Tents of Hope
May 18, 2008
Tents
of Hope
New
Braunfels Cares - human hearts reach out to Darfur by
Bonnie Stark On
Sunday May 18, Faith United Church launched a “Tents
of Hope” campaign for the New Braunfels Community.
Senator Robert Krueger, former ambassador to Burundi,
Africa, spoke and shared his personal experiences.
He described the plight of the suffering people on the
other side of the world. Senator Krueger pointed out that as the most affluent
powerful nation on earth; the citizens of the U.S. are faced with
the responsibility of reaching out to those who are not so
fortunate. He asked the important question of who should help:
If not us – then who?
Those in attendance were reminded to consider what they
felt on 9/11 to understand the significance of the genocide and
displacement experienced on a weekly
basis in Africa! But
there is hope! Because
the international community has done little to respond to this
tragedy, human hearts are reaching out.
Communities around the nation are collaborating with a
national organization called Tents of Hope.
·
The Tents
of Hope program emerged
in June 2007 through a partnership between the United Church of
Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Dear
Sudan. With the support of these two denominations, Petaluma,
CA-based Dear Sudan has engaged in national organizing efforts.
·
The purpose of the Tents
of Hope campaign is to encourage a community-based
response to the genocide through education, advocacy
and fundraising for humanitarian aid. ·
Tents of Hope unites
artistic creativity with social concern.
Each tent is a symbol of the loss suffered by 3.5 million
people who are surviving but have been uprooted from their homes
and forced to flee to refugee camps in Darfur.
Individuals are asked to paint images of hope on the Tents
as a focal point for concern, showing in a tangible way that loss
can be transformed into hope. ·
Tents of Hope is
a one-year campaign that will culminate in a collective action as
local communities bring their tents and delegations to a
national event in Washington DC on November 6-8, 2008 called: “The
Gathering of the Tents.” The Tent of Hope for
the New Braunfels community will be available for public painting
in the parking lot of Faith United Church on the corner of Common
Street and Loop 337, anytime during daylight hours through June 4.
(http://www.faithuccnb.org/directions.htm).
All are welcome and encouraged to stop by and paint an
image of hope or peace on the Tent of Hope.
From June 5 through August 20, the tent will be at Slumber
Falls Church Camp at 3610 River Road where summer campers from
Kindergarten age through high school will add their paintings to
the tent. In
September, the Tent will be transported to Washington DC where it
will be displayed on the Washington Mall in preparation for the
national event in November. Please
help spread the word and make a difference, bring your children
and invite your friends and neighbors to participate in this
important effort. For
more information or to make online contributions visit the website
http://www.tentsofhope.org/index.
Contributions
by check or money order can be mailed to:
Tents of Hope %
Faith United Church, 970 N. Loop 337
New Braunfels, TX 78130
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