|
|
|
 Staff photo/Katie Yantis: A truck dumps dirt along the Miami and Erie Canal towpath where it crosses Ohio 66. The project will make it easier for those using the towpath to cross Ohio 66.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Hiker, bikers and walkers in the region will notice a
difference in a few sections of the Miami and Erie Canal towpath trail
starting this week.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hunger event targets youth |
|
|
|
Monday, 23 February 2009 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Teens and children in local youth groups are learning that 14,000 kids just like them all over the globe are dying every single day from hunger and malnutrition.
Youth groups from New Community Church, Zion Lutheran Church, St. Marys First Church of the Nazarene and Wayne Street United Methodist have started raising money for the 30 Hour Famine — a national mission organized by World Vision that helps feed those who suffer from hunger and poverty across the globe.
Wayne Street United Methodist Co-Youth Leader Sue Ballweg said the church has been involved with the famine for years and most recently started collaborating with the other churches on the program.
“The last two years we have gone in with the other churches,” Ballweg said.
New Community Church Youth Leader Steve Stroh said it helps to get all the churches involved because it makes it more of a community event.
St. Marys First Church of the Nazarene Youth International President Dennis Knous set a challenge for his group of youth.
“I guess I didn’t really set a goal but I challenged them to raise $1,000,” Knous said. “If they could, they can dye my hair whatever color they choose, if they meet their goal.”
Knous said he hopes his youth will realize how blessed they are to be living in a country like America.
“I just hope their experience would ultimately give them the experience of sacrifice, sacrificing for someone else’s needs,” Knous said.
Stroh said his hopes the youth at New Community each raise $180.
“That will feed a kid for 6 months,” Stroh said. “We would like to have them ask more than just immediate family.”
After raising money to contribute to World Vision to help feed the hungry, local children will find out what it is like to experience that hunger.
“We want any kid and any youth group that wants to do it (to participate),” Stroh said.
After explaining the mission to his group of youth, he said many of them started to understand just how much of a global issue hunger and poverty are in developing countries.
“It got real quiet,” Stroh said. “It is a sobering reality.”
After raising money, all the youth will gather at Zion Lutheran Church to participate in their own 30 hour famine, drinking just juice and water for the 30 hour time period.
Zion Lutheran Church Youth Director Adam Poe said he hopes the experience of not eating for 30 hours will help his youth face realities of hunger.
“My goal is for them to experience and get to know a sense of God’s justice and that he wants justice for the people of the world,” Poe said. “And that we are called to administer that justice.”
Poe said the money raised by the youth at Zion Lutheran church will go toward the International Justice Mission.
“It specializes in freeing people of illegal slavery or forced prostitution,” Poe said.
During the hours the students are going through the famine, Poe said he hopes they realize that they are going through, on a small level, what children go through in their day to day lives in developing nations.
“One goal is for them to have at least somewhat of an experience of what it is like to be hungry,” Poe said.
“Thirty hours isn’t close to what the children we are feeding go through.”
After the famine is complete, Stroh said he wants the youth at New Community Church to realize their efforts can continue after the event.
“It is not just something for that weekend,” Stroh said. “This is something you can do (all the time).”
The gathering will start at noon March 6 and go until 6 p.m. March 7.
“All four churches will meet between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.,” Stroh said. “We tell the kids even if they can’t go that weekend, they can raise the money — that’s the most important part.”
During the time at the church, the youth will participate in three worship and devotional meetings, serve in local service projects on Saturday and play organized games.
“We try and make it a lot of fun, but we also keep them aware of what we are doing,” Stroh said.
Stroh said the service projects play a major role in the experience as the children in Africa who are starving still have to go through the day and work.
“We are going to help at Agape and the Auglaize County Council on Aging,” Stroh said. “Any other organization that may need help, we want to help them.”
Poe had one more challenge for those interested in giving to the cause.
“Skip a meal and donate the money you would spend on that meal,” Poe said. “Or for a bigger challenge, donate $1 for each hour for what the kids are doing.”
Anyone interested in contributing to the 30 Hour Famine may contact Poe at 419-394-3115 or Stroh at 419-394-8111. More information on the missions can be found online at 30hourfamine.org or IJM.org.
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 27 February 2009 )
|
|
|
|
