ATLANTA (ELCA) -- High-school-age Lutherans from across the
country and around the world are trotting around "The Globe" at
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Youth Gathering
here.
The Gathering is meeting July 16-20 and July 23-27 at the
Georgia Dome and Georgia World Congress Center. The two events
bring together some 40,000 youth and adult Lutherans to
participate in worship, community service, Bible study and fun.
Located in the Georgia World Congress Center, The Globe is
an interaction center where participants can fix cars for single
moms, play beach volleyball, climb walls, learn martial arts,
visit with college and seminary representatives, get a massage
and hang out in coffee houses.
A 20-foot diameter "Earth Ball" is featured at the entrance
of the interaction center. The ball is made up of thousands of
digital photographs from NASA.
Another highlight at The Globe is "Quarters for Hunger" -- a
special program designed to raise awareness about hunger and
poverty. Young people are bringing rolls of quarters and
inviting others to match one-for-one what they bring. The goal
is to collect $1 million in quarters (four million quarters) to
support the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and "Stand With Africa: A
Campaign of Hope" -- a Lutheran focus on issues significant to
Africa, including HIV/AIDS, food security, peace and
reconciliation. Stand With Africa is being coordinated in part by
the ELCA World Hunger Program.
As of July 19, more than $200,000 has been collected. More
quarters are expected to be collected at the 2003 ELCA Youth
Gathering July 23-27 event.
Cala Nelson, 17, First Lutheran Church, Blair, Wis., said
the Quarters for Hunger program serves as a "good opportunity to
serve and help fight hunger." Nelson's sister, Dana Nelson, 15,
said, "It made me feel good to contribute."
About the ELCA Youth Gathering, Cala Nelson said, "It is
amazing to see so many people my age gathered for the same
purpose, which is to praise God and see what God has done."
For John Richard Krause, 15, Faith Lutheran Church, Seguin,
Texas, The Globe provided an opportunity for him to send a
postcard to a young adult missionary. "I sent 'Ted' in Germany a
postcard because I want to wish him good luck on his journey,"
Krause said. "I can speak German and I like to keep up-to-date
with events in Germany."
The ELCA Division for Global Mission, Chicago, hosted an
exhibit at The Globe. Division staff and volunteers offered
information about a one-year international service opportunity
for ELCA members ages 19-30. Members have an opportunity to
serve in Argentina, Egypt, Germany, Kenya, Thailand and the
United Kingdom. Young Lutherans from Africa, Central and South
America, the Middle East and other parts of the world attending
the ELCA Youth Gathering here are visiting the exhibit daily.
Information about the 2003 ELCA Youth Gathering can be found
at http://www.elca.org/gathering/home.html on the Internet.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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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
