Title: Lutheran Leaders Fight Hunger June 13, 1996 LUTHERAN LEADERS FIGHT HUNGER (84 lines) 96-14-042-LC COLUMBUS, OHIO (ELCA) -- Where others saw an urban dump Gloria Luster saw a garden. Known as the "garden angel of Baltimore," Luster has turned about 80 vacant lots into an organic farm. She and other leaders in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's fight against world hunger met in Columbus, Ohio, May 31- June 2. The ELCA's National Hunger Leadership Event brought together about 85 people, representing 51 of 65 synods to talk about ways to promote hunger awareness in their synods and congregations. Luster received a start-up grant of $2,500 from the ELCA World Hunger Program in 1993. She hasn't asked for money since, saying "once you get started you need to start looking around to see how you're going to support yourself." "This gathering is important because it is a time for those in our network to hear from our key partners, such as Lutheran World Relief and the Lutheran World Federation," said the Rev. John Halvorson, coordinator of the ELCA World Hunger Program. Equally important is the inspiration participants gain from each other -- a chance to hear from other synod hunger leaders about fund-raising, education efforts, and promoting hunger awareness in their synods, he added. LWR and LWF each receive about $3.7 million from ELCA hunger funds each year. Participants shared creative ways their synods provide hunger education, including welfare simulations, trips to Mexico to sensitize participants to realities of the "third world," handing out one cup of rice to those attending a synod assembly as an idea of what people in Asia have for a meal, suggesting to people they keep track of their monthly food bill and donate 10 percent of the total to world hunger, and appoint a hunger advocate in every congregation. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a communion of 122 Lutheran church bodies representing some 56 million of the world's 59 million Lutherans. Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is the relief and development arm of the ELCA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Participants chose one of two "earth keeping" field trips. At First English Lutheran Church, located in an economically depressed area of Columbus, they met with John Fetters, consultant and congregational member, on energy-efficient lighting. Fetters talked about how churches can reduce their energy usage and bill through simple actions and then "donate that savings towards hunger." He is preparing a brochure with Dr. Job Ebenezer, ELCA director for environmental stewardship: "How to Reduce Lighting Energy Through Simple Measures in Churches and Church Related Institutions." Dr. Ben Steiner, Ohio State University, conducted a tour of a sustainable farm outside of Columbus, owned by the Yutzy family. The Yutzys are Mennonites who follow biblical principles in their farming operations. Kathryn Wolford, executive director of LWR, reported to the full gathering on development and relief work in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Wolford said LWR recently delivered school supplies to Angola and those supplies were the first that children had seen for five years. Lutheran World Relief helped change lives in my country, said Mimin Lu Aznar. She works with LWR developing and monitoring projects in Mindanao, the large southern island of the Philippines. LWR is working with 240 farmers in eight villages on new farming techniques and crop rotation. "It is a story of a community gaining control and having hope for a better future," said Aznar. Carol Birkland, Geneva, Switzerland, evaluates LWF relief and development programs. In making funding decisions, "except for immediate relief, need alone [of a community] is never enough in long-term development," said Birkland. Among other things, LWF looks at community participation, local church involvement and what is needed to stabilize a community, she said. The ELCA's Hunger income and support was about $12 million in 1995. Of that, 72.5 percent went to hunger relief and development around the world, 12 percent to the same in the United States, 9 percent to hunger education and advocacy, and 6.5 percent to administration, fund-raising and communication. In addition, ELCA members contributed $1,431,170 to the ELCA Disaster Response funds. International disasters received $345,580 and domestic disasters received $1,085,590. The group will meet next summer June 20-23 in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with Bread for the World, an interdenominational hunger and justice group. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2958; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955; Lia Christiansen, Asst. Dir., (312) 380-2956