Connect Newsletter

December 2023

Dear friends,

As the new year approaches and the Christmas season is in full swing, we hope and pray that this Advent will create opportunities for you to connect with:

• Christ Jesus, who became flesh and dwelt among us
• The people you encounter, known and unknown to you
• Your own soul, as you find quiet moments to ponder God's goodness

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Brethren in Christ U.S.!

2024 Week of Prayer and Fasting, Jan 7-14

Start the new year with a week of intentional prayer, devotionals, and fasting as we dive into our 10 Core Values. Our theme, “Identity in Action: Practicing the Core Values of the BIC” invites us to press into our Christ-centered identity and contemplate how it impacts every interaction. Devotional materials are now available in English and Spanish.

Ministry in Odisha, India

The Church in Odisha, India, is growing rapidly. Evangelism efforts have found hearts eager to know God and grow in his ways. With this growth comes new challenges, and we’ve recently launched two Partnership Handbook projects to support our brothers and sisters in India:

Church Buildings

Groups that started as small, Bible study groups are now thriving congregations. BIC Odisha leaders have identified a need for the construction of 20 new church buildings to accommodate this growth.

Learn more»

Motorcycles for Ministry

Church planters and administrators regularly visit congregations to train and disciple young believers, but rough roads make remote congregations difficult to reach. Motorcycles offer a reliable option to meet this need.

Learn more»

$1.25 Million for Thriving Congregations

Brethren in Christ U.S. has been awarded a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Thriving Congregations Initiative. This program aims to help congregations foster congregational ministries, connect more deeply to God, and strengthen their community outreach. BIC U.S. wants to see 75 congregations participate over the next five years; the first cohort of 25 will be selected in January. Read more»

Missions Update: Mangochi, Malawi

The Yawo people of Malawi have historically been resistant to the Gospel. Today, only 1% of Malawian Yawo are Christians (Joshua Project). However, more Yawo people are coming to faith in Christ thanks to the long-term service of several BIC families. This Christmas season, Jonathan Lloyd shares updates from the team in Malawi and invites you to consider a year-end gift in support of long-term missions. Watch video»

Resource Corner: Church Treasurer 101

Church treasurers are a huge blessing to their congregations, and we want to ensure they are equipped and prepared to steward the resources entrusted to them. In this free, on-demand webinar, Director of Finance Mitch Martin dives into internal controls, financial reports for the board, ministers’ housing allowance, and budgeting tips.

As a bonus, we are offering a free, Housing Allowance worksheet which you can download from our Multimedia Library.

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