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HUNGER RESOURCES/UPDATES |
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Central
States Synod |
I doubt there is an American who wouldn't want to help the hungry if they understood the problem. Who should help? Church or government? Christians have always had compassion for and helped the hungry from the very beginning of Christianity. Just when governments started helping seems to be unknown but today we need all the help we can get to do this. We also need good stewardship by all including the hungry and all the effort the hungry can put forth. What ever happened to all the gardens people used to have? The Canadians still have them. At least 25,000 people die every day in other countries of hunger-related causes. Some dig for food in garbage dumps. By helping the hungry we are doing what Jesus asked us to do. We are bringing Jesus, the Bread of Life, to people, and many now believe that we are fighting Terrorism by alleviating discontent. This past week Anne and I were in Washington D.C. I spent one day at Bread for the World's Conference which included lobbying Senators Roberts and Brownback and Congressman Jerry Moran's offices. It usually meant talking with one of their aides who were very polite, listened intently, and were sympathetic to helping in any way that they could. They said that they would pass on our concern to our elected officials. Our country presently gives 15-20 billion/year to fight hunger, poverty and disease in the world. This is 1/2 to 1% of our three trillion dollar annual budget although it is twice as high as the next highest country gives. The American people give 200 billion/year to charity which I imagine includes all giving to churches also. Both Bread for the World and our Lutheran Church want to strive for the Millenium Development Goals which are:
We are making great strides toward these goals but once again we have entered a difficult time financially. New!
Ecumenical Study Guide on Global Poverty ELCA
DOMESTIC HUNGER GRANTS Granting Hope is the catalog of the domestic hunger grants program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Here you can learn about the grants process, read descriptions of current grant recipients (and search for them by state or synod), and find out how you can support hunger ministries.
"Hunger No More" is "an unflinching look at the persistent problem of hunger in the 21st Century" and was first broadcast on ABC television in 2004. It is a production of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., Mennonite Media, and the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission. The program was partially underwritten by the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and two ELCA leaders are included in its interviews - Joe Young, Director of Community Development for the ELCA Church in Society unit, and David Beckmann, CEO of Bread for the World. Download a Study Guide/bulletin insert. (PDF file 1.5MB)
ELCA World Hunger All-Occasion Cards
New Hunger Resources/Links BASIC
JOB DESCRIPTION - Congregational Hunger Contact Person AFRICA
STORY & PHOTOS from Robert Fisher, Southeastern Pa. Synod,
ELCA. http://www.ministrylink.org/hunger/
Additional Resources The ELCA
World Hunger Appeal and Program - 30th Anniversary The Central States Synod has a network of Hunger Advocates across the synod. To download the list click the preferred format: Hunger Advocates MS Word or Hunger Advocates PDF. |
A
study guide on global poverty and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),
produced by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the
Episcopal Church, is available for download and for purchase through
Augsburg Fortress. Titled, “God’s Mission in the World,”
the guide is intended as a resource for congregations and other groups
looking to “broaden their understanding of global poverty and
become part of the worldwide movement achieving the MDGs,” according
to guide introduction. The guide features six sessions examining Christian
understandings of social justice, global poverty and the MDGs. The MDGs
are eight interrelated development goals that flow from the Millennium
Declaration of 2000 adopted by all members of the United Nations, including
the United States. For more information, and links to download or order
the guide, visit 
"Hunger
No More: Faces Behind the Facts,"
(televised on the Hallmark Channel, November 2005)
