April 8, 2009
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper

Some teenage Lutherans from the Chicago area learned that every 3.6 seconds someone in the world dies of hunger. "That's every time you take a breath," according to Luke Terrell, a member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago. In an effort to build awareness about ending world hunger, Terrell and 30 other teenagers participated in a dodge ball tournament to raise money for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) World Hunger Appeal.

Jake Kohlhaas, youth director at Edison Park Lutheran Church, Chicago, said there were two goals for the fundraising event. "The first is to come out and have fun, and the second is to learn about world hunger and the difference we can make," he said. Six Chicago-area congregations of the ELCA participated in the event March 14 at Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, Ill., and raised $400. The event included a presentation about the work of ELCA World Hunger, and participants played "Hunger Jeopardy." Played like the television game show "Jeopardy," Hunger Jeopardy is designed to educate, entertain and test one's knowledge about hunger. Watch a video of the event.

Lutheran youth across the church are saying "no" to hunger and poverty through "Change the World" – a 2009 challenge to raise $1 million for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. To reach the goal, each participant in the ELCA Youth Gathering is asked to bring $30. The ELCA Youth Gathering will bring together 37,000 high- school-age and adult Lutherans to New Orleans, July 22-26.

ELCA News Service