September 22, 2004

CHICAGO - "Hunger No More: Faces Behind the Facts," is a new television documentary that examines hunger in the 21st century from a faith perspective and offers possible solutions. The one-hour program, which includes stories about hunger ministries related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is scheduled to begin airing Oct. 24 on ABC-TV stations throughout the United States. "Hunger No More" is a production of the National Council of Churches USA (NCC) for ABC-TV's "Vision and Values" series. The program was produced by Mennonite Media for the NCC.

The program suggests that hunger is more than a social issue. "It is a moral issue that needs immediate resolution," said Burton Buller, president of Mennonite Media. "The program brings to life the moral dimension of this thorny issue, and offers up a vision for a new day when hunger is eradicated from the face of the earth."

The program features the Community Gardens of Chester County, Embreeville, Pa., a project sponsored by the ELCA Domestic Hunger Appeal, said Ava Odom Martin, broadcast media production manager, ELCA Department for Communication. The project has more than 50 gardens maintained by a variety of culturally diverse groups, including people who are physically challenged.

"Hunger No More" includes some scenes from "Stand With Africa: Banish Hunger," a video produced by Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Baltimore, the international relief and development agency of the ELCA and Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. In particular, Martin said the NCC production features the Katosi Women and Fishing Development Association in Uganda, a project supported by the ELCA World Hunger Appeal through LWR.

Joe Young, director for community development services, ELCA Division for Church in Society, is among those interviewed in the program, along with the Rev. David M. Beckmann, president, Bread for the World, Washington, D.C. Beckmann is an ELCA pastor.

Other featured interviewees are:

. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.)

. The Rev. Robert Edgar, NCC general secretary

. Joan Holmes, United Nations-related Hunger Project

. Ken Horne, chief executive officer, Society of St. Andrew

. June Kim, executive secretary, world hunger, United Methodist Committee on Relief

. George McGovern, former U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate, South Dakota

. John McCullough, executive director, Church World Service

. Jeffrey Sachs, ethicist, The Earth Institute at Columbia University, New York

. a variety of leaders from several other hunger programs mobilized by NCC member communions.

The documentary was produced as part of the NCC commitment "to address significant issues of faith and public policy and to pursue concrete solutions to the persistent challenge of poverty in a time of great wealth and capability in our society," Edgar said. "Every religion in the world instructs its adherents to feed the hungry," McGovern said in the program. The documentary highlights specific programs aimed at ending the hunger crisis.

In addition to Mennonite Media and the ELCA World Hunger Program, the NCC's sponsoring partners for the production are the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the Society of St. Andrew, an ecumenical Christian ministry, and the ecumenical humanitarian agency, Church World Service. Bread for the World and United Methodist Communication were cooperating partners.

Many ABC-TV stations have committed to air "Hunger No More." Air dates and times are available from ABC-TV affiliates or from http://www.interfaithbroadcasting.com on the Web.

ELCA News Service