty in nature, like a peaceful state or national park, and in the creation of humanity, like a major city. God’s beauty and peace are abundantly around.

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURES? WHY?

Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” I appreciate this verse because it speaks to who are as Brethren. It doesn’t mean that we are simply peacemakers but we also have a job to be peacemakers. It is an active role through our faith which Brethren have been very active in their faith over the duration of their existence.

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR FAITH JOURNEY?

One of the most important parts of my faith journey is the stage I'm in right now. If I had to describe it in one word, I would say I'm in the "rebuilding" stage. As a young adult I felt myself drifting away from my home church as everything that was familiar to me started changing. By taking that step back, I started to lose myself and my connections to the church, and found myself in a "season of deconstruction." I have spent my young adult years focusing on my relationship with God and finding a new sense of self-realization as I've become more involved through YASC and the broader COB community. It's a long journey for each of us and I believe that each part of our faith journeys is equally important.

WHERE DO YOU SEE GOD IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?

I used to feel like God was hiding from me, because I always thought I needed an immediate response to my thoughts and prayers. But recently, I've discovered that for me personally, I prefer to see glimpses of him every now and then because it reminds me of how truly blessed I am and how special my relationship with him is. I catch those quick glimpses through my work and the people I help. Working at Bridgewater College with Events allows me to work with every department and see the entire student body throughout the academic year. God allows me to use my talents to bring visions to life and create successful events. I see him in the faces of those who attend and know that I helped bring a smile to their face. I find joy in nature. Growing up in the Shenandoah Valley I've always been surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge. You might think that I would get used to it and take for granted the views, but I still find myself in awe of the sunsets, wildlife and mountain trails. Something about being so close to nature and being able to fully surround myself brings me not only joy, but also peace. It's an outlet for me to find an escape from the stress of everyday life. A place for me to recharge, focus on myself, and talk to God.

WHAT HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR FAITH JOURNEY?

When I chose to go to Manchester University, I learned a lot more about the Church of the Brethren than I had from congregations I had attended before. I became more convicted around social justice and peacemaking. I met students and professors from many different faith backgrounds who helped me to question and identify what my beliefs truly are.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW TO GROW YOUR FAITH?

I am now living in Lansing, Michigan, where I have a variety of opportunities to meet new people during church services, Bible study, and other activities. This gives me a chance to identify beliefs that I do or do not agree with on a gut level and explore why I have those beliefs and whether these new points of view could add to what I believe.

WHY IS THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IMPORTANT TO YOU?

I continue to identify as a member of the Church of the Brethren because I believe very strongly in the social justice, peacemaking, and service aspects of the church. I admire and enjoy learning about the brave, thoughtful people in our history, and I want to continue to see leaders of all backgrounds choosing to act in ways that bring the Kingdom of God to us on Earth.

WHERE DO YOU SEE GOD IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?

As a teacher, I see God every day in the faces of the students I teach. They are so resilient and loving and brave. I also enjoy spending time in nature and seeing all that God has created and continues to create. There are so many little things we can notice if we are paying attention.

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURES? WHY?

I find a lot of meaning in Hebrews 12:1: :Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” I am a runner, and I want to be able to run the course God has set out for me. I take comfort in the great cloud of witnesses that is there to support us and cheer us on as we follow the plans God has for us.

Ruth Ritchey Moore

My name is Meghan Knight, I am 30 years old, and I am serving my third year on the Young Adult Steering Committee. Originally from Baltimore, MD, I am currently the pastor of Denton Church of the Brethren in Denton, MD. Also, I am attending Salisbury University to complete my bachelor’s degree in Music Education. I enjoy singing, playing piano, and being home with my cats, Lorelai and Rory. My goal in life is to always lead folks to the feet of Jesus, because He is always good and makes all things possible.

WHY IS THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IMPORTANT TO YOU?

The Church of the Brethren is important to me for many reasons, but especially because of its emphasis on serving others. I attend Brethren Disaster Ministries work camp with the MidAtlantic young adults every summer. Every time I have attended these work camps, the families we help are always appreciative of us volunteering our time and give us volunteers so much love. My love for serving others comes from the Lord and that is one of the ways that I see Him working in my life every day.

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURES? WHY?

One of my favorite scriptures is 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV, which says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” This scripture means a great deal to me for several reasons, but it tells me that God has blessed all of us with confidence. If we call on Him and open our hearts to Him, we have no reason to fear or be anxious. If we embrace the Lord’s presence, we can rest in the fact that He will bless us with His never-ending love.

Knight

TRANSFORMING INSTEAD OF HIDING: GOD BEAUTIFULLY MENDS OUR BROKENNESS

BY HANNAH SMITH

Kintsugi (kin-soo-gee), is a Japanese artform of repairing broken pottery by using a mixture of gold and silver to mend the broken pieces back together. When the mending process is completed, the once broken pottery glistens with unique gold and silver lines. The potter, instead of hiding the imperfections of the pottery, highlights the imperfections for onlookers to notice. The potter doesn’t throw out or destroy the pottery; instead, the potter remakes and remolds it into something unique.

The same is true with God as our potter. Instead of camouflaging what we perceive as imperfections, God will highlight those portions within us. God makes us each into uniquely beautiful pieces of artwork for all to see. When situations arise within our lives, when we feel as though we are not good enough, when we think our plans are finished, God thinks differently. God reminds us that we are a work in progress and the path we take will make us unique, beautiful, and redeemed. God chooses to mend our broken pieces, in a way that will allow us to shine and glisten for all to see.

PHOTO CREDIT: MARCO MONTALTI

Youth/Young Adult Ministry Assistant Church

of the Brethren • Elgin, IL

The YYA Ministry Assistant position is both a practical ministry position as well as an administrative position. In 2023 – 2024, tasks will focus on preparations for Christian Citizenship Seminar 2024 and Young Adult Conference 2024, as well as National Youth Sunday and National Junior High Sunday. Social media content creation and management will also be a task. Most of the year is spent preparing for these events in the Elgin office, while the remainder of the time is spent facilitating these events on-site. Work includes working with various planning teams to envision and carry out the various events (identifying themes, workshops, speakers and other leaders), as well as managing the administrative side of the various events (setting up online registration, managing budgets, coordinating logistics, tracking contracts & forms, etc.). This position is a Brethren Volunteer Service placement and thus includes serving as a BVS volunteer and being a member of the Elgin Community House.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Gifts for and experience in youth ministry

• Passion for Christian service and an understanding of mutual ministry, both giving and receiving

• Emotional and spiritual maturity

• Organizational and office skills

• Physical stamina and the ability to travel well

• Computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, and Publisher)

For more information or to request an application, please contact:

Becky Ullom Naugle

Church of the Brethren Youth/Young Adult Ministry Office 1451 Dundee Ave. Elgin, IL 60120 bullomnaugle@brethren.org • Fax: 847.429.4395 800.323.8039, x 385 or 847.429.4385

Chat with Madalyn Metzger: Annual Conference Moderator-Elect

BY RUTH RITCHEY MOORE

WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR MOST MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES IN THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN AS A YOUNG ADULT?

Growing up, I spent part of my summers at Camp Emmanuel in central Illinois, and I’d say some of my most meaningful experiences happened there. Later, when I was in high school, I had the opportunity to be on our District Youth Cabinet, which then led to also serving as one of the first youth representatives on the IL/WI District Board.

I also was invited to serve on the National Youth Cabinet from 1995-1997, which was my first time serving the denomination nationally. While it wasn’t a National Youth Conference year, it was enriching to be part of planning for other youth and young adult-related events and resources, including providing input on some new Sunday school curricula at the time.

In college, I also worked one summer as a Conflict Resolution Team member for On Earth Peace. That program (which is no longer in existence) trained a handful of young adults in conflict mediation skills, and then we worked in pairs at various Church of the Brethren camps across the country, teaching kids how to handle disagreements and conflicts interpersonally and peacefully.

WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST SO FAR ABOUT BEING MODERATOR-ELECT?

I’ve appreciated the opportunities to talk to people from across the denomination, getting to know them and hear how they are seeing God’s love in action around them, and how they are making God’s love real for others. These days, I think many people are feeling weary of the journey – especially when it feels like our faith communities are becoming more and more fractured. Yet, there is ministry happening. In both big and small ways, people are sharing Christ’s love with one another in our personal and collective experiences and humanities.

WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU THE MOST AS MODERATOR-ELECT?

I don’t know if I’d say this is a surprise, but definitely something I am grateful for is all the words and prayers of support that have been offered to me since being elected to this position. Serving the denomination in this way is no small undertaking under the most traditional of circumstances, much less as someone who is in an executive-level full-time job outside of a congregational setting. So, it means a lot when people (some of whom I’ve never met face-to-face before) reach out and let me know that they are praying for me.

WHAT DO YOU MOST LOOK FORWARD TO AS MODERATOR?

I’m looking forward to visiting more of our districts and congregations. I’m looking forward to meeting more people and hearing more of their stories of how they’re extending Christ’s love in their neighborhoods and communities.

WHAT IS ONE SCRIPTURE THAT IS INSPIRING TO YOU AND WHY?

Micah 6:8, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.” This was one of my grandfather’s favorite scriptures, but it’s one of my favorites, too. It reminds me that I am part of a larger faith community, called to actively love one another as God loves us in meaningful and transformative ways.

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PLACE THAT INSPIRES YOUR FAITH?

I often find God in places that remind me of how vast and beautiful this world is – and that even if my role in this world is a small speck of time and place, it is a privilege to be part of God’s creation.

HOW HAS YOUR FAITH GUIDED YOUR LIFE OVER ALL?

In the Anabaptist tradition, we are people called to live together in community, in service to each other and to God. I feel this calling deeply, and as I look over my life so far, I see how it has guided me over the years. My first job out of college was with Church World Service as a fundraising communications specialist. Eventually, my career path brought me to the Marketing team at Everence Financial® (then known as MMA/Mennonite Mutual Aid), where I’ve been for nearly 18 years. When I was younger, I wouldn’t have guessed that I would end up working for a financial services organization, but I really resonate with the Everence mission of helping people be responsible stewards of their financial resources, in ways that allow them to incorporate their faith and values.

HOW DO YOU STAY CONNECTED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY?

My work at Everence – as well as my adjunct teaching roles at Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Virginia) and Bluffton (Ohio) University – gives me opportunities to be connected to many in the larger Anabaptist Christian community. I’m also a member of the Goshen (Indiana) City Church of the Brethren in the Northern Indiana District, and serve on the Board of Trustees for Manchester University. I value all of these connections and relationships, which include a wide variety of theological perspectives and experiences.

DO YOU HAVE MEMORIES OF CAMP MACK? IF SO,

PLEASE

SHARE,

OR YOU CAN SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES FROM

ANOTHER CAMP.

I didn’t grow up going to Camp Mack (although members of my family did). Since I grew up in the Illinois/Wisconsin District, I spent my summers at Camp Emmanuel in Astoria, Illinois. Some of my favorite childhood memories are from my camp experiences. But one that stands out in particular occurred in my high school years, when a handful of youth from the Illinois/Wisconsin District decided we needed to build better relationships between those of us who went to Camp Emmanuel and those who went to Camp Emmaus (another Church of the Brethren camp in the district). We worked hard to foster friendships, and some of those people are still good friends of mine to this day.

Sarah Righter Major was born on August 29, 1808, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Little did she know, she would become an influential female in the Church of the Brethren. At 18, Sarah heard a sermon from Harriet Livermore, who was a well-known preacher in Philadelphia. After hearing Harriet, Sarah joined the Brethren congregation in Philadelphia and felt a call to preach. This calling worried Sarah because she knew many Brethren did not support women preachers at that time. Sarah suppressed the calling she felt to preach.

Eventually, she told her father about her call and found him to be supportive. She began to preach occasionally at her church in Philadelphia, was noticed by others, and brought to the attention of the Annual Meeting (now known as Annual Conference). The consensus at the Annual Meeting was not as open to her preaching as her home church; they wanted her to stop preaching. Sarah wrote to the Annual Meeting, giving a biblical basis for her preaching: “I conceive it would be very inconsistent in an apostle who laid his hands on men and women and prayed over them that they might receive the Holy Ghost, to quench the gift of the Spirit of God because it was given to a woman…” When Sarah kept preaching, the Annual Meeting sent James Tracy to silence her. However, he chose not to silence Sarah. “I could not give my vote to silence someone who could out-preach me,” commented Tracy.

Sarah married Thomas Major, who was a Brethren minister, and they continued their ministry together. People often wanted to hear Sarah speak out of curiosity, but often invited her back to speak out of appreciation for her words. By 1878, Sarah was invited to preach at the Annual Meeting. Sarah died in 1884. It was not until 1958 that the Church of the Brethren opened the way for full ordination of women.

As we consider the theme “I’m not done with you,” based on Jeremiah 18, Sarah provides us a great example. Sarah continued to listen to God’s call on her life and served as a pioneer for women preachers in the Church of the Brethren. May we also faithfully listen for God’s continuing call on our lives!

Sarah Righter Major heard God say, “I’m not done with you!”

BY RACHEL JOHNSON

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We're a little different, maybe you are too.

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Welcome to Camp Alexander Mack!

BY THOMAS McMULLIN

This May, Young Adult Conference will go to Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, Indiana! Founded in 1925, Camp Mack snuggles up to the eastern shore of Lake Waubee.

YAC participants will stay in the newly renovated Ulrich House. The space is fresh, new, and ADA compliant! The main floor provides a good space to gather and chat. You won’t have to go far to get to worship; our meeting space is in the basement –which has lots of windows opposite a beautiful stone wall! The one minute walk to the dining center will refresh you and whet your appetite.

Finally, you might be most curious about the recreation opportunities onsite. Lake Waubee gives you many choices, including sailing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and fishing. Land lovers can hike trails in the Wilderness Area and the main campus, or enjoy any of the following: sand-court volleyball, basketball, softball, soccer, low ropes course, foursquare, a climbing tower, and a zipline. We will make good use of the campfire on at least one evening!

On behalf of the Young Adult Steering Committee of the Church of the Brethren, we invite you to come and explore all that Camp Mack has to offer! Join us for Young Adult Conference.

Register now at www.brethren.org/yac.

College freshmen (or age equivalent) are invited!

Cover Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash