News
Teens Turning Off Media and Tuning In To the Poor in America
MINNEAPOLIS, (July 12, in the year of
our Lord 2010) -- According to a recent study by Kaiser
Generation, teens in America spend an average of 7 hours and 38
minutes a day interacting with various forms of media including
texting, listening to music, watching television and spending
time on the computer. This equates to more than half of their
day. For many teens, electronic media is such a part of their
life that living without it would be like living without food.
Yet in America, four million teenagers are living in poverty and
struggling for a daily meal. As a way to raise awareness of the
poor in America, Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC), a
nonprofit organization that unites churches to meet the needs of
the poor, developed a fund raiser. Sound Off for Poverty,
challenges youth to turn off their electronic media and tune in
to the needs in their community.
Sound Off for Poverty is a turn-key Media Fast developed for
church youth groups, Christian schools and other organizations
that challenges youth to tune out the electronic noise and be
inspired to share God’s heart for the poor. The fund raiser asks
participating youth to find donors to support their Media Fast –
their commitment to abstain from electronic entertainment for at
least 48 hours – and collect money to help the poor through Love
In the Name of Christ.
During the event kids learn about poverty, conduct bible study
lessons, and put their faith in action through service to the
community. The experience allows youth to become more attuned to
God’s voice and His heart for the poor.
The Sound Off for Poverty fund-raising event is easy to
implement and gives organizers all the tools needed for an
exciting youth event. Participants receive a Tool Kit that
includes a Youth Leader’s Guide with activities to teach youth
about poverty in the U.S. and in their community; four bible
study lessons; ideas for service projects; and promotional
materials. In addition, the event organizer receives materials
for students including journals with poverty facts and bible
study lessons. All materials are provided free of charge.
Money raised from the event helps Love INC provide tangible help
and hope to people in need in the areas of food, shelter,
clothing, health care, life skills and family support services.
For more information about Sound Off for Poverty visit the
website at
www.soundoffforpoverty.org