November 17, 2008

CHICAGO – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is offering consumers the opportunity for one-stop shopping this holiday season with exclusive gifts that not only support the mission and ministry of the church but that are designed to help change lives around the world and close to home.

"ELCA Good Gifts," the church's 2007-2009 giving catalog, features 32 pages of gift ideas designed to end world hunger, invest in future leadership, share the gospel, bring relief after disaster, support domestic and international ministries, and support the ELCA Vision for Mission fund.

A gift of $200 can support the establishment of a community vegetable garden in Mexico, and a $10 donation to the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal might provide a family with 10 chicks or a fruit tree seedling. A gift of $50 helps develop a youth- focused Bible study, and an $883 gift could support a young adult in global mission for a month.

To date about "7,200 donors have responded to this catalog with about 9,500 gifts, totaling more than $2 million," said Laury Rinker, coordinator for marketing, ELCA Foundation and Development Services. Rinker said Lutherans can also give online at http://www.ELCA.org/goodgifts/, through ELCA Good Gifts. Many of the ministries featured in the catalog are supported through regular Sunday morning offerings, she said.

"ELCA Good Gifts make great gifts for friends and family this holiday season. When a gift is made in honor of a loved one a variety of personalized e-cards or printable gift cards can be found on the Good Gifts Web site, making it easy to tell others about what you have done," said Rinker. The catalog includes "tribute cards" to announce gifts.

Ten pages of the catalog are devoted to projects that focus on ending hunger, said Sue Edison-Swift, communication director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal.

"ELCA Good Gifts to combat hunger – animals, agriculture, water, training and education, and more – represent the comprehensive, connected and compassionate efforts funded by donations to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal," she said. "They make a life-saving difference for neighbors around the world and close to home," said Edison-Swift, who traveled to Malawi and South Africa in October to observe projects supported by the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.

"Samuel/Chakwela village in Malawi is an example of the integrated, comprehensive and self-determined nature of effective development," she said. "Borehole wells, a seed bank, reforestation and tree seedling efforts, and animals including goats, pigs and chickens. It all works together. It's ‘God's Global Barnyard' in its fullness, in action."

"Once one of the poorest villages in Malawi, Samuel/Chakwela will soon be able to pass on the precious gifts of animals and seeds to another village. These gifts keep on giving," said Edison-Swift.

Information about the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal is at http://www.ELCA.org/hunger/, on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service