Brethren Global Partners

06/09/2026

More updates on Joe Shultz from Aleta -Joseph was able to come home from the hospital earlier than we expected. We were told that Joseph would probably need to have fluid drained from his body several times during his hospital stay, but they only did it once while he was there. Joseph has been prescribed diuretics, which seem to be working to eliminate some of the excess fluid in his body. His doctor told him that the endoscopy showed varices (enlarged vessels) in his upper digestive tract, which are a result of the liver cirrhosis caused by Joseph's diabetes.
Please continue to pray for wisdom for us as we need to buy medical equipment and healthy food for Joseph.
The young woman in the photo with us is Nurse Judy. She was a great blessing to us during this hospital stay. She spoke English fairly well, so she could explain things clearly to us. She was also patient with a good temperament. I'm so thankful that she was assigned to Joseph's room.

06/08/2026

Update about Joseph Shultz from his wife, Aleta. Thursday, June 4th, 2026:
As you may remember, Joseph and I went to see 2 doctors at Chang Gung Hospital two weeks ago on Thursday, May 21st. The first doctor told Joseph that he thought it would be best for Joseph to be admitted to the hospital again, so they could drain off some of the extra lymph fluid that was building up in his body. Because the kind of room that we need for this procedure is in high demand, we waited 13 days and finally got the call yesterday that a bed had become available. We are very thankful for this answer to prayer! 🥰
I am also thankful to many friends and colleagues who have been praying with us that a room would be provided for us.
Today, a technician came to Joseph's bed and drained 6 bottles of yellow fluid from Joseph's abdomen. The technician said that the 6 bottles were equivalent to 2.5 liters. He also said that this procedure may be performed several more times, depending on how Joseph's body responds to the treatment.
Please continue to pray for us... I'm traveling back and forth to the hospital again every day, and it is exhausting, but necessary. We want to get a caregiver to help us during this hospital stay, but it is complicated with many things to consider. We're looking for someone, preferably a man, who can speak English. We've been told there are very few male caregivers available. It will also cost a substantial amount of money. Please pray for wisdom for us as we make important decisions in the days to come. Pray, too, that my Heavenly Father will keep me strong for the days ahead.
Thank you for your continued care and concern.

06/08/2026

A Prayer Request from your partners in the Philippines -
A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on June 8, 2026, causing significant disruption across several provinces, particularly in the General Santos and Sarangani areas. The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings, evacuations, temporary power and communication outages, suspension of classes, and damage to homes and public infrastructure as authorities continue to assess the full impact. Churches, government agencies, and humanitarian organizations are mobilizing relief efforts to assist affected communities. We are grateful to report that our Brethren Church ministries in Bulacan and Caloocan City are safe and unaffected, as these locations are situated approximately 900–1,000 kilometers north of the earthquake’s epicenter in southern Mindanao. We ask the Brethren Church family to join us in prayer for the safety of survivors, comfort for affected families, wisdom for emergency responders, and strength for local churches as they minister to their communities during this challenging time. - Gary Castro

06/03/2026

New Life and Resilience in Santiago, Chile

The community in Santiago, Chile, recently gathered around a pool of water to witness the baptism of six brothers and sisters. It was a day framed by music, shared meals, and stories of faith, marking a milestone of obedience for the new believers. The celebration lasted hours, filling the church with a tangible sense of renewal.

But the echoes of that joyful day had barely faded when the church was reminded of how quickly things can change.

Pastor Carlos Quiroga suffered a stroke, shifting the community’s focus from collective rejoicing to a heavy trial. The road to recovery has started, but it is steep. His rehabilitation is intense, requiring major changes to his daily activity and diet. Yet, even with Carlos confined to therapy, the family’s dedication to their neighbors has not wavered. His wife, Zulema, continues to run a vital community foundation, ensuring local families facing hardships still find food on the table.

Recognizing the heavy burden now resting on Zulema’s shoulders, the rest of the congregation realized they could not let the pastoral family carry the weight alone. As Carlos heals, a quiet transformation is taking place within the church leadership. Younger leaders are stepping up to carry the mantle of ministry, walking right alongside the Quirogas. This shift ensures the work in Santiago stays vibrant, proving that the roots of this community run deep.

Though Carlos and Zulema cannot travel to be with us in person this summer, the stories of those six new lives travel in their place. We look forward with hope to the day they will join us again at the General Conference. Until then, we rest in the promise that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Please join us in prayer for Pastor Carlos’s complete healing, for Zulema’s endurance as she balances caregiving and ministry, and for the faith of the new believers to take deep root.

Respectfully submitted,
Scott Soden

Director of Global Partners & Advancement

05/21/2026

Prayer Alert: Joe & Aletha Shultz (Taiwan)
Please lift up Joe and Aletha Shultz in urgent prayer. Recent scans show Joe’s liver is in poor condition; he is suffering from frequent falls, severe fluid buildup, and a leg infection, with a hospital readmission scheduled for next week. Aletha is completely exhausted as she balances Joe's around-the-clock care with teaching her classes, all while managing her own high stress, diabetes, and severe chronic back pain.

Please pray for: * Successful treatment and fluid drainage for Joe.

Supernatural physical strength, pain relief, and endurance for Aletha to finish her teaching semester.

God’s financial provision to cover the upcoming hospital bills.

04/23/2026

The air in Rajahmundry usually carries the scent of the Godavari River and the energy of Andhra Pradesh. But for the forty days leading up to Resurrection Sunday, a different atmosphere took hold. It was a season of stillness and strength that moved through the homes and hearts of the Brethren Church in India.

The journey began in the shadows of Lent. Across the region, believers entered a period of prayer and fasting. More than a ritual exercise, it was a collective stripping away of the noise to hear a single Voice. In small village chapels and city living rooms, the faithful petitioned for their neighbors, their country, and for a move of the Spirit.

The quiet of the fast broke into public celebration on Palm Sunday. The streets of Rajahmundry turned into a sea of green as a procession of children led the way. They waved palm leaves—symbols of victory and peace—recreating the entrance into Jerusalem. Their shouts of “Hosanna!” were both a reenactment of historical events and the declaration of a present King. Passersby stopped to watch as the joy of the children spilled from the church walls into the community.

As the exuberance of the palm procession subsided, it gave way to the solemn anticipation of Holy Week, eventually culminating in the dawn of the Resurrection. On Easter Sunday, the churches were overflowing with people. The atmosphere during worship was heavy with the weight of raw, honest prayer of a people who know God deeply as their provider and protector.

The most powerful sight was at the water’s edge, where dozens of believers stepped forward to be baptized. Men and women, young and old, publicly declared their faith. Each immersion represented a life consecrated to the Lord—dying to the old and rising into the newness of Christ.

While these baptisms mark a personal turning point for Rajahmundry’s believers, they also represent the fruit of a global partnership of prayer and support. This scene in India is a single thread in the larger story of the Brethren Church worldwide. Through the prayers and generosity of sister churches across the globe, the work in India continues to flourish. Lives are being changed and communities are being transformed by the tangible presence of a Church that fasts, prays, and celebrates together. Praise God for His goodness, grace, and mercy. The story of the empty tomb continues to unfold in the streets of Rajahmundry and beyond.

04/16/2026

David and Cecilia Molina-Bruno left Argentina in the spring of 1997 with two young sons and a sense of purpose they couldn’t quite map out. When they landed in Coria, Spain, they didn’t have a manual or a storefront. They simply had the conviction that they were supposed to be there.

Three decades later, that conviction has been tested by the quiet, grinding realities of ministry in a small Spanish town. Growth in Coria doesn’t look like a vertical line on a chart. It looks like moving church buildings multiple times and navigating a local economy where finding a steady paycheck is a daily struggle for most families.

This economic pressure created a specific kind of heartbreak for the Molina-Brunos: the revolving door. Over the years, they have sat across kitchen tables, shared the Gospel, and mentored new believers, only to watch those same people pack their bags a few months later. When jobs disappear, the people they’ve poured their lives into have to move away to support their families.

It is a difficult cycle of hello and goodbye, but Cecilia has learned to view the departures differently. Instead of seeing a loss, she sees a literal interpretation of the Great Commission. These believers aren’t just leaving; they are being sent. They carry the seeds of what they learned in Coria into new towns and different countries, spreading the message further than a single church building ever could.

The Molina-Brunos have remained the steady hand in this shifting landscape, but they haven’t done it in isolation. The long-term support from partners like College Corner Brethren Church and Milford Brethren Church has been the bedrock of their work. When the progress feels slow or the pews feel empty because of the latest move, that partnership is what keeps the doors open.

Reflecting on twenty-nine years of service, Cecilia admits she doesn’t have a list of easy answers for the challenges they still face. “Here we continue with the conviction that God called us to remain in this region,” she says. “The Lord has all the answers that I don’t have.”

How You Can Help
As we celebrate nearly 30 years of ministry in Spain, we invite you to be part of the next chapter. The Great Commission calls us to make disciples of all nations, and the Molina-Bruno family is doing exactly that.

Will you join us in supporting our Global Partners?

Pray: Ask God to give David and Cecilia fresh energy and to open doors in Coria.
Give: Your donations help keep the “plow” moving in Spain.
Share: Tell others about the amazing work happening across the ocean!
Together, we are reaching across borders to change lives forever.

04/13/2026

On Sunday, March 22nd, our partners in the Philippines celebrated their two-year anniversary of ministry in their new location. The dedicated facility is a long way from where this ministry started—in the garage of Pastor Roly and his wife, Anita. Today, we have the privilege to stand in spirit with our brothers and sisters as they celebrate the second anniversary of Jesus Our Firm Foundation Cay Pombo Brethren Church. This is a milestone marked not just by the passage of time, but by a profound depth of faith refined by fire.

The past two years have been a testament to God’s goodness and refuge. For Pastor Roly, this season of ministry has been personal and bittersweet. Having lost his beloved wife, Anita, to cancer in January, his continued faithfulness is a living testimony to his congregation. Even in the shadow of grief, Pastor Roly remains steadfast in service, embodying the truth that when Christ is our foundation, we cannot be shaken.

Recognizing the weight of this season, Reverend Gary Castro, the Executive Director of the Brethren Church in the Philippines, along with regional elders and leaders, came alongside the Cay Pombo congregation to offer communal strength during the celebration. Together, they lifted up the church, offering prayers of consecration and words of encouragement. They celebrated the genuine faith described in 1 Peter 1:7—a faith that has been tested by fire and is of greater worth than gold.

As this location of Jesus Our Firm Foundation enters its third year, the mission remains clear: to be a light for God’s glory in the Philippines. We celebrate the strength, the refuge, and the firm foundation God has provided this amazing congregation. Happy 2nd Anniversary, Jesus Our Firm Foundation Cay Pombo Brethren Church. May the fire of the Holy Spirit continue to refine and shine through you.

04/02/2026

In case you didn't get a chance to see our final video for the Global Partners Spring Emphasis, click the link below. I know you're going to be inspired!

Join us as we celebrate the final week of our Spring Emphasis and prepare for the historic 138th General Conference of The Brethren Church in…

04/02/2026

I'm excited to share some incredible news about someone many of you know and love. Starla Beachy's journey into missions didn't start with a plane ticket, but right in the pews and youth rooms of Nappanee Brethren Church. Under the mentorship of leaders like Pastor Tom Schiefer and Youth Leader Ryan Smith, Starla felt a persistent tug on her heart—a call to a life of service that she couldn't ignore.

For several years, that calling took her around the globe with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), sharing God's love in corners of the world many of us only see on a map. But recently, the Holy Spirit began weaving her path back toward some old friends for a new mission in a way only He could orchestrate.

While attending a conference in Durban, South Africa, Starla had a true "God-moment" when she reconnected with Sandile and Abby Mkhwanazi. Starla first met them nearly a decade ago at a 2016 Youth Conference at Ashland University! It is nothing short of amazing to see a friendship that began in Ohio bloom into a full-time Gospel partnership in South Africa all these years later.

Starla has officially concluded her time with YWAM and has moved to Durban to work directly with Sandile and the Brethren Church in South Africa. We are beyond thrilled to have her on the team as she helps the ministry grow and reach deeper into the local community.

As she settles into this new chapter, we'd love for you to join us in supporting her. Moving across the world is never a small feat, so please keep these things in your prayers:

For her transition: Pray for Starla's energy and peace as she adjusts to the rhythms of life in Durban and steps into her new role.
For her family: It's a sacrifice for the family left behind, too. Please keep the Beachy family in your prayers as they navigate having a loved one serving so far from home.
For the mission: Pray for Sandile, Abby, and Starla as they work together. We truly believe God is up to something historic in South Africa.
Stay tuned—this story is only just getting started, and we are so glad that Starla is part of it!