NOVEMBER 2014
ELCA provides $100,000 to help contain Ebola
Thanks to generous gifts from ELCA members like you to Lutheran Disaster Response, the Lutheran Church in Liberia and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone are training health care workers, providing Ebola education about prevention, and distributing food to the many people isolated by the outbreak. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/7699.
- For a personal view from ELCA missionary Brian Palmer of the Ebola tragedy in Liberia, see www.ELCA.org/Living-Lutheran/Blogs/2014/09/140918-The-toll-of-Ebola-in-Liberia.
- To view a Lutheran Disaster Response video about the need for assistance, see http://bit.ly/1CoHq6R.
- To find out what you can do, see www.ELCA.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/Lutheran-Disaster-Response/Our-Impact/Ebola.
East Jerusalem: Documentary features ELCA supported hospital
“Healing in a Holy Land,” a film about Augusta Victory Hospital, offers “a stark contrast to the images of war and death by holding up tangible evidence of positive work being done on the behalf of ELCA members,” says the producer of the film, Tim Frakes. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/NewsBlog/58.
Central America: Ministry is a team effort
Through the universal priesthood of all believers, the churches in Central America are getting God’s work done. Teams of volunteer lay leaders are assuming roles that have been reserved for a paid pastor in more traditional church settings. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/HandInHand/442.
Zimbabwe: Building the church
In the second largest city in Zimbabwe, there is an exciting Lutheran outreach initiative underway as part of Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA. Read what six ELCA visitors learned on the recent ELCA Global Church Sponsorship trip at www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/HandInHand/447.
Mission of the Month: New life for children in Tanzania
Children in rural Tanzania are getting the medical care they need thanks to ELCA missionaries Dr. Stephen Friberg and his wife, Bethany Friberg. But “mission doctors know it is God who does the healing,” they say. Share this inspiring story with your congregation. For a colorful Word document to display on a bulletin board or use in a newsletter or PowerPoint presentation, visit www.ELCA.org/resources/globalchurch.
ELCA members join world climate change march
Hundreds of ELCA members were among the more than 400,000 people who participated in the People’s Climate March in New York City on Sept. 21. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/7698
Malaria videos show impact
The ELCA Malaria Campaign has three new short videos that help demonstrate the impact of your gifts. Share these videos with your family, friends and people in your congregation. View and download each at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNDmVwhz-M34LjJ69ByRllqmQcyGc3Ykn.
Expand opportunities for women!
Women represent 70 percent of the world’s population living in poverty, yet in church and society, they are often underserved by a lack of access to education and training to develop their leadership skills. Watch this video highlighting the ELCA’s new initiatives to empower women: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RKNqr6-Q3s. To help support this program or to learn more, visit: http://www.ELCA.org/InternationalLeaders.
Zambia: Serving the young church
Former ELCA missionary Arden Strasser reflects on his eight years of working with the members and leaders of the Lutheran church in Zambia. To watch a video of his reflections, see www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ySj336f0k&feature=youtu.be .
Create a legacy for global ministries
An ELCA gift planner can help you plan a legacy gift such as a bequest, endowment or charitable gift annuity. Contact elcafoundation@elca.org.
Zionism and the world today
The issue of Christian Zionism is debated within the church and society. “Comprehending Christian Zionism,” available from Fortress Press, brings together an international consortium of experts to reflect on this critical subject. See http://store.fortresspress.com/store/productgroup/759/Comprehending-Christian-Zionism-Perspectives-in-Comparison.
Glocal Mission Gathering, Nov. 7-8, Nov. 14-15
For worship and workshops on God’s work in today’s global and local realities as well as their “glocal” intersections, attend the November ELCA Glocal Mission Gatherings in Chalmette, La., and Excelsior, Minn. For details and to register, visit www.ELCA.org/glocal.
