Today, On Earth Peace provides training and accompaniment for those who seek to address issues of violence and oppression using the power and promise of non-violent love.

When it comes to assisting the survivors of disasters... Brethren Disaster Ministries is usually on the scene long after others have packed up and gone home. A long list of Brethren volunteers have already been to New Jersey communities to assist in the rebuilding of homes devastated by Super Storm Sandy. Weekly volunteer groups are scheduled for many months to come. (Contact BDM at http://www.Brethren.org.)

When Andy was growing up, he wanted to be one of two things, a pastor or a railroad engineer. Fortunately, for the Brethren, the area of the steam engine vanished and so did Andy's desire to be an engineer. He feels, "I was probably headed in the direction of being a pastor, anyway." Andy retired about 5 years ago after being a professor of Peace and Conflict Studies for 40 years at Juanita College, Huntingdon, P.A. Andy stated, "The focus was an academic study, to put it bluntly, "why do...

The ways that make for peace are close to the heart… of the Brethren and especially Merle Forney. He was raised in Hanover, PA where his mother taught Sunday School for 39 years at the Hanover Church of the Brethren. Merle has had an interesting peace journey which included a stint in the army ski patrol unit during World War II. While attending church on a home visit, he was asked by a member of the congregation, “Can a person be a Christian and serve in the Army?” It was a question that he...

Natural disasters take a great toll on the country and Brethren Disaster Ministries has been involved in assisting the survivors of these disasters for many years. The Brethren do this very well. "Brethren Voices," takes a look at one of the largest auctions. It's the work of thousands of volunteers of the Atlantic Northeast and the Southern PA District of the Church of the Brethren to raise funds for disaster relief. All types of things are donated and auctioned off with the proceeds...

The success of chocolate has a dark side. Child slaves are often used in the processing of chocolate in Africa.

n this edition of 'Brethren Voices' Jan and Doug Eller discuss their experiences during their nine-day visit to Cuba. Under U.S. law, educational and cultural tours are permitted during the embargo of Cuba, which has been ongoing for many years. The people of Cuba refer to it as a blockade, which restricts the shipment of goods from the United States. Their tour included visits to wealthy, middle class and poor homes providing a chance to meet the respective families. Schools, cultural centers...

In this program, current and past members of Peace Church share their own individual stories and feelings of how they dealt with the issues of homosexuality. As a result of their leadership, the congregation became a “welcoming congregation” to all, regardless of their “age, gender, race, ability, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.”

The Church of the Brethren in response to the continuing tragedies of gun violence in this country has been collaborating with a coalition of 47 religious groups representing 80 million Americans, known as Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence. This group contends that, “gun violence is taking an unacceptable toll on our society, in mass killings and in the constant day-to-day occurrences of senseless deaths by fire-arms all over the country.”

Noffsinger discusses the historic peace witness of the church and its service programs, Brethren Disaster Ministries and Brethren Volunteer Service. Noffsinger serves on the World Council of Churches which is currently considering 'The Ecumenical Declaration of a Just Peace' which states that war never brings about a sustainable peace. War is not a way to resolve international conflicts. Noffsinger gives the details about this declaration that will be voted on at its November meeting in Busan,...

'Brethren Voices' host, Brent Carlson on one of his travels to Japan, interviews BVS Volunteer, Rachel Buller of Homer, Georgia. Rachel is the first BVS'er to serve at the Asian Rural Institute in Nasushiobara, Japan. The institute teaches sustainable organic farming to the grassroots leaders of marginalized countries. They come to the institute from many different countries for the 9-month-training. At the heart of the program is the concept of 'Foodlife' -- a term designed to recognize and...