CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Resources for a congregation's world hunger ministry are available from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) World Hunger Appeal. These resources were mailed in May to ELCA congregations in the Spring 2001 ELCA World Hunger Resources Packet.
"It gives congregations resources to help members understand what the world hunger ministry is," said Stephen Padre, ELCA associate director for internal church communication and producer of the hunger resources packet.
Samples of all new materials for 2001, including three new bulletin inserts, are included in the packet. "We always want to provide new things that keep people's interest," said Padre. The materials are either ready to use or are samples that can be ordered to distribute to members. "The materials in the packet give ideas and are a good starting point for deciding what they (congregations) want to do," Padre said.
Also included in the packet is the spring 2001 Hunger Guide for Congregations. The six-page booklet provides new ideas and activities for world hunger ministry and a detailed two-page pull-out section on ways to involve members in "Stand With Africa." Stand With Africa is a three-year campaign of the ELCA World Hunger Program, Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod World Relief and Lutheran World Relief, to support communities and churches in Africa dealing with HIV/AIDS, hunger and peace issues.
In addition, the packet includes a new World Hunger Appeal poster, featuring faces of people from around the world under the theme, "Let justice roll down like waters" (Amos 5:24). A booklet of new world hunger activities for children for the entire year is included, along with six new illustrated hunger stories, ready to be photocopied for bulletins and newsletters.
The World Hunger Program was established to address needs in areas of hunger and disaster. The ministry has four methods to accomplish this goal: to provide immediate relief for those in need; to provide means for long-term sustainable developments for communities to alleviate hunger and poverty; to advocate for justice; and to educate ELCA members on issues of hunger, poverty and justice.
The Fall 2001 Hunger Resources packet will be mailed to congregations in August, Padre said. It will include materials related to Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Two main resource packets are mailed out free each year. -- -- --
For more information on the Spring 2001 ELCA World Hunger Resources Packet, visit http://www.elca.org/hunger/resource.html on the Web.
[*Michelle T. Mills is a senior at Bradley University, Peoria, Ill.
This summer she is an intern with ELCA News & Information.]
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
- - -
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
