Board of World Mission

The Board of World Mission (BWM) is the mission sending and support agency of the Moravian Church in North America.

Moravian Disaster Response (MDR)

In addition to helping with ongoing needs in our provinces, BWM provides funds and teams to assist with ongoing disaster relief, both globally and within our borders. Following a disaster, the Board of World Mission generally looks to support professional first responder organizations through financial support as needed,  and then to focus on longer-term efforts to provide assistance through ongoing volunteer engagement with.  When a disaster occurs, our the Director of Mission Engagement will send a notice to the congregations to make them aware of opportunities to give and any relief teams that might be forming.  We encourage that donations to cover disaster relief needs be designated for our general disaster relief account so that the BWM has the flexibility to respond immediately to financial needs that arise in the face of disaster.

Help See if Your Congregation is Ready to Respond to a Disaster

The Board of World Mission is available to work with your congregation to help with disaster response preparedness. This includes helping your congregation make a plan on how your congregation would respond to a disaster in the local community (provide meals or shelter, etc.) or compiling information on those interested and any relevant skills to be ready to volunteer should the need arise. Contact Director of Mission Engagement Justin Rabbach for more information, justin@moravianmission.org .

Donate to Disaster Response 
Please donate by going to MoravianMission.org/give and designating your gift for “Moravian Disaster Response”
Why give to “Moravian Disaster Response” generally instead of to a specific disaster? All funds given to Moravian Disaster Response will be used in disaster relief. Gifts given to the general disaster fund allow us to release funds immediately in the wake of a disaster where needed most and help to replenish our reserves in preparation of the next disaster as well. If funds are designated to a specific disaster, we must wait until we can solicit and receive donations before we can get funds to where they are needed most. Additionally, needs in a disaster stricken area change as the area moved from response to recovery and rebuilding. Having funds generally designated again help allow for flexibility during these transitions.  

Moravian Disaster Response Update

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An update on the work of Moravian Disaster Response in Port Arthur, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands since the 2017 hurricane season. Please continue to pray for this work and for the victims of these devastating storms.

To donate: moravianmission.org/give (enter “Moravian Disaster Response” to designate your gift to this cause)

To get involved: email jill@moravianmission.org

Follow updates on moravianmission.org and on our Facebook and Instagram pages (search “Moravian Board of World Mission” to find us).

Hurricane Relief in Port Arthur, Texas: Summer 2018 Update

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The work to restore homes in Port Arthur, Texas, continues; however, due to triple-digit temperatures, efforts will resume in September. In cooperation with the folks from the Good Shepherd Moravian Fellowship, Mike and Pat Liles are coordinating the projects for incoming volunteers as well as working alongside them to accomplish the tasks.

Housing for up to 30 volunteers with shower facilities is available at no charge in Port Arthur. There is a kitchen on-site for folks to keep groceries and prepare their meals. The Moravian Volunteer Response trailer with the necessary work tools remains at the Fellowship for use by the teams. Mike will inform the group prior to their arrival as to what types of projects will be worked on during the service time frame.

Please consider providing support to this important ongoing effort to help folks rebuild their lives following the destructive effects of Hurricane Harvey. Please contact the Board of World Mission through the Director of Antioch, Jill Kolodziej, if you have any questions regarding this opportunity or if you wish to start planning to assist. Jill can be contacted at jill@moravianmission.org or 920-256-9472.

COST: Travel costs are dependent upon your departure site and mode of travel. It may be necessary to rent a vehicle upon arrival. Factor in an average of $20 per person per day for meals that will be prepared by the team at the lodging site. Lodging is available at no charge.

MDR: Volunteers needed to rebuild School on St. Thomas

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Volunteers needed for rebuilding teams to help build classrooms at the Moravian Memorial School on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Cost: $400

The estimated cost of the trip will be around $900, which includes airfare, meals while on site and accommodations. The BWM is helping to heavily subsidize the trip, lowering the cost to participants to $400. Sleeping arrangements will be cots set up in the Memorial Moravian Church compound.


Dates of service:

Team 1: July 18 – 25

Team 2: July 25 – August 01

Team 3: August 01-08

Team 4: August 08 – 15

Team 5: August 15 – 22

Work to be done requires skills in demolition (week 1 and possibly week 2) & also reconstruction. This will be heavy-duty work. Ultimately, there will be painting of the classrooms.

The Moravians of St. Thomas have a goal of having the school open to receive students on August 27.

The nature of the work for each of the weeks will be dependent upon the work that is accomplished in the prior week. The needs will be communicated prior to departure.

A list of items for serving in this capacity will be provided. Volunteers will be asked to provide their own work gloves, masks, goggles, etc. Tools will be available on site.

Teams are limited to 6 people. Due to the urgency and timing of this service please contact us to your interest as soon as you are able.

Please contact Jill Kolodziej, Director of Antioch of the BWM, at jill@moravianmission.org or call at 920.256.9472

MDR Update: December 15, 2017

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The BWM continues its disaster response work through the Moravian Disaster Response (MDR) program. Currently, the BWM has scheduled work crews to assist with the homes of members of the Good Shepherd Moravian Church (actually a Unity of the Brethren church made up of members with Moravian roots) in Port Arthur, Texas. Work crews began visiting in November 2017, and many weeks are filled through the middle of February 2018. Teams are staying at the church, and going out to work on homes that were severely damaged in the flooding following Hurricane Harvey in August of 2017. Many homes were completely destroyed, and others have lost the entire interior, and are being rebuilt from the studs. Any volunteers are welcome to join in these efforts as we continue to schedule teams to visit in the weeks and months ahead.

The BWM has sent Aaron Van Der Linden, a member of Ebenezer Moravian Church in Watertown, Wisconsin, to help coordinate the work as an on site supervisor for 8 weeks beginning in January. Aaron was on site in the fall of 2017, and has been tremendous asset assessing the work needing to be done, and finding places for volunteers of all skill levels to join in the work.

[Read more…]

MDR Update: November 10, 2017

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Please CLICK HERE to return to the general update page.

The BWM cannot fully express our extreme gratitude to our congregations and individual donors who have responded so generously following the awful string of disaster through the late summer and early fall of this year. [Read more…]

Louisiana Flooding

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The Board of World Mission is partnering with the Fuller Center Disaster Responders to assist flooding victims in Louisiana and Mississippi. You may click here to visit their website. Copied below is information from their program, and additional details about getting connected and involved.

Engage in Home Rebuilding Efforts

Location:Walker and Denham Springs, LA
Dates: On going availability for Sunday-Friday teams through December 2017
Age: 16 years old and up
Cost: $165 + Travel to site
[Read more…]

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