11/17/2014

ELCA Global Links for December 2014-Share with Your Congregation How Your Mission Support Links Us Globally

Holy Land: Recent Israeli land declaration hinders peace, Bishop Eaton says
Saying such actions by Israel “reinforce despondency among the Palestinian people, limiting optimism that a political solution will be found," ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton commended the Obama administration for urging the Israeli government to reverse its recent declaration as "state land" 988 acres in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/7704.

Sierra Leone: ELCA synod responds to Ebola outbreak
"Our hearts have broken as we have heard stories of the spread of the disease," said ELCA Northern Texas – Northern Louisiana Synod Bishop Kevin Kanouse. In response, the synod has raised more than $85,000 to provide aid to the synod's companion church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/NewsBlog/61. Learn about ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s letter to West African Lutheran leaders at www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/NewsBlog/59.

Toss the "Third World" label?
Is the often-used term useful or accurate in today’s global community? Austin Propst, ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission country coordinator in Madagascar, says it’s neither useful nor accurate. See www.ELCA.org/Living-Lutheran/Blogs/2014/10/141021-Majority-World-not-Third-World.

Mission of the Month: Training global church leaders in Hong Kong
The Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong trains leaders who serve throughout Southeast Asia, China and even in Europe. Share this inspiring story with your congregation. For a colorful Word document to display on a bulletin board or use in a newsletter or PowerPoint presentation, visit www.ELCA.org/resources/globalchurch.

Greetings from Jerusalem!
The Young Adults in Global Mission have arrived and begun their service. Learn more at www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/HandInHand/452. Make a gift to support them at https://community.ELCA.org/jordanholyland.

Strengthen the church in Senegal
The church in Senegal has requested $100,000 to train evangelists and support outreach to the emerging church in the Gambia. As part of Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA, you can help make this possible with gifts to ELCA Global Church Sponsorship. Learn more: www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/HandInHand/455.

Support medical missionaries in Tanzania
Dr. Stephen and Jodi Swanson have begun service providing medical care to children in Tanzania. The current sponsorship goal for them is $25,000 in annual support. Learn more and make a gift to support them at https://community.ELCA.org/Tanzania.

Sponsor a missionary in 2015
Consider creating a covenant relationship of prayer, communication and financial support with a long-term missionary or Young Adult in Global Mission. Your support makes a world of difference! See www.ELCA.org/globalchurch or contact globalchurch@elca.org.

Week will spotlight Christian unity
During the 2015 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18-25), Northern Hemisphere churches will join together under the theme “Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’” taken from the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. See www.ELCA.org/ecumenical for resources for prayer, encounter and dialogue.

Order your global resources now
Get ready for Epiphany and annual meetings with resources that tell the story of our ministries with the global church. Visit www.ELCA.org/resources/globalchurch and www.ELCA.org/Resources/Global-Mission.

Thailand: Program seeks English teachers
The Church of Christ in Thailand, an ELCA companion, is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2014. Among its many ministries, the church provides quality education to thousands of students. ELCA members can teach in Thailand for one or more years through the church’s Christian Volunteers in Thailand program. See https://rn11.ultipro.com/EVA1000/jobboard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*C5FDD8CE0169F421.

Glocal Mission Gatherings coming to a synod assembly near you!
ELCA Glocal Mission Gatherings equip us for God's work in global and local realities, as well as their "glocal" intersections. Participants consider "What is mission?" and "Who is the neighbor?" For a list of upcoming events, see www.ELCA.org/glocal.