At the end of September, Lita Johnson, Director ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, announced that the World Hunger Appeal is short almost $1 million of the $16.5 million budgeted for 2002. This is despite the fact that proposed spending was already reduced from last year.
Large figures like these are often hard to absorb, but the bottom line is that very poor people may not receive the assistance they need to escape poverty and hunger. Unless the shortfall is overcome, the ELCA must make deep cuts next year in our support for Lutheran World Relief, LutheranWorld Federation, and other faithful partners. This will have an immediate and direct impact on people in need, many of whom are especially vulnerable because of the mounting famine in southern and eastern Africa, where almost 30 million people are at risk of starvation.
For many years Christ the King Church has led the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod in its giving to the World Hunger Appeal. Last year our congregation contributed approximately $24,500 to the World Hunger Appeal, and, as of October 31, 2002, we have contributed approximately $16,300. The ELCA office has calculated that the budget shortfall could be eliminated if each ELCA congregation gave just $100 more. Congregations such as CTK might reasonably be expected to give much more.
In December you will have three opportunities to reach out to the world's poorest populations through the World Hunger Appeal. You can:
With an extra push during this last month of the year we can ensure that the ELCA can honor its commitments to people in need.