THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008
Church Members Join 30 Hour Famine Benefit
Members of a Mt. Prospect church will try and go 30 hours this weekend without eating.
Approximately 14 teenagers on Friday, Apr. 25 through Saturday, Apr. 26 in St. Paul Lutheran's youth group will participate in World Vision's 30-Hour Famine for the first time ever, to help feed and care for children living in extreme poverty around the world. They will join 500,000 teens nationwide aiming to raise more than $12 million to fight world hunger.
During those 30 hours, the group of teenagers will construct a memorial to children who have died from world hunger.
According to World Vision officials, each hour, 1,280 children die as a result of starvation.
Director of High School and Young Adult Ministry at St. Paul Lutheran Church Tony Dixon said 1,280 crosses will be constructed out of paint stirring sticks and placed in the church yard around noon on Saturday, to help the students understand just how "substantial" that number is-but to also raise awareness in the surrounding community.
Students will also be given a list of ways to help serve in the community and lend a helping hand to others.
Now in its 17th year, World Vision's 30-Hour Famine raises awareness and money to fight hunger both overseas and in the United States. During those hours, teens will go without food, consuming only liquids.
"There will be four adults staying all night and they will be instructed to check on the kids on a regular basis," said Dixon. They will be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids." Dixon said he has participated in this event before and he has never experienced anyone fainting or anything along those lines before and doesn't anticipate it happening this time either.
Students participating in the event include: Kristin Preuss, Julia Fulton, Craig Bashleben, Anna Wegener, Megan Kearns, Alex Osvath, Aari Osvath, Jodie Buchanan, Marybeth Madsen, Julian Santos, Andrew Sheridan, Lizzie Meier, Corbin Blackwell, and Matthew Reiner. The adults supervising include: Nate Lane, Dixon, Megan Dixon and Chuck Vetter.