Stewardship/Mission and Outreach

This is a fairly serious look at the Millennium Development Goals and how they can be helped along by individuals and by congregations. Each chapter includes “on the spot stories”, a discussion of a particular goal and why it is important, and a few suggestions of things one person or congregation might do to help implement the goal. It is quite specific and to the point.

Abwenzi Means Friends – Carol Chew & Peter Sipple, Morehouse Education Resources; 2009

Through the eyes and ears of Peter Sipple and his church’s program, children 7-10 learn about Malawi and the way the Millennium Goals are being worked out there. Student book and Leader’s Guide.

God’s Mission in the World – TEC Office of Government Relations and ELCA Washington Office; 2006

This is an ecumenical Christian study guide on global poverty and the MDGs. Six sessions provide a study of the 8 MDGs, and there is a resource list to fine more information as well as a glossary.

Making Poverty History – Church World Service, 2007; 3 copies

A magazine with several activities-for various ages-to teach about hunger and poverty. It focuses on the Millennium Development Goals and includes worship resources as well as the activities.

Build a Better World – Church World Services, Elkhart IN

A children’s magazine with stories, activities, and ideas to help children understand problems around the world. 3 separate issues: Build a Better World II; Africa; Water

Learning for Action – CROP (Church World Services), Elkhart IN

A workbook with a variety of activities for both children and adults to teach about hunger around the world

Animal Crackers – Heifer Project International, Little Rock AR

A workbook of activities to teach children about hunger around the world; includes poster & order blank for additional materials

Your Need for Bread Is Mine - Morris D. Pike, Friendship Press, New York NY

A number of stories, poems, music, and ideas to help teach children about hunger around the world

Other Outreach:

New (DVD) A Map of Faith: Sharing the Journey with the Uprooted – Episcopal Migration Ministries; 2009

A discussion of how the Episcopal Church has welcomed refugees and immigrants and shared their journey as they learn to live a “new path” after being uprooted by nature, war, or other calamities.

Companions in Transformation – ECUSA-Standing Commission on World Mission, NYC; 2003

Looks at the Episcopal Church’s world mission in the 21^st century; includes the vision statement presented to General Convention

In His Image – Terri Herzfeld, ed; Food for the Poor, Deerfield Beach FL, 2001

A series of black and white photographs of people in Central and South America combined with quotations from Scripture and spiritual writers.

(DVD) Touch the World/Touch Sudan – National Council of Churches; 2007

This DVD introduces the idea of teaching about mission and more resources; three short programs follow: “Prayers for Sudan”, “Sudan Refugee Experience”, and “Sudan’s Displaced”. The intent is to offer insight into the current situation in Sudan.

(DVD) Windows on Mission – The Episcopal Church; 2006

This series of 12 studies looks at Episcopal mission around the world; the focus is to show that in spite of all the bad things that are happening mission is working and there is hope in many places. Study guides for each section can be downloaded from the National Church website: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/agr_WindowOnMissionStudyGuide.pdf. (This is a pdf file and can take a few moments to download.)

See also:

Peace and Justice – Economic Justice

Grace at the Table – David Beckmann and Arthur Simon, Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ

A book reporting on hunger in the world by Bread for the World; includes questions and answers, statistics, and stories to give faces to the statistics.