CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Income for the 1999 World Hunger Appeal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) surpassed the previous year's total by more than $3.4 million. The appeal collected more than $16 million in 1999 -- a record amount for the appeal -- and $12.5 million in 1998.
"The real bottom line isn't the numbers," said Lita Brusick Johnson, director of the appeal, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries. "It is the people whose lives will be saved or changed because members of our church heard God's call to do justice and to feed those who are hungry," she said.
"The great response to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal happened when we were also having a banner year in giving to the church's Domestic Disaster Response and International Disaster Response, which provides designated giving opportunities under the World Hunger Appeal," said Johnson.
Income for disaster response reached $6 million, with $3.9 million for International Disaster Response. Members of the ELCA gave more than $2 million in response to the crisis in and around Kosovo, Johnson said.
Income from the ELCA World Hunger Appeal provides direct relief for people in need worldwide; provides the means for long-term, sustainable development in communities; advocates for justice; and educates members of the church about issues related to hunger, poverty and justice, said Stephen Padre, associate director for communication for the World Hunger Appeal, ELCA Department for Communication.
With the $3.4 million surplus, the ELCA plans to intensify its support for such activities as providing primary medical care in Madagascar; assisting Lutheran churches and partner agencies in Africa as they struggle to deal with the AIDS epidemic there; supporting Lutheran organizations and others in their response to the U.S. rural crisis, and many other projects, said Johnson.
"A significant amount from the surplus will also go toward Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran World Federation," said the Rev. John L. Halvorson, coordinator for the ELCA World Hunger Program, ELCA Division for Church in Society.
The ELCA celebrated the World Hunger Appeal's 25th anniversary in 1999. Some congregations of the ELCA marked the anniversary by using the number 25 in fund-raising activities throughout the year. In addition, members of the church prayed, conducted "services of recommitment" and planned activities and offerings in celebration of the appeal during a special 25-day period -- Nov. 1-25.
The 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved a resolution that calls for members of the church to increase their awareness of hunger in the world, to double their giving over the next five years to ELCA World Hunger Appeal through regular contributions and designated gifts, and to thank supporters of the appeal.
The ELCA World Hunger Appeal was established at the 1987 Constituting Convention of the ELCA. Churches that formed the ELCA launched world hunger appeals in 1974. Since that time the appeals have gathered more than $216 million.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
