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"I don't know" is one of the best answers you can
ever give. "I don't know" is how adventures
begin.
I got two emails and a call last week saying
basically the same thing:
"I've got some people who want to do a trip to
places where the MDGs
are happening, but we don't
know how to do it. Where do we start? Are there
agencies whom you can recommend who do this? Are
there good models for working with other
congregations? Ecumenically?"
And three times, I said the magic words:
"I don't know."
But I also said:
"But I'll bet somebody does. And if not, I'll bet
we've got people who can figure it out."
And so the adventure begins. And you can be a part
of it. We need three things:
1. Here's what I know: Tell us what you know
to answer these questions. Do you have a good
roadmap for this? Are there organizations you have
used? Experiences others could learn from? Anything
that people doing this should know? Email us and let
us know.
2. You've gotta talk to _____: Tell us who
should be involved in this conversation -- people
who are walking, talking resources on MDG
mission-related travel. Hook us up. Email us
(egrnews@e4gr.org)and let us know.
3. Join the team: Just like we did with MDG
curricula for children & youth (see below), we're
doing what EGR does ... gathering a group of people
to collect the resources that are already out there
and develop resources and ways to fill in the gaps.
Email us
(egrnews@e4gr.org) and let us know you want
to be a part of this group.
This is what we mean when we say EGR is a movement,
EGR is you. Our greatest wealth is the gifts God has
given everyone who joins. I honestly believe that
with this wealth, there's no problem we can't
tackle.
So keep the questions coming. Send them to EGR,
send
them to your diocesan
contact people. If we know an
answer we'll tell you, or suggest some places to
look.
And if we don't, we'll just say: "Hey, I don't
know!"
And the fun will really begin.
| They Say/You Say |
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Answers to common questions raised during
discussions about the MDGs.
They Say: When you talk about the MDGs,
are you asking us to give money to the U.N.?
You Say: No. The Millennium Development Goals
came out of the United Nations, but they are not a
UN-administered program. While giving money to
UN MDG
organizations is an option, it is
by no means the only option. In fact, the eighth
MDG
itself calls for a "global partnership for
development" to make the MDGs happen -- a
partnership involving entities as large as nations
and multinational corporations to as small as
congregations, families and individuals.
The
Rev. Dr. Sabina Alkire (author of What
Can One Person Do?) puts it this way:
"Thousands of churches, NGOs,
governments,
academics and others are doing for their part to
advance the MDGs. The MDGs are a social
movement; they will be reached if many people act -
locally, in their areas of expertise, and in
countries or regions where they live or
visit."
In fact, because even mentioning the U.N. can often
untrack MDG discussions into political debate about
that organization, we encourage people to use as few
references to the U.N. as possible and concentrate
on the goals -- and Christ's call to us to serve and
meet him in the poorest of the poor.
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| Update - Children/Youth MDG Curriculum |
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A few weeks ago, we put out a call for people to
collect and develop MDG curricula for children and
youth. The response was fantastic. People from all
over the church have stepped up to be a part of the
team working on this project -- including
youth/children Christian educators from the dioceses
of Virginia, California, Missouri, Central Gulf
Coast, and North Carolina and other volunteers from
elsewhere.
The team is in the final stages of assembly, so if
you'd like to join or know someone else who would,
contact EGR at
egrnews@e4gr.org and we'll loop you
in.
Watch for updates of the groups work ... and we'll
give you an address soon to send any
youth/children's MDG stuff you come across or
develop.
Click on the picture for one resource - an MDG
coloring book from the U.N.
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| Stand Up -- Coming Up! |
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Sunday, October 15 is STAND
UP Against Poverty day.
All over the world, people will be gathering
literally to stand up and pledge to eradicate global
poverty and support the MDGs (and break a world
record in the process). This is part of a global
campaign to raise awareness about the MDGs and
publicly demonstrate the growing support for their
achievement.
Congregations from Grace
Church in Jefferson City, Missouri to Holy
Trinity in New York City have signed up to make
this a part of their Sunday liturgy. All you have to
do is to integrate the Stand Up moment and pledge
into your Sunday liturgy or education time. It's
also a great time to use other prayers
and litanies for the MDGs. Click
here for more information. And be sure and let us know if you're
doing it!
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| Quote of the Week |
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"I deeply believe that if we as
evangelicals remain silent and do not speak up in
defense of the poor, we lose our credibility and our
right to witness about God?s love for the world: 'If
anyone has material possessions and sees his brother
in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of
God be in him?' (1 John 3:17, NIV)"
-Rick
Warren, author of The
Purpose-Driven Life
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Growing the Movement -- Diocesan Contacts for EGR |
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One of the common questions we get is "Where do
we give our 0.7%?" Tim Baer, EGR
contact in the Diocese of
Oklahoma, offers this story of how people in his
diocese have answered it in the way that has built a
wonderful relationship.
As I've been doing presentations in Oklahoma at
several churches and with our deacon formation
group, I've consistently been saying one thing: Give
money to an organization that is accountable - so
you know where the money is going and what progress
is being made.
For us in Oklahoma a great source has been VOOM
(Volunteer Oklahoma Outreach Mission) which is
the committee that has been handling our companion
diocese in West
Ankole Uganda (rural Southwest, in
Bushenyi
district). Our companion Diocese for the
last 25 years has been working not only in
congunction with the diocese but also with the
College of Tertiary Studies (CTS) in West Ankole.
Through CTS we have developed an orphan
program for more than 150 students and built and
operated 12 medical clinics (serving about 30,000
people a year). This last year we have equipped some
of the clinics with birthing tables and all of them
with solar units to operate refridgerators in the
clinics, which have no other way to keep vaccines
and antibiotics cold.<
These clinics have gone a long way in combating
malaria,
AIDS, and
mother/child
mortality.
Recently the Archbishop
of Uganda mandated the Bishop
of West Ankole(and the whole province) to refuse
money from the Episcopal Church. This made the
relationship much more challenging. The good
news, however, is that the work will continue! CTS
was set up brilliantly 25 years ago by several
Oklahomans and Ugandans as a NGO. While it is an
Anglican
organization, it can still recieve funding. On our
side of the ocean we have set up our own NGO through
which to funnel money from VOOM to CTS.
This year was the first year that BARHD (Bushenyi
Alliance for Rural Health and Development) has
existed, but is has already successfully taken
control of the orphan program and begun sending
money to CTS.
This is just one example of how acting locally with an
NGO in a developing nation can do miraculous things.
CTS knows the land, knows the people, and is run by
Ugandans. I always encourage people to give to
VOOM/BARHD because of the accountability and
success we have had over the last 25 years.
On a side note, Sister Ephrance has been visiting
Oklahoma this month talking about CTS and said,
"Just think we were doing the MDG's before they even
existed. It is nice to know now that so many people
across the world are standing with us, supporting
the work we are doing!"
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The picture above is of a Diocese of Oklahoma
visitor giving polio vaccines in a VOOM clinic in
Rurama.
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