The ELCA, through Lutheran Disaster Response, has provided emergency grants of $10,000 each for flooding & tornado relief in Tennessee and Mississippi.  These grants will help to strengthen the work of staff with affiliate agencies there, some of whom were directly impacted themselves and many of whom have already been working tirelessly in the unfolding response.  We will also seek to serve the long-term needs of individuals, families and communities affected by these storms.  Give a gift today to support the ELCA's continued response to this and other disasters in the United States. U.S. Spring Storms bulletin insert
     
A Pentecost Story from Cameroon - Two young men sat on the steps of the Bible School, reading the Bible by themselves for the first time ever.  See www.elca.org/handinhand under Summer issue; use the downloadable bulletin insert for worship on Pentecost Sunday, June 12
   
Lutheran Malaria Initiative - Watch a 2-minute video featuring a school for orphans in Mozambique where a clinic is being built in partnership with the Lutheran Church in Mozambique and the Lutheran Malaria Initiative. See www.elca.org/lmi and click the link under Watch a video.
  
Connect with local congregations, learn how to glocalize mission, deepen your understanding of mission, gain tools and resources, meet mission-minded people, Enjoy great food and music, Build congregational team skills. All this and more at the Glocal Mission Gathering, July 16-17, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Austin, MN. Workshops may include: Mission 101, Stewardship Preaching, Worship and Mission, Social Action Cross-Generational Engagement, New and Renewing Congregations, Short Term Mission. For information or to register, visit elca.org/globalevents or call 507-434-9146.
  
Are you a member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans? Help your favorite ministry make its way to $1 million! Through the Thrivent Choice program, you can vote for one of your favorite charitable organizations or ministries including ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response, and the Lutheran Malaria Initiative  to receive a portion of $1 million dollars. Visit www.thrivent.com/choicevote before May 21, 2010. Select an ELCA ministry from the list and follow the instructions. View the results at www.thrivent.com/choicevote sometime in June.

 Fast Facts  According to Bread for the World, in 2007, the United States, with just over 300 million people, had a gross national income 17 times that of all sub-Saharan African countries, which have a combined population of 800 million.