More Ways to Change the World

I noted with interest your Summer 2005 cover story on “5 Ways You Can Change the World Today.” Unfortunately, you omitted one of the most important ways to change the world: advocacy. Many individuals and churches, including my own, are members of Bread for the World, the ecumenical organization in Washington, D.C., that works to affect legislation in Congress that addresses issues of hunger in this country and the world.

I have been active in getting folks to write to their state legislators to make the Ohio budget more equitable for the poor and those working for near-poverty wages. I engage in these efforts out of response to Jesus’s challenge to us to be faithful to the prophetic call to social action found in Matthew 25:31–45.

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” —Matthew 25:40

Lee H. Lybarger
Delaware, Ohio

I appreciate your magazine and all of the much-needed information that you provide to our family. I see that you did mention “teach” in your list (“5 Ways You Can Change the World Today”), but I want to add “educate.”

I sponsor the school fees of three girls in Uganda and have begun my own fund for children in Kenya, The Mary Ayata Children’s Project (MACP). Many families cannot afford to send their children to school or may only be able to choose one of them to go, in which case girls are often overlooked. Without an education, there is no hope for improvement in their lives or for future generations.

The MACP strives to only pay the child’s school fee and related items like books and uniforms. It’s the best we can do, but the result is priceless.

Laura M. Dahlke
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Thank you for your article about volunteers making the world a better place through seemingly small acts of kindness. Though we did serve with Lutheran World Relief in Southern Sudan from 1972–1974, and with the Peace Corps prior to that, as we near retirement we know that we can continue to contribute through less dramatic yet equally valuable volunteer efforts. We commend you for recognizing that the combined efforts of individuals can have a major impact on our world.

Stanton and Marjorie Bigelow
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
Geneva, Switzerland

Giving Thanks for ‘Daily Bread’

I have never written a letter to the editor but wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the magazine. I read 99 percent of everything in it, but I must confess I enjoy the Rev. Ted Schroeder’s articles most of all. They are always so interesting and never fail to have something in them that makes me laugh. I really look forward to reading his articles and hope he keeps writing them for a long time.

Glenda DeCosta
San Francisco, California

Correction

In the article “All Lutherans Say ‘Yea’” (Summer 2005), Oregon and Wisconsin were omitted inadvertently in the listing of states that have Lutheran U.S. senators and representatives.

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