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
Monday, December 29, 2008
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
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Human Rights Day – Dec. 10, 2008
Sixty years ago today, the new world organization, the United Nations, adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This was a landmark event, as the nations of the world joined together to try and bury the spectre of genocide raised by the Second World War:
Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
There are a total of 30 articles. Please read them all at: http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
This declaration was based on these words written 232 years ago to the British monarch, King George III by a small group of men representing the 13 colonies in North America.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”
14 years ago, in the African Country of Rwanda, a group of citizens, known as the Hutus, tried to totally eliminate a smaller group of Rwandans knows as the Tutsis. On April 6, 1994 the killing started. 100 days later, almost 1 million people were brutally murdered; some while they sought protection in churches. During this time the rest of the world stood by and watched. The United States’ official position was to not get involved because “we had no economic interest” in Rwanda. What happened to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights ?
From 1992-1995 in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, conflict between the three main ethnic groups, the Serbs, Croats, and Muslims, resulted in genocide committed by the Serbs against the Muslims in Bosnia. 200,000 Muslims were murdered. What happened to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights?
Today, in many parts of the world, these types of atrocities continue, mostly in Africa and Asia.
In our baptismal vows, as Episcopalians we promise before God to:
“strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” (BCP 305)
The concept of human rights has to be defended every day of every year by all of us who treasure our freedom and liberty. What can we as Episcopalians in Valrico Florida do? We can write to our national political leaders, reminding them that as a free people we have a responsibility to guard the freedom of others, and that this country should be a world leader in defending human rights. Never again should we stand aside while massive killing of other human beings happen because we had “no economic interest.” When human rights are being violated in other countries, regardless if they are our "friends" we need to speak out. If we don’t defend the human rights of others, some day there may not be any one left to defend ours.
Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
There are a total of 30 articles. Please read them all at: http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
This declaration was based on these words written 232 years ago to the British monarch, King George III by a small group of men representing the 13 colonies in North America.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”
14 years ago, in the African Country of Rwanda, a group of citizens, known as the Hutus, tried to totally eliminate a smaller group of Rwandans knows as the Tutsis. On April 6, 1994 the killing started. 100 days later, almost 1 million people were brutally murdered; some while they sought protection in churches. During this time the rest of the world stood by and watched. The United States’ official position was to not get involved because “we had no economic interest” in Rwanda. What happened to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights ?
From 1992-1995 in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, conflict between the three main ethnic groups, the Serbs, Croats, and Muslims, resulted in genocide committed by the Serbs against the Muslims in Bosnia. 200,000 Muslims were murdered. What happened to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights?
Today, in many parts of the world, these types of atrocities continue, mostly in Africa and Asia.
In our baptismal vows, as Episcopalians we promise before God to:
“strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” (BCP 305)
The concept of human rights has to be defended every day of every year by all of us who treasure our freedom and liberty. What can we as Episcopalians in Valrico Florida do? We can write to our national political leaders, reminding them that as a free people we have a responsibility to guard the freedom of others, and that this country should be a world leader in defending human rights. Never again should we stand aside while massive killing of other human beings happen because we had “no economic interest.” When human rights are being violated in other countries, regardless if they are our "friends" we need to speak out. If we don’t defend the human rights of others, some day there may not be any one left to defend ours.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Job loss due to economic downturn
In Port Charlotte, Fla., Sharon Byberg has been looking for a job for 15 months, after being laid off by a surveying company where she made $17 an hour making blueprints for architects and builders.Ms. Byberg has had few responses to her job applications at national retailers, fast-food chains and grocery stores.
A local gas station got more than 1,000 applications for two jobs paying about $8 an hour, Ms. Byberg said."Jobs are like diamonds," she said. "You got to know somebody to get one and they're extremely rare. ... Employers can pick and choose who they want."
WSJ 12/6
Commment: As people lose income and unemployment runs out, community resources like ECHO become more important for the overall health of the community as well as for the individuals in need. When you go shopping for groceries, please consider buying some extra food items or giving the buy 1 and get 1 free item to ECHO for those in need. Every third Sunday is Outreach Sunday at Holy Innocents'. Please bring your items to Church.
Often in past recessions and the depression, it was the faith communities that could be counted on for charitable works. The people of Holy Innocents' have always been known for their service to the community they live in. I'm asking you to consider giving this part of your ministry special attention now as the need is greater than it has been for many years.
If you can afford to make a financial donation to help those in need, please make the check out to Holy Innocents' and write "Outreach" in the memo section.
A local gas station got more than 1,000 applications for two jobs paying about $8 an hour, Ms. Byberg said."Jobs are like diamonds," she said. "You got to know somebody to get one and they're extremely rare. ... Employers can pick and choose who they want."
WSJ 12/6
Commment: As people lose income and unemployment runs out, community resources like ECHO become more important for the overall health of the community as well as for the individuals in need. When you go shopping for groceries, please consider buying some extra food items or giving the buy 1 and get 1 free item to ECHO for those in need. Every third Sunday is Outreach Sunday at Holy Innocents'. Please bring your items to Church.
Often in past recessions and the depression, it was the faith communities that could be counted on for charitable works. The people of Holy Innocents' have always been known for their service to the community they live in. I'm asking you to consider giving this part of your ministry special attention now as the need is greater than it has been for many years.
If you can afford to make a financial donation to help those in need, please make the check out to Holy Innocents' and write "Outreach" in the memo section.
Monday, December 1, 2008
North America contributes to root causes of food crisis, says forum
This may startle you, but we need to know the truth:
"Did you know that the same amount of corn that produces enough ethanol to fill the fuel tank of an SUV would feed a Mexican for a year?
"Or that the price of tortillas, Mexico’s staple food, has tripled and even quadrupled in some parts of that country because the price of white corn, which is indexed to the international price of yellow corn used for ethanol production, has risen dramatically?
In other words, there are people around the world who are starving because more and more land is being dedicated to cash-rich fuel crops like corn instead of food."
Full story here:
http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/100/article/north-america-contributes-to-root-causes-of-food-crisis-says-forum/
This artilce reflects an injustice to many poor and hungry people, so that others may have the fuel they need for their automobiles.
We need to encourage our political and business leaders to find alternative energy sources that benefit all human kind and not take from those who can afford it the least in order to benefit those who already have their needs satisifed.
"Did you know that the same amount of corn that produces enough ethanol to fill the fuel tank of an SUV would feed a Mexican for a year?
"Or that the price of tortillas, Mexico’s staple food, has tripled and even quadrupled in some parts of that country because the price of white corn, which is indexed to the international price of yellow corn used for ethanol production, has risen dramatically?
In other words, there are people around the world who are starving because more and more land is being dedicated to cash-rich fuel crops like corn instead of food."
Full story here:
http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/100/article/north-america-contributes-to-root-causes-of-food-crisis-says-forum/
This artilce reflects an injustice to many poor and hungry people, so that others may have the fuel they need for their automobiles.
We need to encourage our political and business leaders to find alternative energy sources that benefit all human kind and not take from those who can afford it the least in order to benefit those who already have their needs satisifed.
Help for the poor and hungry – Millennium Development Goals
We live in a world of great extremes. While some of us who live in "the West" enjoy a relatively good life with adequate housing, water, food, employment etc. there are many other children of God who don't. In 2005, 1.4 billion people (out of 6.5 billion) lived on US$1.25 or less a day. 10 million die every year of hunger and hunger-related diseases.
Since 1970 the United Nations has been concerned about the growing division between the developing nations and the nations with wealth. Many programs have been attempted through the years, some successful, but other as failures due to lack of understanding of the local environments, greed of country leaders, etc. In 2000 The UN drew up the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 189 nations-and signed by 147 heads of state and governments during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.
The eight MDGs break down into 21 quantifiable targets that are measured by 60 indicators.
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development
All of this by 2015.
When the 189 nations approved the MDG’s in September 2000 they agreed to use 0.7% of their GNP for MDG actions in the countries affected. Several countries (Norway, Sweden, and a few others) have exceeded their 0.7% commitment. The US gives the largest amount of money, but well below our 0.7% commitment.
Why are the MDG’s important to us? Because those who are suffering from lack of food, clean drinking water, education, medicine, etc. are also children of God. They are our brothers and sisters. In our baptismal vows we agree to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” There is not much dignity when you are hungry and starving. When you watch your child under 5 die in your arms due to starvation. There is a great injustice when there is inequality in education due to the fact that you are a girl, or when common drugs that are available to us in the US that could save lives are not available in sub-Saharan Africa.
In future posts I will give more detail on each goal and how much progress we have made (we are already passed the ½ way point to 2015). I’ll give you an update on what the Episcopal Church is doing and the Diocese of Southwest Florida. Then I make some suggestions on what we, as the congregation of Holy Innocents, and as individuals can do.
Deacon Gary
Since 1970 the United Nations has been concerned about the growing division between the developing nations and the nations with wealth. Many programs have been attempted through the years, some successful, but other as failures due to lack of understanding of the local environments, greed of country leaders, etc. In 2000 The UN drew up the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 189 nations-and signed by 147 heads of state and governments during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.
The eight MDGs break down into 21 quantifiable targets that are measured by 60 indicators.
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development
All of this by 2015.
When the 189 nations approved the MDG’s in September 2000 they agreed to use 0.7% of their GNP for MDG actions in the countries affected. Several countries (Norway, Sweden, and a few others) have exceeded their 0.7% commitment. The US gives the largest amount of money, but well below our 0.7% commitment.
Why are the MDG’s important to us? Because those who are suffering from lack of food, clean drinking water, education, medicine, etc. are also children of God. They are our brothers and sisters. In our baptismal vows we agree to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” There is not much dignity when you are hungry and starving. When you watch your child under 5 die in your arms due to starvation. There is a great injustice when there is inequality in education due to the fact that you are a girl, or when common drugs that are available to us in the US that could save lives are not available in sub-Saharan Africa.
In future posts I will give more detail on each goal and how much progress we have made (we are already passed the ½ way point to 2015). I’ll give you an update on what the Episcopal Church is doing and the Diocese of Southwest Florida. Then I make some suggestions on what we, as the congregation of Holy Innocents, and as individuals can do.
Deacon Gary
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