Title: Income for ELCA World Hunger Appeal Exceeds Goal by Millions
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 10, 2000

INCOME FOR ELCA WORLD HUNGER APPEAL EXCEEDS GOAL BY MILLIONS
00-054-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Income for the 1999 World Hunger Appeal of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) surpassed the previous
year's total by more than $3.4 million.  The appeal collected more than
$16 million in 1999 -- a record amount for the appeal -- and $12.5
million in 1998.
     "The real bottom line isn't the numbers," said Lita Brusick
Johnson, director of the appeal, ELCA Division for Congregational
Ministries.  "It is the people whose lives will be saved or changed
because members of our church heard God's call to do justice and to feed
those who are hungry," she said.
     "The great response to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal happened when
we were also having a banner year in giving to the church's Domestic
Disaster Response and International Disaster Response, which provides
designated giving opportunities under the World Hunger Appeal," said
Johnson.
     Income for disaster response reached $6 million, with $3.9 million
for International Disaster Response.  Members of the ELCA gave more than
$2 million in response to the crisis in and around Kosovo, Johnson said.
     Income from the ELCA World Hunger Appeal provides direct relief
for people in need worldwide; provides the means for long-term,
sustainable development in communities; advocates for justice; and
educates members of the church about issues related to hunger, poverty
and justice, said Stephen Padre, associate director for communication
for the World Hunger Appeal, ELCA Department for Communication.
     With the $3.4 million surplus, the ELCA plans to intensify its
support for such  activities as providing primary medical care in
Madagascar; assisting Lutheran churches and partner agencies in Africa
as they struggle to deal with the AIDS epidemic there; supporting
Lutheran organizations and others in their response to the U.S. rural
crisis, and many other projects, said Johnson.
     "A significant amount from the surplus will also go toward
Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran World Federation," said the Rev. John
L. Halvorson, coordinator for the ELCA World Hunger Program, ELCA
Division for Church in Society.
     The ELCA celebrated the World Hunger Appeal's 25th anniversary in
1999.  Some congregations of the ELCA marked the anniversary by using
the number 25 in fund-raising activities throughout the year.  In
addition, members of the church prayed, conducted "services of
recommitment" and planned activities and offerings in celebration of the
appeal during a special 25-day period -- Nov. 1-25.
     The 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved a resolution that calls
for members of the church to increase their awareness of hunger in the
world, to double their giving over the next five years to ELCA World
Hunger Appeal through regular contributions and designated gifts, and to
thank supporters of the appeal.
     The ELCA World Hunger Appeal was established at the 1987
Constituting Convention of the ELCA.  Churches that formed the ELCA
launched world hunger appeals in 1974.  Since that time the appeals have
gathered more than $216 million.

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