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

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.

To download the image to your computer, click the link below. Once you see the image, “right click” and select “save image as”.

AGM downloadable flyer

See you at the market!

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly;defend the rights of the poor and needy.”Proverbs 31:8,9.

On October 16th and 17th , millions all over the world will once again Stand Up and Speak Out against poverty and inequality and in support of the Millennium Development Goals. The Stand Up Speak Out initiative is planned to coincide with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. On this day last year, 23.5 million people stood up against poverty in a 24 hour period setting a new Guinness World Record.

This year the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and the United Nations Millennium Campaign plan to mobilize people all over the world to break this record, urging millions more to join this growing global movement. They will demand that their governments keep their promises to achieve the Millennium Goals to end extreme poverty by 2015.

Stand Up and Speak Out is the growing movement of people no longer prepared to stay seated or silent in the face of poverty and inequality. Last year we Stood UP at Crossroads Church and Trinity Episcopal Church on a Sunday. This year we will StandUp at the corner of Valley Parkway and Broadway in Escondido, outside City Hall. Be there with us on Tuesday October 16th at 5:30 pm and bring everyone you know.

Stand Up is a simple, effective and quick way for you to raise awareness about the need to act to end poverty. You will stand, be counted for the Guiness Book of Records attempt, and listen to a short declaration.

To see the video click here

450 walkers, $60,000
raised, christians from all backgrounds walking
together, and all this in one afternoon in a small rural
community in north San Diego County. Not possible?
Don’t tell Herman Vanden Bosch that. He’s living proof
that one person with a passion for making a
difference in the lives of those who struggle to overcome
poverty, can make a huge impact.
CROP walk stands for Communities
Responding to Overcome Poverty. Some 2,000
communities across the country participate in CROP
events each year, raising funds for local hunger-
fighting agencies as well as for the international relief
and development efforts of CWS.
450 walkers (and their dogs) walked this year, and
through sponsorship, raised $60,000. 25% donated
to Fallbrook Food Pantry, serving the needs of
Fallbrook residents and 75% donated to href="http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/index.h
tml">Church world Service
What prompted Vanden Bosch, who has been organizing CROP walks for 20 years now? He loved the idea of a worthwhile action where various
denominations could come together with a common
purpose. Van Den Bosch commented; “It’s good to
walk with others who care, to know that you’re not the
only one out there. Besides its fun. Although we are
walking and raising funds to fight a serious issue,
there’s great joy in knowing you are working together to make a difference!”"
If you would like to make a difference please join in
your local CROP walk.
Escondido/San Marcos Escondido, CA June 10, 2007
Rancho Bernardo October 2007
Walk with other CEP members in Escondido. Contact
us at info@christiansendingpoverty.org to connect.

To organize a CROP walk contact

Report from Marlys Hickcox

A group of 13 from CEP were led by Herman Vanden Bosch on a one day visit to Mexico to learn, absorb and experience life across the border. The 13 stops of the day gave a diverse view life in Tijuana and Tecate, with some glimpses at life from the point of view of middle income citizens, would be and deported migrants, orphans and the poorest of the poor. Understanding one part of the picture was essential to the understanding of the other parts, and that was particularly true of our visits to the municipal dump area, the border fence and the refuge for migrants.

In summary, our group learned how our counterparts directly across the border live, work and play. We experienced walking through neighborhoods constructed of everything imaginable. People surviving and even thriving in crowded huts with no water to drink except what the truck brought by or they bought at the local corner store. We saw waste water and sewage running down the dirt streets with mangy dogs everywhere. We talked to people who have hope for a better future. We saw happy children but many sullen adults not knowing when their next payday would come. We looked into peoples eyes who must have been wondering why these rich gringos were walking and talking through their neighborhood. Were they here to help or judge? The nationals running the locations we visited were friendly, inviting and caring people. They genuinely seem to love what they do and where they do it. They ask for help but don’t beg. They know that God will help them and they are often rewarded with their patience by evidence of the many volunteers and new construction at their facilities. The Mexican side of the border has many challenges but the lifestyle and life expectancy is rising from what it was only a few years ago. There is room for more assistance by us and from the other concerned groups of Christians and Christian churches from all over world that see the Tijuana area as “ a field white with the harvest”.

We pray that this visit will stay with us, the people will stay in hearts and prayers, and that we will respond to them as God would will us to do.

If you would like to join a future CEP trip to Mexico please contact info@christiansendingpoverty.org.

To read full report of the trip please click here.

To see some pictures of this trip please click here.

We love to be able to offer practical examples of what one person or church can do in the struggle to overcome poverty. Read on to find out what the St. Michael’s Poway High School Youth group organized;

CEP members, Cindy and Gerry Schmelter , who attend St. Michael’s Church in Poway, knew all the excuses they could have made to avoid leading an awareness raising event (we’re too busy, we don’t know where to start, we don’t have access to the resources, what good would one event in Poway do etc. etc) but they chose not to use those and instead to step out in faith and put on an event for their church’s teens.

Consequently, 80 young people heard and experienced many issues related to poverty at a recent Hunger Banquet held at St. Michael’s on February 13th. The youngsters not only watched videos and power points informing them about basic facts of poverty they joined in discussions and experienced the injustice of poverty by being split into groups representing developed, transitional or underdeveloped regions of the world. While some enjoyed a beautiful catered dinner at decorated tables others sat on the floor with a small cup of rice and water. Various factors were introduced to impact their “lives” and some participants moved up a group or down a group in response to the factors introduced. It was a powerful way to help teens experience, question and discuss the injustice of poverty.

Cindy and Gerry relied on instructions obtained from Oxfam ( go to www.hungerbanquet.org) and CEP was able to provide further resources. This is exactly what CEP was created for – to provide support, encouragement and empowerment to Christians stepping out in faith to raise awareness and educate others about extreme poverty.

But the best is yet to come. Having raised awareness and created an interest; over the next few Sundays these teens will now have an opportunity to engage in a positive and practical way in the fight to end poverty by participating in a letter writing campaign. The students will be encouraged to voice their concerns and desire for poverty focused aid in letters to be delivered to their local representatives.

We commend Cindy and Gerry and their team for their faithful work on behalf of those who are struggling to overcome the effects of poverty.

Who’s next? Who will organize a similar event at their church or youth group? We are ready to support you!

Add your comments here.

Sarah Check of Floresta gave an insightful and
challenging presentation Jan 20th at Solana Beach
Presbyterian. Her subject was “Environmental
Destruction and its Connection to Poverty” but it was about so much more than that.

Sarah stressed the need to address not just charity,
but to go beyond that to creative support through
development assistance and through advocacy. It
was the creative programs providing development
assistance that Sarah concentrated on .

Sarah’s interactive and engaging presentation broke
down the subject of poverty into a complicated web
of root causes. Sarah emphasized the need to
understand and then respond to the root causes,
and not in a vacuum but as a whole. Sarah’s example
of projects created by Floresta showed how we can
encourage and empower those who personally battle
to overcome the effects of poverty, supporting them
in attacking root causes, encouraging creative
responses using their own community’s rich talents
and achieving a break in the poverty cycle. Sarah
closed with a reading from Isaiah 41:17-20, giving
clear personal witness to God’s goodness in restoring
His creation.

December 9th. over 50 shoppers attended the CEP 1st. Alternative Gift Market. A wide variety of products, many made in Africa, were offered. Shoppers and helpers enjoyed the market and are already asking about next year’s plans!

If you attended the market we urge you to comment below and let others know your impressions of the market.

Š

Children die.
Mothers weep
for they know
they are next in line.

I can hardly sleep,
just from knowing
of the burden
they carry.

How can we go on,
with this injustice in the
world.

I will fight to take away their
burden.