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ENVIRONMENT: China Earthquake Relief
The recent Sichuan Earthquake has brought about massive devastation as nearly 20,000 died, those listed as missing approached 70,000, and some five million persons were left homeless. Healing and reconstruction of communities and families is being sought as the ELCA partners with the Sichuan Christian Council and the Luzhou Christian Church to witness to the love of Christ in this devastation.
One part of the multi-phase reconstruction plan is to restore communities at the epicenter of the earthquake through community based rebuilding, including restoring churches and homes. An essential part of this includes restoring the local environment through agricultural training programs for development from loss of livestock and farming equipment, water and sanitation system reconstruction, and biogas system repair.
Ideal goal: $100,000
Realistic goal: $20,000 (20% of the cost of the Integrated Agriculture Reconstruction/Repair) |
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ARTS & CULTURE: Laotian Donkoi Children’s Center
In 1998, Mrs. Xuyen Dangers started the Children’s Development Center in Donkoi, a semi-rural village not too far from the Laotian capital of Vientiane. The Center programs reach out to children, youth and women who are at risk of being exploited because of poverty and poor educational opportunities.
This Children’s Center offers after-school activities and clubs for children in dancing, weaving, drama, carpentry, music and reading. In addition to its arts formation programs, the center advocates for children’s rights, as well as provides education and vocational training directed at reducing migration.
Ideal goal: $5,000
Realistic goal: $5,000 (for looms, training materials, scholarships, children’s meals, and vocational training equipment for one year) |
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HEALTH & WELLNESS: Educacion Popular en Salud (Popular Education for Health) in Chile
EPES is a health education program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile. Beginning its work during the 1982 military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, its aim is to seek justice and equity in health care for the poor and oppressed by offering training, guidance, and support for community health groups.
EPES has trained hundreds of local people to be community health promoters in shantytowns; these health promoters work with those directly affected by poverty and social discrimination. Teams of health promoters in five shanty towns in Santiago and Concepcion develop activities aimed at confronting domestic violence, women’s health, HIV-AIDS, and acute respiratory infections.
Ideal goal: $30,000
Realistic goal: $15,000 (will provide educational training and programming for two weeks) |
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WEALTH & POVERTY: Economic Crisis in Zimbabwe
Economic and political upheaval in Zimbabwe has brought devastation to every sector of society. Hyperinflation has eroded church workers’ monthly salaries to such a low that the lowest paid worker receives $1.00, while the highest paid employee receives about $10.
Poverty is especially poignant in the health-care sector where hospital pharmacy shelves currently stand empty and those in need of health care have no means by which to get to the hospital. This project provides the four hospitals of the Evangelical Church in Zimbabwe with four hard-top Toyota Land Cruisers to be used as ambulances to transport patients, especially pregnant women, to health care facilities.
Ideal goal: $180,000 (the total project cost)
Realistic goal: $45,000 (the cost for one ambulance) |
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HOUSING: Housing for Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land carries out its ministries in the midst of Israeli occupation, serving communities surrounded by very real concrete walls and barbed wire fences that divide and dispossess the people. Because Palestinians experience great difficulty in securing affordable housing in Jerusalem, the Christian presence -- known for its effectiveness in peace-making -- is shrinking to an alarmingly low level.
The Mount of Olives Housing Project will give hope and a home to nearly 90 Christian families in Jerusalem who can not find affordable housing in their city.
Ideal goal: $1,000,000 (the remaining need for the ELCA to keep its $2,000,000 commitment)
Realistic goal: $80,000 (the cost of one unit) |
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LITERACY: STARS (St. Andrews Refugee Services), Cairo
STARS provides hope and essential skills to refugees from many conflicts. In particular, support has been provided for victims of the conflict in Sudan and displaced Iraqi Christians. STARS assists refugees in making a successful transition to living in Cairo or returning to their home countries. Practical training helps the program participants become economically independent and self-confident.
The programs include a Children’s Education Program which provides a basic education curriculum to 180 refugee children and an Adult Education Program which offers courses (English, Arabic, computer skills, and business/accounting) to improve refugees’ employment options.
Ideal goal: $150,000 (annual project goal)
Realistic goal: $8,000 (will buy one portable classroom to educate 20 students, feed 180 school children for one week, buy new computers and supplies, and pay for several adult scholarships) |
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TEXAS-LOUISIANA GULF COAST SYNOD HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF: Future With Hope
Your offering will help support the ongoing disaster relief ministry of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod. The Gulf Coast Synod continues to recover from devastating hurricanes that have impacted people from New Orleans to Galveston Island. This important work is being supported largely by volunteers who come from around the country to offer time, prayer, resources, and hard work.
Our Lutheran Christian witness is at its best as we are visible and present in rebuilding the Gulf Coast. |
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ELCA MISSIONARY SPONSORSHIP: One missionary for one year
Your gifts for ELCA Missionary Sponsorship send our 268 missionaries to teach, preach, heal, build, nurture and accompany neighbors in 46 countries around the world.
ELCA missionary Daniel Beirne, a 22-year-old recent college graduate, serves as a translator in the office of the Sister Parish program, as a youth group assistant, and as an English teacher for youth and adult colleagues.
Ideal goal: $48,000
Realistic goal: $24,000 (the cost of missionary Daniel Beirne’s salary and ministry for 6 months) |