Thank you to everyone who helped, shoppped, advertised, planned and promoted our alternative gift market. The market showcased 16 different fair trade vendors, displaying products made by impoverished artisans around the world. The over $10,000 in proceeds (doubled from last year!) are chanelled back to diverse projects around the world helping artisans to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Some of the proceeds were also allocated to God’s Kids International, a christian orphanage and agriculture project in Liberia which is home it 50 orphans.
The goal of the CEP Alternative Gift Market is to raise awareness about the challenges faced by those struggling to overcome poverty around the world, provide a showcase for artisans’ work, and provide an opportunity for our local community to come together and purchase meaningful and unique gifts for the Christmas season.

Here is the view from Angela Alverado, a visitor to the market:

As the Christmas season quickly approaches, we begin to dread overcrowded malls, overpriced gifts and impossible to find parking spots. Sometimes shopping for loved ones becomes more of a headache then a time of joy. However, don’t throw in the towel just yet because there is a simple solution to your worries. This year I attended the 2nd annual Christians Ending Poverty Alternative Christmas Market held at the San Marcos Civic Center. The event hosting several organizations and churches was held on a beautiful Saturday afternoon from 1-4 pm.

Having never attended such an event, I was extremely curious and excited for the new experience. Upon my arrival I was immediately welcomed by the CEP booth where I was given information about the event. After reading some of the material I continued on to the main hall where I enjoyed some tasteful refreshments and watched videos from participating vendors. I found the videos both educational and highly effective in illustrating how the organizations help make a difference in people’s lives. When the videos were finished I made my way back outside and began my shopping adventure. While walking through the market I was amazed by all of the beautifully unique items that were hand made in various countries. I saw everything from jewelry, purses, coffee, wood carvings, ornaments and baskets. Each table had incredible items and informative literature about the marvelous people that make them. The literature is a great tool because it not only gives background information on the specific causes; it also lists ways for anyone who is interested to help out. I had an eye opening experience that day while exploring the different organizations and purchasing gifts for family and friends.

At the end of the day I felt a mix of emotions. I felt fortunate for what I have and inspired to help others who are less fortunate. I also felt great that the purchases I made were going to help in a big way. The alternative gift market is a brilliant idea because you can buy well priced one of kind items for your loved ones and the proceeds go to help others who are in greater need. I would recommend the gift market to everyone because it’s an experience that will open their eyes to the desperate conditions and needs of people around the world. Everyone who goes to the gift market will also get a chance to see how different organizations and average citizens are helping to change these conditions. People will also get a sense of hope as they get educated and purchase some magnificent items. This event will definitely put anyone in the giving spirit and I now look forward to it next year

Our Christian faith and biblical tradition extend an extraordinary invitation to each of us and our faith communities to become agents of God’s compassion and healing in a wounded world. The Good News of Jesus Christ is both a comfort and a promise for the poor and, at the same time, a call to those of us who are not poor to be linked with God’s vision of justice and reconciliation. The Church’s history shines with examples of courage and commitment of those who addressed themselves to the needs of our most desperate sisters and brothers.

JustFaith, a thirty-week adult educational and formational process, offers an opportunity for people of faith to embark upon a spiritual journey into compassion. Most of us long to be a generous and compassionate people. However, occasions to explore this tradition in a deliberate and engaging way have largely not been available. JustFaith provides a lively and challenging format to read, view, discuss, pray, experience and be formed by the justice tradition that changes lives, inspires faithful witness, and transforms the world through love and service. Across the country, JustFaith has proven to be a potent and successful strategy for expanding and energizing Christian commitment to address human suffering. Indeed, many participating churches choose to repeat the JustFaith process year after year. The JustFaith program has been offered in over seven hundred churches from a variety of denominations in thirty-five states throughout the country.
Contact info@christiansendingpoverty.org for more information

Thank you to all those who participated in Escondido’s Stand Up to end poverty event. Three events were held in Escondido. Students at Calvin Christian School held Stand Up events during the High School lunch hour and Junior High chapel. 225 students participated in those events. Another 61 adults and children stepped out of their comfort zone and stood outside Escondido City Hall to urge world leaders to fulfill their promises to fund and support the Millennium Development Goals. Holding signs that spelled out the words, “STAND UP TO END POVERTY” the group was filmed by local news reporters and received honks of support from passing motorists. The primary goal of the event was to draw attention both to the needs of those dying from poverty and the need of US citizens to hold our government to its promise to participate in the Millennium Development Goal’s plan to halve poverty by 2015. The Escondido events were part of a world wide record breaking action. 38.8 million people around the world stood up to indicate their desire to eradicate poverty, and urge leaders to fulfill their promises in support of the Millennium Development Goals. That was big increase from the 2006 event when 23 million people participated.