For nearly 20 years, the Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center (SMRC) near Ramallah has operated an inclusive kindergarten. The kindergarten serves two purposes: on the one hand, it is urgently needed for the early intervention of children with intellectual disabilities; on the other hand, it serves as an “on-site kindergarten” for the facility. This allows female staff members to return to work soon after giving birth, and children with disabilities to receive support from a very young age. In addition, the youngest children learn to play together, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. The kindergartenis also open to children from outside the facility. Now that a new, larger building for the kindergarten has opened, more children can be enrolled. To attract other kindergarten-aged children to the SMRC, the center has now set up its own Facebook page (here).

In August, the MCM Women’s Training Center in Mzuzu focused on organic farming and the economic empowerment of women. Women’s groups in Thyolo, Nang’ombe, and Lumbadzi learned more about soil health, compost, and organic fertilizer, as well as business management and group organization. The goal is to put what they’ve learned directly into practice: In Thyolo, the women plan to grow and sell vegetables; in Nang’ombe, they plan to grow corn and, in the long term, establish their own corn mill. The group in Lumbadzi is focusing on corn and soybeans and also wants to help needy families set up their own home gardens. The training center itself is increasingly becoming a hub for knowledge exchange. Groups of visitors came there to learn about organic farming as well as medicinal plants and their traditional uses.

Many female students at Atsikana Walani Technical College (AWTC) have experienced displacement, violence, loss, or other traumatic events. For this reason, psychosocial support is an integral part of the AWTC’s program, alongside vocational training. In collaboration with Afrikala Art, a safe space for creative therapy sessions has now been established. In a quiet and welcoming atmosphere, the young women can paint, create art, and work with various materials. College staff have also been trained so that they can incorporate these new methods into their psychosocial support in the future. The first sessions with the students have already taken place, and their feedback is being incorporated into the program’s further development. In this way, the new space is becoming another important building block, ensuring that AWTC offers not only education and future prospects, but also safety, support, and a space for renewed strength.

In a podcast by the Brødremenighedens Danske Mission (BDM), Jørgen Bøytler, Moravian Unity General Secretary, spoke about Mission in a Conflict-Ridden World—a topic he also addressed in a lecture in early 2026. See here. On September 17, 2026, he stated: “The world order has become a world of disorder. The Holy War is no longer just a term used by Islamist groups. Now, Christian evangelicals also view the United States’ political involvement as a religious war. The conflicts in the Middle East, in particular, are clearly taking on the undertones of a religious war. Religion is used to morally legitimize war by interpreting an existing conflict as a battle between good and evil. This approach does not make it any easier to be a Christian today, since Christians—at least in our part of the world—can never accept war as a means of strengthening Christianity. Mission work does not take place in a bunker; rather, it is part of civil society, both in Denmark and in countries such as Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Albania.”

From September 5 to 10, 2026, a meeting of the Unity Board—the highest governing body of the worldwide Unity between the Unity Synods, which take place only once every seven years—was held in Calgary, Canada, in a constructive and warm atmosphere. It was the North American Region’s turn to host the meeting. Since there were concerns about whether all members would be able to obtain visas to enter the U.S., the meeting was held in Canada. Unfortunately, even there, only a few delegates received visas, so about half of the members of the Unity Board were able to participate only online. With the exception of three brothers from Tanzania, none of the African members were granted entry into Canada. Consequently, they participated together via videoconference from Dar es Salaam. Raimund Hertzsch of Bad Boll will report on the proceedings of the conference, the many groundbreaking resolutions passed by the delegates, and the elections held on September 18, 2026. See hier.

• To strengthen the work of the Moravian Unity Cultural Heritage Foundation (MUCHF), which was founded in 2023, a permanent position has been created. Jeffrey Long of Bethlehem, PA, has been hired to handle administration, provide expert guidance, and secure funding.
• The appointment of Vojtěch Černy/CZ as Unity Youth Desk Coordinator—which had already taken effect in early 2026—was confirmed. He had previously assumed this position on an interim basis, succeeding Jiřina Kaletová/CZ.
• Another mission conference of the worldwide Unity is scheduled to take place in 2028, to be prepared in accordance with the resolutions of the 9th Unity Synod in 2023. Due to limited financial resources, it is recommended that the number of participants be smaller than at the most recent mission conference in Cape Town in 2017.
• It was decided that the first Sunday in February of each year would be a day of prayer and a day of remembrance for the consequences of slavery in all Unity provinces.

• The Brødremenighedens Danske Mission (BDM) recently reported the following: A fundraising campaign held during the summer vacation of 2026 at Gellerup Kirke in Herning, called Vacation with Meaning and Purpose, raised 83,000 Danish kroner (approximately 11,100 euros) for the Moravian Church’s children’s home in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. More here.
• On September 2, 2026, former Danish volunteers—mostly from older generations—gathered for a social evening in Christiansfeld near Kolding, organized by the secretariat of the Brødremenighedens Danske Mission (BDM). Svend Løbner shared stories and showed pictures of people and current projects of the Moravian Church around the world. See the pictures here.
• BDM's quarterly mission magazine, BDMnyt, for the third quarter of 2026—featuring reports from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Albania, and the Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center SMRC in Palestine—can be read here as a PDF.

One of the newest mission fields of the worldwide Unity (Moravian Church) is located in the eastern Brazilian city of Salvador. Mauricio Melo, the leader of the local congregation, points out that more and more forested areas in the country are disappearing, which undermines climate resilience and accelerates climate change. In his view, it is therefore urgently necessary to counteract this trend. Guided by the motto “What can you do for your country?”, his congregation is doing its utmost to combat deforestation, particularly in the Amazon region. The congregation has established strong relationships with indigenous leaders. Together with the indigenous communities, the Moravian Church in Salvador is collecting data on this issue and seeking solutions. It is supported in this effort by the America North Province. Preserving God’s creation is a shared responsibility for people in both North and South America. More here.

The Moravian Church in Peru, which operates as a mission province, maintains and fosters ecumenical relationships. Pastor Walter Calle Peralta of the Iglesia Misión Al Mundo de Moravian Church in Chiclayo reported on Facebook that his congregation, along with other congregations, was invited to participate in the celebrations marking the 22nd anniversary of the founding of the Iglesia Restauración por el Espíritu Santo in the city of Túcume on September 6, 2026. A video of this celebration can be found here. A video of the Moravian Church’s greeting can be found here. A week later, on September 13, 2026, Walter Calle Peralta was invited to serve as a guest preacher in the neighborhood. He preached at the Abba Padre (Our Father) congregation in Chiclayo. His sermon was titled The Spiritual Perspective. A video here. Walter Calle Peralta became acquainted with the Moravian Church during his studies at Charles University in Prague.

In its September 2026 newsletter, see here, Medische Zending – Primary Health Care Suriname once again reports on the celebrations held in May 2026 to mark the 25th anniversary of its founding. It describes the tributes paid to its employees on May 8 (Mother’s Day) and June 19, 2026 (Father’s Day). It highlights the organization’s commitment to ensuring that Suriname remains a malaria-free country in the future, as certified by the World Health Organization on June 30, 2025. The organization used the Career Information Day on June 12, 2026, to provide information about training opportunities, specifically regarding the training of “health care assistants.” As part of World Health Day and World Malaria Day, the Medische Zending organized a local health fair in Brokopondo in the interior of the country. It laments that, contrary to what was promised, it has not yet received any government subsidies in the 2026 calendar year.

Pelelu Tepoe is located on the Tapanahony River. It is a village in Suriname in the Sipaliwini District, deep in the tropical rainforest. During the annual Bible conference in the village, the local clinic of the Medische Zending in Suriname organized an information day for the community. Purcy Haabo and Mathiasi Taye provided information about the training program for health assistants and spoke with interested individuals about how to participate. HIV and syphilis were also discussed. Men and women were able to learn about these sexually transmitted infections and take home free condoms. In addition, participants had the opportunity to have their blood pressure, height, and weight measured. This gave everyone insight into their health status and helped them recognize their health risks. The event also highlighted the importance of prevention, education, and a healthy village community. The motto of the day was: Individual care with compassion for one another. Some photos here.

Thanks to the collaboration between the Dutch-Surinamese network CreativE ConneXtioN —founded in 2007—and its nonprofit foundation, along with the Chamber of Commerce & Industrie - Kamer van Koophandel en Fabrieken in Paramaribo, Suriname, funds have been raised in recent months for an AI training program to be held at the Marcel-Ria School of the Moravian Church in Paramaribo-Beekhuizen, Suriname. This school is an elementary school for children with special educational needs. Classrooms, each with nine seats, accommodate children of various ages between 10 and 14. Thanks to the funding, it is now possible to equip two media rooms for AI use. But first, the future media rooms had to be professionally cleaned. A video of this work can be found here. The upcoming measures are being led by Lucia Samuels, a member of the aforementioned network.

More than half of the members of the worldwide Moravian Church live within 190 kilometers of the sea. This geography has a significant impact on their lives; it opens up opportunities, but also poses risks. In Nicaragua, people engage in the dangerous work of lobster diving. In Alaska, many earn their living through fishing. In the Caribbean, tourism in particular thrives on the proximity to the sea. Catastrophic storms sweeping in from the sea have already damaged many villages of the Moravian Church and completely or partially destroyed churches and schools. Because proximity to the sea strongly influences the lives of members, this proximity also affects the work of mission organizations. For example, they help rebuild coastal communities after devastating storms, provide water filtration systems, and assist in treating decompression sickness. More here.

On September 14, 2026, the Moravian Church Albania’s Facebook pages posted the following: “We spent a weekend together in Burrel that was blessed in every way. Our desire to try something new became a reality. For the first time, we all shared a very special experience together. Together with our dear sisters and brothers from the Moravian Church in Gothenburg, Sweden, we enjoyed a concert in the park, held prayer meetings, received music lessons, shared our testimonies, and felt God’s boundless love. God guided, strengthened, and helped us every step of the way, right up to the end of the weekend with a worship service and a shared Holy Communion. We are humbled and grateful. All glory be to You, Lord Jesus!” Many photos here. A few days earlier, a group from Denmark had visited the Moravian Church in Albania.

Moravian High School in Bluefields, in southeastern Nicaragua, recently announced: "It is with great joy and pride that we highlight our student Amber Hayden Allen, one of the best basketball players in our region. Her extraordinary achievement: She won the gold medal with Nicaragua’s national basketball team at the XXII Central American School Sports Games in Honduras, organized by the Consejo del Istmo Centroamericano de Deporte y Recreación, which took place from September 4 to 13, 2026. Her talent, discipline, passion, and dedication to basketball serve as an example for our entire school community. Today we celebrate not only a medal, but also all the hours of practice and personal sacrifices that have brought our student to the top of the podium. Amber Hayden Allen has put Nicaragua, Bluefields, and Moravian High School on the map. Congratulations, champion!" A team photo here.

On September 8, 2026, Pastor Jacques Manirakiza, one of the founders of the Eglise Morave Burundi, passed away. His funeral was held on September 15, 2026, in Ryamwezi, where he had served as pastor. In attendance were Bishop Pascal Benimana, Edward Augustino Nsengiyumva as a representative of the Provincial Board, and other pastors who had come to pay their last respects to the pastor. In his address, Bishop Pascal Benimana called on the congregation, the family of the deceased, and his friends to praise God and not to forget all the good that the deceased was able to do. He reminded them that Jesus has risen and that Yakobo Manirakiza, too, will rise again. He assured all believers that the Lord would care for them and protect them. Jacques Manirakiza, born in 1950, was ordained as a pastor in 1988, a ministry he subsequently served in for 38 years. Edward Augustino Nsengiyumva conveyed greetings from other church representatives both at home and abroad. Photos here.

As early as May 2026, Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA, reported the following: “Congratulations to Dalley Silwamba. On May 9, 2026, he completed his public health degree at our university. He will soon return to Africa to reunite with his family and seek employment in his field. Dalley was a Barnette Scholar (named after the scholarship donor, Curtis Hank Barnette). During his studies, he was supported by the International Student Care Committee of the Moravian Church in Bethlehem, PA (Central Moravian Church, Edgeboro Moravian Church, and College Hill Moravian Church). Dalley had to overcome some major academic challenges. He persevered, earned his degree, and grew as a person. We are proud of him and will miss him. We ask God for his safe return, as well as for continued blessings, success, and happiness for him."

The Bethlehem Moravian Church and the St. Albans Anglican Church, both located in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, received equal shares of 2.6 million Jamaican dollars (approx. 14,500 euros) from the remaining assets of the dissolved Mavis Fraser-Davis Trust. The Trust—a charitable foundation—was established in 1998 in honor of the late Mavis Fraser-Davis, an exceptionally distinguished educator with the Moravian Church of Jamaica who served for many years in the St. Elizabeth region. The trust was founded by her brother, the late Reverend James Oswald Thorbourne, who established the Church Credit Union of Jamaica in 1971 and also helped stabilize the banking sector in Jamaica. The trust’s purpose was to provide financial support to needy students and trainees in the St. Elizabeth region of Jamaica. The Bethlehem Moravian Church will use the 1.3 million Jamaican dollars it has now received for this purpose. Reverend Sacha Lambert, the pastor of the beneficiary church, said: “We are very grateful and delighted by this gesture. The donation will significantly advance our youth ministry. Several elementary school students at our Fraser-Davis School and other children from the congregation will benefit from it.” A newspaper article here.

Produced by the Project 32 Moravian Narrative Team of the Moravian Church British Province, a new animated film was released on September 16, 2026 (the Day of Remembrance of Jesus Christ’s Lordship over His Church), which tells the story of the Moravian Church in three minutes—from its beginnings in 1457 to the present day. Most of the images were generated by artificial intelligence. The images are captioned with simple English sentences. At the heart of the film is the conviction that God has repeatedly brought about a renewal of the Moravian Church in the past, and that such a renewal is also possible today and requires the participation of many: “We have a great tradition of renewal. The future is in our hands. We are standing at a crossroads in the Moravian Church.” At the end, the film concludes with a sequence of photographs (not AI-generated) that depict the vibrant life of the Moravian Church worldwide. Watch the full film here. The film is well-suited as a stimulus for children’s worship services, Sunday school, and religious education classes. Perhaps it will find its way to other English-speaking Moravian regions.

On September 24, 2026, the 31. Heritage Day was celebrated in many places across South Africa. This year’s theme was: “Preserving Our Living Cultural Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us.” On this day, people celebrated their outstanding educators and the communities they have shaped. It became clear that South Africa owes a great deal to the expertise of talented and dedicated educators. In Genadendal, the spotlight was on the Khoi-Khoi teacher Carl Jonas, born in Duinfontein near Elim. In 1842, he became the first local to successfully pass his teaching exam in Genadendal and subsequently served for decades as a teacher and role model for all. In addition, local artisans and entrepreneurs were present on the streets and squares of Genadendal at the Heritage Day Outdoor Market. Of course, guided tours of the town and the museum were also offered. The program can be found here.