ELCA teenagers hold dodge ball event to raise money for world hunger

by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service

Some teenage Lutherans from the Chicago area learned that every
3.6 seconds someone in the world dies of hunger. "That's every
time you take a breath," according to Luke Terrell, a member of
Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago. In an effort to
build awareness about ending world hunger, Terrell and 30 other
teenagers participated in a dodge ball tournament to raise money
for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) World
Hunger Appeal.

Jake Kohlhaas, youth director at Edison Park Lutheran Church,
Chicago, said there were two goals for the fundraising event.
"The first is to come out and have fun, and the second is to
learn about world hunger and the difference we can make," he
said. Six Chicago-area congregations of the ELCA participated in
the event March 14 at Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, Ill.,
and raised $400. The event included a presentation about the
work of ELCA World Hunger, and participants played "Hunger
Jeopardy." Played like the television game show "Jeopardy,"
Hunger Jeopardy is designed to educate, entertain and test one's
knowledge about hunger. Watch a video of the event.

Lutheran youth across the church are saying "no" to hunger and
poverty through "Change the World" -- a 2009 challenge to raise
$1 million for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. To reach the goal,
each participant in the ELCA Youth Gathering is asked to bring
$30. The ELCA Youth Gathering will bring together 37,000 high-
school-age and adult Lutherans to New Orleans, July 22-26.