by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
seeking to support the mission and ministries of the church
financially can donate online through ELCA Good Gifts, formally
known as the ELCA Giving Basket. The Giving Basket raised more
than $4 million through 29,137 gifts since its launch in 2001.
With ELCA Good Gifts "you can make a difference in just three
clicks. View, select and give," said Scott Hendrickson,
associate director for public relations and marketing, ELCA
Foundation. There are six different categories -- care for the
world's hungry, share the gospel, support mission throughout the
world, bring relief after disasters, invest in our future
leadership, and give where the need is greatest. The categories
are designed to support the strategic directions of the ELCA.
"ELCA Good Gifts, a giving catalog of the ELCA, continues to be a
success," said Hendrickson. The 2005-2007 catalog features 32
pages of exclusive gift ideas designed to support particular
ministries of the church. "To date 6,000 donors have responded
to this (catalog) with nearly 9,000 gifts, totaling more than
$1.55 million, in support of the ELCA's mission. The 2007-2009
catalog will first be distributed at the 2007 ELCA Churchwide
Assembly in August and (then) with The Lutheran magazine in
October," he said. "We give God thanks for the outpouring of
gifts from so many faithful and generous donors who have
responded to ELCA Good Gifts. Their gifts truly make a
difference in the world."
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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
