Read a letter from the missionary in Honduras that we sponsor
MISSION AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Proverbs 31:8-9 Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
John 21:17 Jesus said to Peter, "Do you love me?".... "Feed my sheep"
The Mission and Justice committee acts for Gloria Dei in serving the members of our congregation, people in our local area, and the world. Our goal is to recognize and be sensitive to human needs and be responsible to the words above. Much of this work of ministry is done by members and pastors helping fellow members. Members of the committee look for ways to make Gloria Dei membership and the budget that we have been given, most effective in improving the well being of those less fortunate. We work in partnership with other organizations to meet special needs.
The committee feels we fulfill our mission when we inform members of Gloria Dei of special needs and work to correct injustice. The list of needs is long and the opportunities for service are many. Shown here are the current activities of the committee. Some work requires volunteers and members of the church to participate (Local work). Another way we help is to support or partner with agencies with budgetary contributions ( Benevolence). Still another facet is the advocacy with our government give our Christian view on important topics.
The mission and justice committee is interested in knowing of opportunities for service and would like to invite members of Gloria Dei to participate in working for justice.
COMMITTEE WORK IN THE YEAR 2003
LOCAL WORK
- CROP Walk to raise money for local and national hunger related organizations
- PADS Shelter, volunteers to help with the homeless shelter in the Congregational Church
- "Christmas Family Sharing" Gift giving to needy families in Chicago and Downers Grove.
- Two Blood Drives
- Refugee Resettlement assistance for a family from Afghanistan.
- FISH Pantry donations and volunteer help with food distribution to the needy.
- Walk-in Ministry, donations and volunteer help. A new organization supported by most Downers Churches to supply basic needs to local needy people.
- Love Christian Clearing House donations and staffing. An organization that offers many services to needy families in the Western Suburbs.
BENEVOLENCE (FINANCIAL SUPPORT $8500 from Gloria Dei Budget for 2003)
- Support for missionaries Steve and Bethany Friberg in Tanzania.
- Bethel Christian School
- The North Side Night Ministry
- Trinidad Lutheran Church
- Lutheran Family Mission
- Bethphage Mission
- Lutheran School of Theology
- InterChurch Refugee and Immigration Ministries
- Hope Fair Housing
- Family Shelter Service
- DuPage Emergency Service
- Lutheran Human Relations Assn
ADVOCACY (humanrightswatch.org) ( www.amnestyusa.org) (www.foreignaffairs.org)
- Bread for the World (www.bread.org)
- Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs (LOGA) (www.loga.org)
- Latin American (wola.org)
· Colombia (www.lawg.org) (colhrnet.igc.org)
· Guatemala (www.ghrc-usa.org)
· Cuba (www.lawg.org) - Palestine
a. Advocacy for Peace in Palestine (www.cmep.org)
b. Fund raising for the Palestinian Lutheran Schools
c. Palestine Delegation