ELCA NEWS SERVICE July 19, 2003 ELCA Youth Trot Around 'The Globe' 03-YG-08-MR 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 [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news