Our Commitment to the C.A.R.
Ten percent (10%) of the Global Gifts from our synod will help support ELCA Missionaries who oversee the projects the ELCA funds for accountability, transparency and integrity. Global Gifts are not used for Synod or ELCA operating expenses or general budget. You can have confidence that 100% of these gifts given are used for mission (ten percent for missionary support, ninety percent for the Central African Republic.)
Download CAR brochure
2012 Global Gift Goals
How will you and your congregation help?
Our synod works with the Eastern and Western North Dakota synods, as companions to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic (EELRCA), to support its ministries. When the need is met in one ministry, funds will be directed to programs still lacking.
Emmanuel Health Center at Gallo: $10,000
Since May of 2010, reducing maternal and infant mortality, treating malaria, water-borne illnesses, and injuries, and sending community-based health program teams to villages have been goals of this new clinic. The health center has a German missionary doctor, and a French missionary administrator, but most of the staff is Central African, with plans for a Central African doctor to join the staff. Operating expenses as well as additional facilities are needed to serve the many villages in the Gallo area.
Village Education Program: $15,000
In conjunction with local parents associations, the CAR Lutheran Church operates twenty village schools where no government schools have been built. In 2010, these primary schools included over 4200 children of all faiths. $25 pays for one year of schooling for one child. Our Global Gift goal is for operating expenses. In addition, the villagers are hoping for permanent school buildings. If we reach our goal, additional funds will be given toward the permanent school fund.
Martha and Mary Women’s Center: $5,000
Our synod helped build this Center (dedicated 2008) and has continued to support its operation. Meeting and study space for Lutheran women, economic skill-building and literacy classes for women of all faiths, offices for the FCC (Central African Women for Christ), as well as rooms to rent and a shop for crafts, enabling the FCC to contribute to Center support—these are all a part of the Center. Empowering women helps sustain the whole family.
Young Women’s Scholarship Program: $5,000
The FCC sends young women to secondary schooling at Maigaro (first three years) and in Bangui, the capital (last three years). Maigaro students who have continued in Bangui have done so well that the Bangui school no longer requires FCC scholarship women to take the entrance exam. This program helps Lutheran women develop their potential to serve and lead in the church and the country.
PASE Spring Boxes: $5,000
Spring boxes filter the water coming out of the ground, providing a source for clean water for villages, as well as and a gathering place. PASE is the CAR Church’s Water Resource Development Project. One spring box costs $2000 and can serve about 20,000 villagers.
Christian Education: $1,000
The Sunday School program of the EELRCA tries to provide training and materials for Sunday School teachers in the various regions of the church in CAR. However, they have very few funds and cannot respond to many of the requests for training.
Visits and Communication: $10,000
This operating fund will cover support for visits to or from CAR, as well as travel to the annual Consultation, Partners meeting and Region IV Global Mission Gathering. These are vital to promoting our relationship.