For Saturdays during Lent I have asked you to meditate on the mortality of infants in the world today;
Fact: A child born in a developing country is 13 times more likely to die within the first five years of life than a child born in an industrialized country. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about half the deaths of children under five in the developing world.
Isn't that astonishing? Every one a child of God who due to malnutrition and rampant disease (many diseases we have preventative medicine in the west) is not given the chance to live a full life.
Target 1:
Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate
Where are we?
World wide, deaths of children under 5 years of age declined from 93 to 72 deaths per 1,000 live births between 1990 and 2006. That certainly is progress, but we are still left with a staggering number of deaths among those under 5 years old - most of which preventative medicine and medical care that we have in the west could take care of.
However our goal is reduce the 91 by 2/3 (61) or 31 deaths per 1000 by 2015. We have 6 years left and much to accomplish.
I ask you to remember the plight of the newly born in your prayers and to consider making a donation to any respectable child heath oriented group that is working towards improving the health of children under 5.
I also ask you pray the following prayer daily:
Most loving God,
as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting,
may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all;
as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit,
may our hearts overflow with compassion for all;
as you long for justice for the poor,
may we strive for justice for all.
Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit,
and give us courage to accept our responsibility,
wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity,
and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished.
Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church
to free us from apathy and indifference;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you, Deacon Gary
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday February 26 - MDG#2 Achieve Universal Primary Education
As a continuing Lenten meditation on the MDG’s, today we will look at Achieving Universal Primary Education.
Target 1:
Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling
Recent Status
Globally, 570 million children are enrolled in school. The number of children of primary school age who were out of school fell from 103 million in 1999 to 73 million in 2006. In that year, primary school enrolment in developing countries reached 88 per cent on average, up from 83 per cent in 2000.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the net primary school enrolment ratio has only recently reached 71 per cent, even after a significant jump in enrolment that began in 2000. Around 38 million children of primary school age in this region are still out of school.
In Southern Asia, the enrolment ratio has climbed above »» 90 per cent, yet more than 18 million children of primary school age are not enrolled.
"Projections suggest that without further acceleration, 58 out of the 86 countries that have not yet reached universal primary education will not achieve it by 2015. In all regions, inequalities in access to education are a major barrier to reaching Goal 2. The children most likely to drop out of school or to not attend at all are often girls and those from poorer households or living in rural areas. For example, recent estimations show that 25 per cent of children of primary school age in rural areas of the developing world are out of school, compared with 16 per cent of children in the same age group living in cities."
Please see http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2008highlevel/pdf/newsroom/Goal%202%20FINAL.pdf
Achieving Universal Primary Education is an important step in a country’s move towards economic development. I ask you to pray for the children, parents, teachers and school administrators that all children may have a opportunity for a primary school education. The poorest children are affected the most and children from rural areas.
As part of your Lenten devotions I ask you to pray the following:
Most loving God,
as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting,
may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all;
as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit,
may our hearts overflow with compassion for all;
as you long for justice for the poor,
may we strive for justice for all.
Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit,
and give us courage to accept our responsibility,
wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity,
and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished.
Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church
to free us from apathy and indifference;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you.
Target 1:
Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling
Recent Status
Globally, 570 million children are enrolled in school. The number of children of primary school age who were out of school fell from 103 million in 1999 to 73 million in 2006. In that year, primary school enrolment in developing countries reached 88 per cent on average, up from 83 per cent in 2000.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the net primary school enrolment ratio has only recently reached 71 per cent, even after a significant jump in enrolment that began in 2000. Around 38 million children of primary school age in this region are still out of school.
In Southern Asia, the enrolment ratio has climbed above »» 90 per cent, yet more than 18 million children of primary school age are not enrolled.
"Projections suggest that without further acceleration, 58 out of the 86 countries that have not yet reached universal primary education will not achieve it by 2015. In all regions, inequalities in access to education are a major barrier to reaching Goal 2. The children most likely to drop out of school or to not attend at all are often girls and those from poorer households or living in rural areas. For example, recent estimations show that 25 per cent of children of primary school age in rural areas of the developing world are out of school, compared with 16 per cent of children in the same age group living in cities."
Please see http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2008highlevel/pdf/newsroom/Goal%202%20FINAL.pdf
Achieving Universal Primary Education is an important step in a country’s move towards economic development. I ask you to pray for the children, parents, teachers and school administrators that all children may have a opportunity for a primary school education. The poorest children are affected the most and children from rural areas.
As part of your Lenten devotions I ask you to pray the following:
Most loving God,
as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting,
may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all;
as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit,
may our hearts overflow with compassion for all;
as you long for justice for the poor,
may we strive for justice for all.
Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit,
and give us courage to accept our responsibility,
wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity,
and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished.
Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church
to free us from apathy and indifference;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you.
Ash Wednesday - Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
In your devotions today I ask you to meditate on the plight of our poor. MDG Goal number states: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger.
Target 1:
Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day. (yes this includes 1.3 BILLION brothers and sisters)
Target 2:
Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people (given our current world-wide economic downturn, this goal becomes increasingly more difficult - but we must keep it in prayer and a realistic target to continue to work towards)
Target 3:
Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
Recent news on this goal can be found at:
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/poverty.shtml
Please remember that although the faces we see regarding poverty seem to be African or Asian, we too have our poor in this country and the current economic times are pushing more people over the poverty line. Some who were able to support their families last year are now without jobs. Some have lost their homes and others who were renters are on the streets because the owners have defaulted on their mortgages.
Please keep in your prayers for today the plight of the extreme poor. Ask God to enlighten you on how you may help. Yes, one person can make a difference.
Please add this prayer to your devotion today:
Most loving God,
as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting,
may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all;
as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit,
may our hearts overflow with compassion for all;
as you long for justice for the poor,
may we strive for justice for all.
Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit,
and give us courage to accept our responsibility,
wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity,
and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished.
Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church
to free us from apathy and indifference;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessings,
Target 1:
Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day. (yes this includes 1.3 BILLION brothers and sisters)
Target 2:
Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people (given our current world-wide economic downturn, this goal becomes increasingly more difficult - but we must keep it in prayer and a realistic target to continue to work towards)
Target 3:
Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
Recent news on this goal can be found at:
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/poverty.shtml
Please remember that although the faces we see regarding poverty seem to be African or Asian, we too have our poor in this country and the current economic times are pushing more people over the poverty line. Some who were able to support their families last year are now without jobs. Some have lost their homes and others who were renters are on the streets because the owners have defaulted on their mortgages.
Please keep in your prayers for today the plight of the extreme poor. Ask God to enlighten you on how you may help. Yes, one person can make a difference.
Please add this prayer to your devotion today:
Most loving God,
as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting,
may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all;
as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit,
may our hearts overflow with compassion for all;
as you long for justice for the poor,
may we strive for justice for all.
Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit,
and give us courage to accept our responsibility,
wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity,
and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished.
Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church
to free us from apathy and indifference;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessings,
Lent 2009
During the season of Lent, I will be asking you to remember in your daily devotions one of the Millennium Development Goals
Wednesdays: Eradicate extreme poverty
Thursdays: Achieve Universal Primary education
Fridays: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
Saturdays: Reduce Child Mortality
Sundays: Improve Maternal Health
Mondays: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases
Tuesday: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Each day I will try to give you an update on each goal, and any news that pertains to that goal.
I also ask you to add the following prayer to your Lenten devotions:
Most loving God,
as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting,
may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all;
as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit,
may our hearts overflow with compassion for all;
as you long for justice for the poor,
may we strive for justice for all.
Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit,
and give us courage to accept our responsibility,
wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity,
and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished.
Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church
to free us from apathy and indifference;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I invite you to allow yourself to become more aware of the plight of many of our brothers and sisters who suffer from poverty and disease. God's concern for the poor is unrelenting. He wants us to join our concerns with His and to take action. Prayer is the first and most important step. Then allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you about your response would be the next step. Acting on the promptings of the Holy Spirit would be the final step.
Wednesdays: Eradicate extreme poverty
Thursdays: Achieve Universal Primary education
Fridays: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
Saturdays: Reduce Child Mortality
Sundays: Improve Maternal Health
Mondays: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases
Tuesday: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Each day I will try to give you an update on each goal, and any news that pertains to that goal.
I also ask you to add the following prayer to your Lenten devotions:
Most loving God,
as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting,
may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all;
as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit,
may our hearts overflow with compassion for all;
as you long for justice for the poor,
may we strive for justice for all.
Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit,
and give us courage to accept our responsibility,
wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity,
and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished.
Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church
to free us from apathy and indifference;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I invite you to allow yourself to become more aware of the plight of many of our brothers and sisters who suffer from poverty and disease. God's concern for the poor is unrelenting. He wants us to join our concerns with His and to take action. Prayer is the first and most important step. Then allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you about your response would be the next step. Acting on the promptings of the Holy Spirit would be the final step.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Reconciliation in Rwanda
Since 2003 I have had a friendship with a priest from Rwanda name Fr. Philbert Kalisa. He is the executive director of REACH (Reconciliation, Evangelism and Christian Healing). He started this organization in 1996 following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda where 1.2 million people (Tutsi’s and Hutu moderates) were murdered by Hutu militia. It was horrific. In some cases people were told to go into the local church, then the gunmen came and murdered everyone (once in awhile a few survived to tell the story).
I helped start the REACH_USA board of directors (which I am still on) in 2004. Our website is here:
http://www.reachusa.org
The work of REACH has been very successful in bringing peace and unity back to Rwanda. Now offenders who did the genocide are coming out from prison. REACH is helping them and their victims to be reconciled and for the offenders to be accepted back in their communities. It is very difficult and heartbreaking work (with REACH’s support one offender went to a grandmother whose family of 28 he had murdered, and knelt before her asking for her forgiveness – she forgave him after an hour of conversation).
I invite you to see this utube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aD0zlT4n50
What REACH has accomplished can be a model for other countries.
In Christ,
Gary
I helped start the REACH_USA board of directors (which I am still on) in 2004. Our website is here:
http://www.reachusa.org
The work of REACH has been very successful in bringing peace and unity back to Rwanda. Now offenders who did the genocide are coming out from prison. REACH is helping them and their victims to be reconciled and for the offenders to be accepted back in their communities. It is very difficult and heartbreaking work (with REACH’s support one offender went to a grandmother whose family of 28 he had murdered, and knelt before her asking for her forgiveness – she forgave him after an hour of conversation).
I invite you to see this utube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aD0zlT4n50
What REACH has accomplished can be a model for other countries.
In Christ,
Gary
Monday, December 29, 2008
Fighting poverty - one person at a time
The numbers of those in deep poverty can seem to be overwhelming and often it seems like the problem is too big to be addressed. However, I have a friend, Craig Cole, who is the executive director of "Five Talents" based in Virginia. Five Talents’ mission is to fight poverty, create jobs and transform lives by empowering the poor in developing countries using innovative savings and microcredit programs, business training and spiritual development.
Five talents has been in operation since 1999 and has many success stories. One of the most recent ones involved A small town in southern Sudan named "Liethnom" which is part of the Anglican Diocese of Wau. This area has 500,000 people, and until Five Talents came on the scene, no bank to provide small business loans. There is now "The Lietnhom Community Bank" which was established by local people with financial and business experience by Five Talents in conjunction with World Concern, the Economics Trust Fund of the Navigators, Stromme Foundation and integra Foundation. The bank loans out money to residents to start their own small businesses. Some recent stories:
Anyuon grew up in extreme poverty and hunger. Often his father would be forced to sell one of the family's cows in order to buy food entrenching them in deeper poverty. Thanks to a loan from Five Talents Anyouon and his wife now have a small family business. His 8 year old daughter recently told Craig: "My mom and dad have bought many goods for our shop. These days they buy milk and meat for us. They get money from the business they are doing."
Through this program Anyuon and his wife have learned to read and write as well as gain basic math skills. They have used their loans to expand and diversify their small business. With this income they p[lan to send their children to school so that their lives will be improved as well.
Other success stories: Two new village and savings loan groups have formed in the town of Luanyeker. This is the results of the Lietnhom program duplication itself . Each group has 20 women.
Another story is about a mother named Ahok, who used a $75 loan to start a food business in Lietnhom. Thanks to the income from the business she is now able to send all five of her children to school, including 10 year old Akot.
"When I finish school, I would like to be a doctor." Akot said. "I will also start a business like my mother and when I get money I will build a house for my mom."
It doesn't take a lot of money to help these families become self-reliant. Donations to Five Talents goes directly to these micro-business projects in many places in the world.
Please consider giving a donation to:
Five Talents
P.O. Box 331
Vienna, VA 22183
This will help fight poverty one person and family at a time
Five talents has been in operation since 1999 and has many success stories. One of the most recent ones involved A small town in southern Sudan named "Liethnom" which is part of the Anglican Diocese of Wau. This area has 500,000 people, and until Five Talents came on the scene, no bank to provide small business loans. There is now "The Lietnhom Community Bank" which was established by local people with financial and business experience by Five Talents in conjunction with World Concern, the Economics Trust Fund of the Navigators, Stromme Foundation and integra Foundation. The bank loans out money to residents to start their own small businesses. Some recent stories:
Anyuon grew up in extreme poverty and hunger. Often his father would be forced to sell one of the family's cows in order to buy food entrenching them in deeper poverty. Thanks to a loan from Five Talents Anyouon and his wife now have a small family business. His 8 year old daughter recently told Craig: "My mom and dad have bought many goods for our shop. These days they buy milk and meat for us. They get money from the business they are doing."
Through this program Anyuon and his wife have learned to read and write as well as gain basic math skills. They have used their loans to expand and diversify their small business. With this income they p[lan to send their children to school so that their lives will be improved as well.
Other success stories: Two new village and savings loan groups have formed in the town of Luanyeker. This is the results of the Lietnhom program duplication itself . Each group has 20 women.
Another story is about a mother named Ahok, who used a $75 loan to start a food business in Lietnhom. Thanks to the income from the business she is now able to send all five of her children to school, including 10 year old Akot.
"When I finish school, I would like to be a doctor." Akot said. "I will also start a business like my mother and when I get money I will build a house for my mom."
It doesn't take a lot of money to help these families become self-reliant. Donations to Five Talents goes directly to these micro-business projects in many places in the world.
Please consider giving a donation to:
Five Talents
P.O. Box 331
Vienna, VA 22183
This will help fight poverty one person and family at a time
Monday, December 15, 2008
"The alleviation of material suffering in the world . . ." What can one person Do?
As we struggle to understand and adapt to the increasing economic crisis that affects us more and more every day, it would be understandable to forget that this is a reflection of a much larger world-wide crisis in poverty and economics. The Rev. Dr. Sabina Alkire (an Episcopal priest , now in England) recently said :
“The Alleviation of material suffering in the world and the spiritual renewal of the Church go hand in hand.”
Dr. Sabina Alkire, is currently the Director of the new Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) Oxford University, and author of “What can one person do?”
World-wide poverty is a spiritual problem that affects all of us. Jesus has been very clear about that.
In Matthew 25:31-40, it says:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 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, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
Bono (Paul David Hewson) is the lead singer for the Irish U2 Band. He is a world-wide activist for the alleviation of extreme poverty. Not satisfied with just making statements he and his wife Ali have worked in Ethiopian feeding camps, as well as sponsoring many initiatives to raise money for those who are literally starving to death. Some quotes from Bono:
“Distance does not decide who is your brother and who is not. The church is going to have to become the conscience of the free market if it's to have any meaning in this world - and stop being its apologist”.
“We can be the generation that no longer accepts that an accident of latitude determines whether a child lives or dies. But will we be that generation?”
“It's an amazing thing to think that ours is the first generation in history that really can end extreme poverty, the kind that means a child dies for lack of food in its belly. That should be seen as the most incredible, historic opportunity but instead it's become a millstone around our necks. We let our own pathetic excuses about how it's "difficult" justify our own inaction. Be honest. We have the science, the technology, and the wealth. What we don't have is the will, and that's not a reason that history will accept.”
In response to these needs I ask you to pray, study, give and act.
Please pray this prayer daily:
Most loving God, as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting, may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all; as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit, may our hearts overflow with compassion for all; as you long for justice for the poor, may we strive for justice for all. Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit, and give us courage to accept our responsibility, wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity, and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished. Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church to free us from apathy and indifference; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“The Alleviation of material suffering in the world and the spiritual renewal of the Church go hand in hand.”
Dr. Sabina Alkire, is currently the Director of the new Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) Oxford University, and author of “What can one person do?”
World-wide poverty is a spiritual problem that affects all of us. Jesus has been very clear about that.
In Matthew 25:31-40, it says:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 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, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
Bono (Paul David Hewson) is the lead singer for the Irish U2 Band. He is a world-wide activist for the alleviation of extreme poverty. Not satisfied with just making statements he and his wife Ali have worked in Ethiopian feeding camps, as well as sponsoring many initiatives to raise money for those who are literally starving to death. Some quotes from Bono:
“Distance does not decide who is your brother and who is not. The church is going to have to become the conscience of the free market if it's to have any meaning in this world - and stop being its apologist”.
“We can be the generation that no longer accepts that an accident of latitude determines whether a child lives or dies. But will we be that generation?”
“It's an amazing thing to think that ours is the first generation in history that really can end extreme poverty, the kind that means a child dies for lack of food in its belly. That should be seen as the most incredible, historic opportunity but instead it's become a millstone around our necks. We let our own pathetic excuses about how it's "difficult" justify our own inaction. Be honest. We have the science, the technology, and the wealth. What we don't have is the will, and that's not a reason that history will accept.”
In response to these needs I ask you to pray, study, give and act.
Please pray this prayer daily:
Most loving God, as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting, may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all; as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit, may our hearts overflow with compassion for all; as you long for justice for the poor, may we strive for justice for all. Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit, and give us courage to accept our responsibility, wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity, and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished. Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church to free us from apathy and indifference; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For additional information please see: www.e4gr.org
Thank you,
Deacon Gary
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