For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. – Matthew 25:35
More than 800 million people – that’s 11 percent of people in our world today – are hungry.
As members of the ELCA, we are called to respond. We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work.
Working with and through our congregations, in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Lutheran churches overseas, and other partners, ELCA World Hunger is uniquely positioned to reach communities in need. From health clinics to microloans, water wells to animal husbandry, community meals to advocacy, your gifts to ELCA World Hunger make it possible for the ELCA to respond, supporting sustainable solutions that get at the root causes of hunger and poverty. Learn more about our approach. #UntilAllAreFed
NT-NL Survey for World Hunger
If you are reading this message, we are requesting a few minutes of your time to submit a survey about your knowledge of and/or involvement with ELCA World Hunger.
Global Farm Challenge
ELCA World Hunger’s Global Farm Challenge is a yearlong, youth-driven fundraising challenge to support the agriculture-related programs of our church’s ministry to end hunger and poverty. Many youth and youth groups will raise funds ahead of the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in June, and many will bring their offerings to the Gathering. At the Interactive Learning Space in the NRG Center, youth and adults will have the chance to participate in an unforgettable experience designed to immerse them in what it’s like to be a smallholder farmer around the world.
The goal of the Global Farm Challenge is to raise $500,000 or more in 2018 to equip communities around the world and in the United States with livestock, seeds, tools, training, and other agriculture-related activities to turn a hungry season into a hopeful season. Perhaps your youth group is already hard at work raising funds. If so, thank you for all you’ve already done to take part in this life-changing initiative!
Now, thanks to generous friends of the ELCA, your gifts will go even further: All gifts toward the Global Farm Challenge will be matched – dollar for dollar – up to $515,000, so together we can raise more than $1 million this year to create healthier families, stronger economies, and a future filled with hope. To learn more, participate, or find helpful resources, visit ELCA.org/globalfarmchallenge.
Domestic Hunger Grants Program
ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants support ministries that accompany people experiencing poverty and hunger in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These grants go beyond meeting immediate needs to address the root causes of hunger – in addition to relief programs, ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants support projects in advocacy, community development, and community organizing that strengthen the foundations of communities affected by hunger and poverty.
The application for 2019 Domestic Hunger Grants will be open soon! Please check back in June for more details on how to apply. We’re expecting the deadline for these grant applications to be in July, so don’t delay in submitting yours!
Community Gardens How-To Guide
Featured Resources for May
Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month (also called Mental Health Month) has been observed in May in the United States since 1949, started by the Mental Health America organization (then known as the National Association for Mental Health), reaching millions of people in the United States through the media, local events, and screenings.
“The Body of Christ and Mental Illness” seeks to raise awareness of the challenges of mental illness, offer reflection and direction, and inspire action. This social message notes how mental illness makes the most basic aspects of everyday life daunting and sketches some of the challenges. These include the challenges to human dignity and difficulties in gaining access to treatment, problems that worsen existing social inequalities and lapses in the U.S. health care system.
The message puts to rest the notions that mental illness is an indicator of special sin in the family or the person suffering from it. It emphasizes the church’s role in encouraging companionship and healing, via restoration of relationships — heeding Galatians 6:2. What people with mental illness most need is time to pursue and engage in treatment, and to maintain or create relationships where they can exercise their abilities. Throughout the many forms of ministry the church provides, the church is called to confront practices that do not uphold human dignity and to offer hope and companionship, and attend to its own practices around health, its public voice, and the sensitive and thoughtful preparation of church leaders.
You can read or download the full social message on “The Body of Christ and Mental Illness.” This social message was adopted in 2012 by the Church Council of the ELCA.
You can also access A Leader’s Guide for Congregational Study: ELCA Message on Mental Illness.
Choose a theme below that resonates with you and your community and click on the bolded text for more resources:
Each year in mid-March, Mental Health America releases a toolkit of materials to guide preparation for outreach activities during Mental Health Awareness Month. During the month of May, Mental Health America, its affiliates, and other organizations host a number of activities, which are based on a different theme each year. The theme for 2018 is Fitness #4Mind4Body.
Bring Change 2 Mind, in partnership with Brandon Marshall’s Project 375, launched #StrongerThanStigma to raise awareness around the unique challenges that men face when discussing mental health, to encourage open dialogue, and to promote help seeking behavior.
#StrongerThanStigma features four inspirational male figures from professional sports leagues, television, and the music industry who have each made mental health advocacy a part of their platform. These headliners are Brandon Marshall, NFL All-Pro wide receiver for the New York Jets; Ben Scrivens, NHL goalie for the Montreal Canadiens; Michael Angelakos, lead singer of indietronica band Passion Pit; and Wayne Brady, comedian and actor. Each man either lives with a mental health diagnosis or has chosen to serve as an empathetic advocate, and shares his story and encourages men to start the conversation and end the stigma.
In 2018, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) will promote the theme of “CureStigma” throughout all awareness events, including Mental Health Month. One in 5 Americans is affected by mental health conditions. Stigma is toxic to their mental health because it creates an environment of shame, fear, and silence that prevents many people from seeking help and treatment. The perception of mental illness won’t change unless we act to change it. There is good news. Stigma is 100% curable. Compassion, empathy, and understanding are the antidote. Your voice can spread the cure. Together we can #CureStigma.
Where in the world is?
Bishop Gronberg:
- Jun. 3 – St. Matthew, Fort Worth
Pr. Totzke:
- Jun. 3 – Bethel, Ericksdahl (Avoca) morning worship
- Jun. 3 – Trinity, Lockney call committee orientation in the evening
Pra. Bañales:
- (No visits planned this week)
Upcoming Events
- Jun. 1-2: Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) Training, Haltom City, TX
- Jun. 10-15: Building Congregational Capacity for Hispanic Ministry, Austin, TX
- Jun. 24-27: the tAble: an ELCA gathering of youth with disabilities, Houston, TX
- Jun. 24-27: The ELCA Multicultural Youth Leadership Event, Houston, TX
- Jun. 27-Jul. 1: ELCA Youth Gathering, Houston, TX
- Sep. 1: Bishop Installation for the Southwestern Texas Synod, San Antonio, TX
- Sep. 7: The Bolder Board Training, North Texas
- Sep. 9: “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday
- Sep. 15: PLMA Fall 2018, Course 1, Briarwood
- Sep. 20-22: Synod Council meetings, Briarwood
- Sep. 22: MEF Board meeting, Briarwood
- Oct. 14-16: NT-NL Leadership Convocation, Briarwood
Access our full online Calendar here. Updates made regularly.
Do you have news or announcements to share? Please submit to the Synod office (office@ntnl.org) for consideration for upcoming NT-NL News.