As part of its ongoing efforts to improve services for children with intellectual disabilities, the Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center SMRC near Ramallah (Palestine/West Bank), in cooperation with the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre (operating under the umbrella of the Arab Anglican Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East), has established a new autism class for children between the ages of 3 and 8. Here, children are offered specialized services by qualified, well-trained staff. These include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, art, sports, and other activities and programs aimed at developing the children's behavioral, social, and cognitive skills. The collaborative project reflects the shared concern of both institutions to open up new horizons for growth and development for children with autism. Pictures here.

The Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center SMRC, Star Mountain, near Ramallah (Palestine/West Bank) organized another training program in cooperation with Early Childhood Resource Center and with financial support from the Deutscher Verein vom Heiligen Land. This program was aimed at SMRC employees and family members of people with intellectual disabilities. A total of 17 employees took part in the ten staff training sessions held in October 2025. Many topics were covered, including: the holistic, integrated approach to working with children; the importance of the visual arts; the role of puppets and music in learning; strategies for entertaining and differentiated teaching; social learning; creating a safe, enriching, and supportive learning environment for children. There were also two separate training days for parents on strengthening positive relationships with their children and coping psychologically with a child's disability. 25 pictures here.

Hurricane Melissa caused severe devastation in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. A report from the church leadership shows that five churches were completely destroyed, including Carmel, Salem, and Faith Moravian Church. At least 20 other buildings—churches, parsonages, and schools—were severely damaged. Many roofs were blown off, and structural damage is considerable. Presumably, nearly all 36 congregations in the Central and West Districts have been affected.
The church leadership has drawn up a multi-stage emergency plan: immediate aid for those affected, pastoral support, damage assessment, deployment of local volunteers, and the establishment of a disaster relief fund. The Board of World Mission (BWM) has initially contributed USD 10,000, but points out that further support is urgently needed to enable reconstruction and relief efforts. All donations to the relief fund will go 100% toward disaster relief.
The Herrnhuter Missionshilfe and the European-Continental Province have each provided €10,000 in emergency aid from their emergency aid funds.

It is still not possible to fully list and quantify the material damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in late October 2025 in Jamaica, Cuba, and other Caribbean islands. A list compiled by the Jamaican government of large and small relief supplies (from AAA batteries to hammer drills) that are currently urgently needed in Jamaica can be found here. And here is a list of locations in the UK, where thousands of people with Jamaican roots live, where relief supplies can be dropped off. Roberta Hoey, Chair of the British Province, appeals to all members of the Moravian Church to generously help the people of Jamaica in their time of need. She writes: "Countless people and families have lost their homes and livelihoods. In the western and central regions of the country, almost all 36 Moravian Churches have reported damage of varying degrees to buildings and other property. Two churches have been completely destroyed: the Karmel Moravian Church and the Springfield Moravian Church (photos attached). Unfortunately, we have received many such images. We will be publishing a complete photo album shortly."

On October 23, 2025, during a synod of the Southwestern Province of the Moravian Church in Tanzania, one of the largest Unity Provinces worldwide in terms of membership, a new church leadership was elected. Paul Mwambalaswa was elected Chair Man as the successor to Robert Pangani, who previously held a dual office and can now concentrate on his episcopal duties. The election of Agnes Njeyo as Vice Chair Woman of the province is something special. She is the first woman in the Tanzanian Moravian Church to hold such an office. Agnes Njeyo initially led the women's work of the Southwest Province for many years before becoming involved in vocational training for the Moravian Church, serving as chairperson in two church districts and also working as a lecturer at the Moravian Church's Teofilo Kisanji University in Mbeya. Paul Mwambalaswa was previously the secretary of the province's stewardship department, where he was responsible for organizing training courses and seminars on Christian stewardship. More here.

The presidential elections on October 29, 2025, led to a wave of violence in Tanzania, mainly on the part of the security forces. Even before the election, the election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan could be described as neither free nor democratic. The largest opposition party was excluded from the election and its leader was imprisoned. The alleged election result of almost 98% for the incumbent then proved to be the last straw. Many people demonstrated against the increasingly authoritarian behavior of the ruling party. Only by shutting down the internet and using violent force against the demonstrators was the government able to survive. Current information from Tanzania is available from Mission 21 or the Leipziger Missionswerk, for example. We ask for your prayers for the people of Tanzania.

The former chair of the church leadership of the Moravian Church in South AfricaMCSA, Martin Abrahams, passed away on November 4, 2025, at the age of 64. He was born on November 7, 1960, in Cape Town. Throughout his life, he was involved in a variety of ways in the church and partnerships. Until October 2024, he was president of the MCSA. His tenure also saw the important reconciliation with the Dutch Reformed Church, which culminated in a moving reconciliation service and a public admission of guilt on September 24, 2022, in Gnadendal. He was also deeply involved with the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity EMS, the World Council of Churches WCC and the Lutheran World Federation LWF.The funeral will be held on November 15, 2025, in Goedverwacht. We ask for your prayers for his family.

On Reformation Day 2025, Tania Sanches, an honorary member of the church leadership of the Moravian Church in Cuba and a full-time economist at the Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba (Cuban Church Council), addressed theologians of the worldwide Moravian Church on Facebook. She wrote: "Thank you for your willingness, Moravian shepherds, to humbly carry out your ministry for so many years. You are a wonderful example for men and women who long to serve the world with the message of salvation. May God make your work flourish. May He bless your lives, your ministry, and your families. In 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul encourages us to show double honor to those who preach and teach. Surely our pastors, who gladly serve their congregations, are worthy of honor. Congratulations, pastors! May the Lord bless us all so that we may continue to remain faithful to him." See here.

On October 31, 2025, the Gerhardt School of the Moravian Church in Suriname celebrated its 95th anniversary in Hamilton (Coronie region). Lisebeth Dundas led the festive service. She wished the school many more years of success. Principal Denise Doorson and the school's teachers are committed to providing high-quality education every day. Only 34 students currently attend the small school. Frederik Riedewald, a government representative, said that he had been both a student and a teacher at this school. He urgently appealed to the operators of the “Welgelegen” (Beautiful Location) holiday resort and to the parents who work there to "bring their children to this school. In order to preserve the Gerhardt School, we must ensure that the number of children enrolled in school grows again." Local government officials agreed to commit to building a fence around the school. 17 pictures here.

On October 27, 2025, an article by Samuel Wens appeared in the Surinamese online medium De ware Tijd. It reports on the distribution of school supplies and toys in Abenaston in the tropical interior of Suriname. School principal Altagracia Schmidt said, “We are delighted that our school in Upper Suriname was selected by the leadership of the Moravian Church in Suriname to receive various school supplies, including a laptop, from the Dutch foundation Hoop voor Suriname.” Preschoolers were also included, as games were distributed to them as well. According to Altagracia Schmidt, all 119 pupils at the school will make grateful use of the gifts. Marieke Rinsma from the foundation explained that the foundation is based in Deventer, home of the Go Ahead Eagles soccer club, adding: “That's why we also brought two soccer balls with us.” Lindon Ritfeld (regional representative for Upper Suriname) and Andrew Breeveld (chairman of the Moravian Church's school foundation in Suriname) expressed their gratitude on behalf of the Moravian Church. More in Dutch here.

The topic of mission is one of several topics on which the newly founded Institute for Moravian History and World Heritage in Bethlehem, PA, is requesting academic papers and other contributions to the discussion (e.g., workshop proposals, concerts). These should be submitted by the time of the institute's inaugural conference, which is planned for November 12-14, 2026, at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA. A recently published call for papers states that contributions should focus on “the preservation, interpretation, and global significance of the history, work, and cultural heritage of the Moravian Church,” while also taking digital humanities into account. One of the topics for which the institute is requesting contributions within eleven months is entitled: “Encounters with indigenous cultures and other existing cultures in the context of the Moravian heritage.” More information can be found on the last page of the Moravian Messenger (issue 11-2025) here.