Over 35,000 young people gathered in New Orleans as citizens with the saints to learn to love like Jesus by practicing discipleship through peacemaking that works for justice. Watch for stories from eastern North Dakota congregations.
Watch more videos from the 2012 ELCA National Youth Gathering
About 35,000 ELCA youth, adults and volunteers build a community of love
From ELCA News Service
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) – Dane Bakken wanted to know what it was like to haul a 41.5-pound jug of water on foot for 3.7 miles — the average for what a woman or girl in Africa will walk to bring clean water for her family. ”You can read about (such statistics) as much as you want, but until you do it, that’s what makes you realize just how hard that is. Otherwise, it’s just numbers,” said Bakken, a participant at the 2012 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Youth Gathering in New Orleans, July 18-22. ”Here (in the United States) most of us can go to the kitchen to get a glass of water. The same is not true for many around the world,” Bakken said.
The activity was part of the “100 Wells Challenge,” where a goal was to raise $250,000 to support the water projects of ELCA World Hunger around the world. That amount could mean building 100 wells, each one with the potential of bringing clean water to 500 families at a time. ELCA youth and their congregations delivered their offerings at the 100 Wells Challenge exhibit. More than $406,000 has been collected as of July 24. Such multi-sensory activities at the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering were part of “practice peacemaking” held at the Ernest M. Morial Convention Center here. Under the theme “citizens with the saints,” about 35,000 ELCA youth, adults and volunteers engaged in practice peacemaking as part of the gathering’s three core practices. The participants were also challenged to practice justice and practice discipleship. [...]
Continue reading
100 Wells Challenge
We did it!
This year, young people of the ELCA set out to raise $250,000 in 2012 to support the water projects of ELCA World Hunger where they are needed most. We have met and exceeded our goal, thanks to the generosity of youth across the nation. To date, more than $400,000 has been received in support of this effort.
But there is so much work yet to be done. Please donate now and continue to support the work of ELCA World Hunger. Just think of the amazing work that we could do if that amount was doubled or tripled!
Subscribe to eQuip